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Fascism in Estonia has a history before and during World War II.
Pre-World War II
In the pre-World War II Estonia, the Estonian War of Independence Veterans' League (Eesti Vabadussõjalaste Liit; EVL; also known as Vapsid), an arguably fascist group, succeeded in legally obtaining the absolute majority vote of the people in Tallinn and Tartu city councils.
In a 1933 referendum, the league spearheaded replacement of the parliamentary system with a presidential form of government and laid the groundwork for an April 1934 presidential election, which it expected to win. However, the veterans were thwarted by a pre-emptive coup d'état on March 12, 1934, by Konstantin Päts, who then established his own authoritarian rule until new constitution came to force. The league was officially banned and finally disbanded in December 1935.
The short-lived EVL was not a classical fascist party. Most of its support came from the workers who previously voted either for socialist or communist parties. The league rejected racial ideology and openly criticized the Nazi persecution of Jews. It also lacked the willingness to use violence, and the goal of territorial expansion.
Controversies today
References
See also
Further reading
- Andres Kasekamp. 2000. The Radical Right in Interwar Estonia. London: Palgrave Macmillan, ISBN 0-312-22598-9