Selected text
All of us knew that in 1933 the Fascists came to power in Germany [10]. Probably, my parents discussed that. I don’t think any Estonian Jews were troubled by that event. Many of those who were deported by the Soviet regime in 1941 and sent into exile said that if they had not been deported, they would have definitely stayed in Estonia during the war. It was true, as many Jews were no willing to get evacuated and perished in Fascist concentration camps and during mass executions of the civilian population.
When in 1939 Soviet military bases were established in Estonia, it went by me. My parents must have been indifferent to that; otherwise I would have felt their anxiety, even if they hadn’t spoken about it. There was a normal course of life and military bases were beyond us. In 1940 we felt it, when Estonia became Soviet [11]. Our Jewish lyceum was closed down, or to put it more precisely, it was made into an ordinary school. The last school year was in Yiddish, Ivrit was banned. I went to the 6th grade. All my classmates became pioneers [12]. It was interesting for us, like a new game. We saw no politics in that, just took it as a new club, a new organization for children like Betar or Hashomer. There were some events for pioneers. We went on excursions. In general, we had fun and didn’t think that there was a change in our life.
When in 1939 Soviet military bases were established in Estonia, it went by me. My parents must have been indifferent to that; otherwise I would have felt their anxiety, even if they hadn’t spoken about it. There was a normal course of life and military bases were beyond us. In 1940 we felt it, when Estonia became Soviet [11]. Our Jewish lyceum was closed down, or to put it more precisely, it was made into an ordinary school. The last school year was in Yiddish, Ivrit was banned. I went to the 6th grade. All my classmates became pioneers [12]. It was interesting for us, like a new game. We saw no politics in that, just took it as a new club, a new organization for children like Betar or Hashomer. There were some events for pioneers. We went on excursions. In general, we had fun and didn’t think that there was a change in our life.
Period
Year
1941
Location
Talinn
Estonia
Interview
Mariasha Vasserman