Memorial to Workers Unions Killed in 1919 Clashes in Tallinn

Pictures and text by Mark R. Hatlie

These pictures were taken on 27 June, 2006 in Tallinn. The memorial is located in the green garden ring which goes around the back of the old city. It bears several typical attributes of Soviet-era memorials. It is written in Russian and Estonian block letters typical of the postwar era, it makes a heavy, solid impression, the figure is muscular and determined, bottom-heavy making him appear from up close to be larger than he is. I would guess that it was erected in 1969 on the 50th anniversary of the events memorialized.

It can be safely assumed that this memorial is of little interest to anybody any more, although it is apparent that the city still pays to have it maintained. Unlike the Lenin memorial, it hasn't been worth removing.

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	"In eternal memory of the delegates of the first Estonian congress of unions who died at the hands of the Estonian bourgeoisie in Irborsk on 3 September, 1919."
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	The names of the dead are listed around the bottom of the memorial.
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