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National Boy Scout Uniforms--Estonia


Figure 1.--We are not sure but we believe this was an Estonian Scout/Guide group in 1934. The Scout and Guide movements seem cloesly related in Estoni, probably because the movement was relatively small.

Scouting was first organized in Estonia during 1911 and a troop formed at Pärnu in 1912. There was no national Estonian Scout association. Rather the Estonian Scouts registered with the Imperial Russian Russian Scout Association (Русский Скаут). It is believed that this was the as the first Scout troop in the Tasrist Baltic provinces. The Scouting movement did not grow rapidly, although troops were organized in Tallinn and Tartu. The movement was spread to smaller towns by highschool students from Latvia fleeing the advancing Germans in World War I. The War an ensuing Revolution disrupted Estonia, but brought independece. An Estonian Scout movement was organized at a conference in Tartu (1921). A future minister of eduction, Jaan Hunerson played a n important role in organizing Estonian Scouting. Estonia was a founding member of the World Scout Organization (1922). There were enthusiastic Scouts during the inter-war era. Baden Powell visited in 1933. Estonian National jamboreees were knoen as a Suurlaager. The largest was held in 1936 with about 1,500 Estonian and 500 foreign Scouts attending. The Communists after the Soviet invasion supressed Estonian Scouting. Scouting has been revived in Estonia since the disloution of the Soviet Union.

History


Foundation: Tsarist Russia (1910-14)

Scouting was first informally organized in Estonia during 1911 and a troop formed at Pärnu in 1912. There was no national Estonian Scout association. Rather the Estonian Scouts registered with the Imperial Russian Russian Scout Association (Русский Скаут). It is believed that this was the as the first Scout troop in the Tasrist Baltic provinces. The Scouting movement did not grow rapidly, although troops were organized in Tallinn and Tartu. I know of no other youth groups in Estonia at the time.

World War I (1914-18)

Scouting in Estonia was just beginning when World War I broke out. German armies drove deep into the Baltics. The movement was spread to smaller towns by highschool students from Latvia fleeing the advancing Germans in World War I. The War an ensuing Revolution disrupted Estonia, but brought independece.

Independent republic (1919-40)

After World War I as Estonia fought for its independence from the the Bolsheviks, the Eesti Skautide Ühing (Estonian Scout Association) was formed (1919). It was organized at a conference in Tartu (1921). Scouting was popular in Estonia during the inter-war years, but we have few details at this time. A future minister of eduction, Jaan Hunerson played a n important role in organizing Estonian Scouting. Estonia was a founding member of the World Scout Organization (1922). There were enthusiastic Scouts during the inter-war era. Baden Powell visited in 1933. We note Scouts in Talinn greeting Baden-Powell as part of his promotional Baltic Sea cruice on the Calgaric. Estonian National jamboreees were knoen as a Suurlaager. The largest was held in 1936 with about 1,500 Estonian and 500 foreign Scouts attending. We have archived a photograph which we believe shows Estonian Scouts and Guides in 1934.

Soviet invasion (1940)

The Soviet Union invaded and occupied Estonia (1940) and the Communists banned Scouting. Any attempt to participate surepticiously in Scouting was dangerous as the Soviets view it as a Fascist organization and counter-revolutionary. The KGB rounded up large numbers of people associated with the old regime, many were arrested and whole families were deported. Photographs of Estonian Scouts are very rare.

NAZI invasion (1941)


Soviet Era (1944-91)

The Soviets considered Scouting to be a Fascist reactionary movement. Thus after the Soviet Occupation (1940) and reoccupation (1944) it was not advisable to be assiciated with Scouting. Thus most photographs and memorabilia were destroyed.

Independence (1992- )

Scouting has been revived in Estonia since the disolution of the Soviet Union. The Eesti Skautide Ühing was reformed (1989) as Estonia began to move toward independence and is now recognised as a member of the World Organization of the Scout Movement. The ESÜ is a national scout association and is open to all young people in Estonia. There is no descrimination as to race, national origin, religion or gender. We suspect that Scouting may be more popular among the Estonian children than the children of Russian origins, but can not confirm that at this time. The ESÜ had about 1,000 members in the early 2000s. The ESÜ's national headquarters is in Suure-Jaani, in the center of the country. ESÜ members since independence regularly participate in international Scouting events.

Types

There appears to have been a Sea Scout movement.

Uniforms

We have little information on the Estonian Scout uniforms at this time. We have sme images from the 1930s showing the uniforms worn. The boys wore Baden-Powell styyle broad-brimmed hat. They wore solid-colored neckerchiefs, I'm not sure about the color. The image here suggests the boys wore a light-colored shirt, but we have seen pther photographs where the boys are wearing darker looking shirts. The short pants matched. I'm not sure about the color, probably khaki. Most boys wore kneesocks. Some were dark kneesocs with light-colored strips at the tops. We also see some boys wearing long stockings. The Girl Guides seem to wear belted dresses. I'm not sure about the color, probably dark blue. They have lighter-colored neckerchiefs. I'm also not sure about Guide headwear. Available photographs show them wearing a variety of headwear.







HBU






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Created: 4:35 AM 5/27/2006
Last updated: 8:37 PM 4/8/2010