Students of Tallinn School No. 21 raised the national flag on the Tall Hermann Tower on Resistance Day

Today, students of Tallinn School No. 21 Jan Kenneth Toming, Mathias Peškov, Uku Schneider, Aron Kipso, Kaspar Koppel and Patrik Kallast assisted at the flag raising. After the ceremony, President of the Riigikogu Lauri Hussar showed the students the historical Riigikogu Building.

In his welcoming speech to the students, President of the Riigikogu Lauri Hussar emphasised that today’s ceremony highlighted the determination of Prime Minister Otto Tief and the members of his cabinet. “Without the events of September 1944, the restoration of the independence of the Republic of Estonia from Russian occupation on the basis of legal continuity maybe would not have been possible. Tief’s government is the link that connects victory in our War of Independence with today. And you, high school students, with your desire and commitment to celebrate this day in a dignified way, show that you understand this connection perfectly. I am proud that we have such young people!” Hussar said.

The Flag Guards of Tallinn School No. 21 is a student organisation that was founded in 1997. It presents, guards, and protects the school flag and, if necessary, the National Flag, in accordance with the Estonian Flag Act. The Flag Guards are a team made up of volunteer young men from grades 10–12 and drummer boys studying in basic school. The Flag Guards participated in the flag-raising ceremony on Resistance Day for the 12th time.

In the summer of 1940, when the Soviet forces occupied the territory of Estonia, the schoolhouse on Raua Street in Tallinn, now known as Tallinn School No. 21, became the temporary barracks of the Signal Battalion of the Estonian Defence Forces.

When the German occupation ended in autumn 1944, the constitutional Republic of Estonia was restored. For this purpose, the Government of the Republic, headed by Otto Tief, took office on 18 September. The Government declared Estonia neutral in the ongoing war. However, the Red Army did not care about Estonia’s sovereignty, and Estonia was occupied again. On 22 September 1944, the blue, black and white flag of Estonia on the Tall Hermann Tower was violently replaced with a red flag.

22 September is celebrated in Estonia as Resistance Day. At the end of September 1944, the Estonian resistance to the Soviet power began, which lasted for nearly half a century. It was a resistance for the restoration of Estonia’s independence, both at home and in exile.

Resistance Day has been celebrated in Estonia as an official holiday since 2007.

Photos of the flag raising ceremony (Erik Peinar, Chancellery of the Riigikogu)

Riigikogu Press Service
Maiki Vaikla
+372 631 6456, +372 5666 9508
maiki.vaikla@riigikogu.ee
Questions: press@riigikogu.ee  

Link uudisele: Students of Tallinn School No. 21 raised the national flag on the Tall Hermann Tower on Resistance Day

Source: Parliament of Estonia