Memorial for the Baltenregiment in Tallinn
Pictures of unknown authorship, text by Mark R. Hatlie
The first two pictures show a monument unveiled on Sunday, 2. December, 1928 in Tallinn, Estonia. Before the Second World War, it stood in front of the building of the German cultural administration right down town. It was taken down by the Soviets. The following pictures show the re-constructed memorial on the same spot in Tallinn today.
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It reads, "For the fallen of the Balt Regiment" ("Den Gefallenen des Baltenregiments"), 1918-1920. It refers to the German units made up of local Germans and stragglers from the German army who fought against communist forces in Estonia after World War One. (Photo is the property of the Baltische Historische Kommission. All rights reserved. The original is in the archive of the Herder Institut in Marburg, 120 BL-BRW X2). |
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The ceremony shows a wreath-laying attended by representatives of the Estonian government. The man in the pointy hat is Colonel C. v. Weiss. (Photo is the property of the Baltische Historische Kommission. All rights reserved. The original is in the archive of the Herder Institut in Marburg, 120 BL-BRW X2) |
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This is the entrance to the former German cultural representation on the top of the hill in the very center of the old city. It is unmarked. During the few minutes I was there, I stopped several groups of German tourists and showed them the memorial. They would never have noticed otherwise. |
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This plaque tells the history of the location. From 1912-1940 it housed the Estonian Literary Society, a partially German group dedicated to the care of Estonian literature and language. From 1925 to 1940 it also served, as mentioned above, as the German minority cultural representation. |
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Within the courtyard, the memorial stands inconspicuously behind the parked cars. |
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It reads simply, "For the fallen of the Baltenregiment". |
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