Vootele Hansen: grief goes with dignity

Photo: Teet Malsroos / Õhtuleht

According to Estonian Institute of Human Rights chairman Vootele Hansen, by calling the events of June 14^th 1941 «deportation» we are using a euphemism – probably to avoid recalling the horror.

In our calendars, June 14^th is marked as a Day of Mourning, flags are to be hoisted accordingly – halfway up or with black ribbons. The reason being the forceful removal of people from their homes, sixty two years ago, early on a Saturday morning. The imprisonment of numerous family members carried off to locations unknown.

Two years prior to that, by threat of force, the Soviet Union had obtained the opportunity to bring its armed forces into Estonia. A year before, Estonians had been deprived of their state.

Immediately after occupation by Red Army in June 1940, the violence started. The first soviet year brought the imprisonment of over 8,000 people. Less than a tenth of these were released, the other executed or died in jail. June saw the deportation of close to 10,000 people, with some imprisoned and many sentenced to death.

Whence such evil towards a nation subdued? Why such violence and rule of terror in a native land? To answer these questions, I think, we are as unable as the victims. Still today, we are asking: «Why?»

A starting point, in our search for answers, may be gleaned from teachings on communism, Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels writing: «In short: everywhere, communists support any revolutionary movement against the existing social and political order.» (The Communist Manifesto). Therefore, the existing society needs to be destroyed, a new society is to be established with new people, and those unfit for the new are to be destroyed as well.

Sure enough, the active members of the former society belonged not to the new, imaginary world. At the same time, no measuring rod having been provided for usable raw material for communist society, anyone could fall victim.

Another premise being a conqueror’s desire to annex the lands grabbed by their own country. In June 1940, deportations were happening over the entire territory occupied by the Soviet Union in 1939-1940. Murdering and imprisonment of possible resistors helps suppress opposition to integrating the annexed territory to the ruler-state.

Thirdly we will have to remember that communists had seized power in Russia. To stay in power, rule by fear was needed. The violators themselves also being fearful. The following words are ascribed to a red commissar, by Polish author Andrzei Strug: «We must burn all bridges behind us, but we are still far from that. [---] Everyone must personally tremble before terrible revenge by our enemy.» (The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier). First, they had to tremble before the revenge of the enemy, as all bridges had been burned to negotiate. Then, they also had to tremble before their superiors, as one could never know if, in their eyes, he was an eager enough builder of the new society.

Thus, the Russia intoxicated by a red dream had turned those under its rule into a means, whether as victims or those carrying out orders. The victims at least kept their conscience, the latter were robbed of even that – in exchange for a better piece of bread. However, in the eyes of the rulers, they had to be unified under fear. Once the fear was lost, Soviet rule collapsed.

One has to wonder at the communists’ talent in carrying out huge operations to do evil – and total dismay trying to organise everyday life of the country.

It is impossible to list the crimes committed by the authorities in 1940 – we should start with imprisonment without accusations and court; murder; torture; embezzlement and much more – but it seems to me that it all comes under the common denominator of depriving people of their dignity. If a person does not know the reason for such treatment, if he is not notified of the cause of a relative’s death, being forced to be silent or to lie about whatever happened, then dignity has been robbed.

Still, there are parts of the soul that never yield to rule of terror. We do know that the desire to feel human – as, without that, we cannot treat others in a humane manner – proved stronger. Even if it had to be concealed.

In the Estonian language, the word küüditama is taken root to express such forced and illegal deportations. According to a pre-war dictionary the term related to the duty of offering a ride, as ordered by authorities, pursuant to law and for pay, on extraordinary occasions, such as war.

Thus, we seem  to have landed on a «soft term» describing the activities of truck and engine drivers summoned for the task the day before, on June 13^th. Possibly, the euphemism helped avoid describing the events in all their horror. Purposeful removal of people from their homes is no küüditamine. Neither do imprisonments and killings fall under the category of government-ordered rides. Nor leaving people in conditions where hunger and disease to the job, for the executioners.

Soviet Union was based on planned economy and, in all probability, the above «casualties» were part of the plan. Still: why such expenses on travel and lodgings? Could the people not have shot on spot? The Marxist-Leninist classics having written extensively on the low productivity of slave labour.

Maybe the motive was destroying dignity. For those under orders, perhaps, it would be easier to kill people who are starved, unwashed, looking subhuman. Against all odds, the sufferers did all they could to stay alive, in the winter of 1941-1942. Later, their slave labour came in handy.

By now, the former meaning of küüditamine has given way to a more realistic interpretation of the term.

Many nations are in the habit of maintaining their dignity by telling stories, as guiding lights to their children. 2013 being a year of cultural inheritance – what can we learn of the above? Let us never be turned into a means, a tool. However tempting the promises of a glorious future, may we never look at others as useless, meaningless ones. May we never become means for evil – nor objects thereof. The best way of doing that is keeping our dignity, and honouring the dignity of others. Grief and mourning also being a part of dignity.

Today, it is collecting-deportation-stories day. On Freedom Square, Tallinn and at kogumelugu.ee website, Estonia’s maps are provided, where all with stories to tell may pin the location and number of those deported.