Ülo Jõgi
Encyclopedia
Ülo Jõgi was an Estonian
war historian, patriot and active in the Estonian resistance against the Soviet
occupation of Estonia
.
On 11 December 1944, Jõgi (veteran of Erna long-range recce group
, organized by Finnish Army
together with Germany) was arrested by the Soviet authorities, accused of spying for Finland
. Months later, he was sent to a Gulag
labor camp in the Komi-Zyryan ASSR
, to the west of the Ural mountains
in the north-east of the East European Plain
. He was exiled from the Estonian SSR for life, but was eventually released in 1970 and returned to Tallinn
, Estonia
, a year later. During his exile, he married Aili Jõgi
, a fellow Estonian who had been exiled in 1946 for having blown up the preceding monument to the Soviet Bronze Soldier in Tallinn.
In February 1997, Jõgi was awarded the Estonian Order of the Cross of the Eagle
for his fight against Soviet occupation ("Freedom fighter of military merit") by the Estonian President
Lennart Meri
.
Estonians
Estonians are a Finnic people closely related to the Finns and inhabiting, primarily, the country of Estonia. They speak a Finnic language known as Estonian...
war historian, patriot and active in the Estonian resistance against the Soviet
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
occupation of Estonia
Estonia
Estonia , officially the Republic of Estonia , is a state in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by the Gulf of Finland, to the west by the Baltic Sea, to the south by Latvia , and to the east by Lake Peipsi and the Russian Federation . Across the Baltic Sea lies...
.
On 11 December 1944, Jõgi (veteran of Erna long-range recce group
Erna long-range recce group
The Erna long-range reconnaissance group was a Finnish Army formation, of Estonian volunteers, that fulfilled reconnaissance duties in Estonia behind the Red Army lines during World War II...
, organized by Finnish Army
Finnish Army
The Finnish Army is the land forces branch of the Finnish Defence Forces.Today's Army is divided into six branches: the infantry , field artillery, anti-aircraft artillery, engineers, signals, and materiel troops.-History of the Finnish Army:Between 1809 and 1917 Finland was an autonomous part of...
together with Germany) was arrested by the Soviet authorities, accused of spying for Finland
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
. Months later, he was sent to a Gulag
Gulag
The Gulag was the government agency that administered the main Soviet forced labor camp systems. While the camps housed a wide range of convicts, from petty criminals to political prisoners, large numbers were convicted by simplified procedures, such as NKVD troikas and other instruments of...
labor camp in the Komi-Zyryan ASSR
Komi Republic
The Komi Republic is a federal subject of Russia .-Geography:The republic is situated to the west of the Ural mountains, in the north-east of the East European Plain...
, to the west of the Ural mountains
Ural Mountains
The Ural Mountains , or simply the Urals, are a mountain range that runs approximately from north to south through western Russia, from the coast of the Arctic Ocean to the Ural River and northwestern Kazakhstan. Their eastern side is usually considered the natural boundary between Europe and Asia...
in the north-east of the East European Plain
East European Plain
The East European Plain is a plain comprising a series of river basins in Eastern Europe. Together with the Northern European Plain it constitutes the European Plain. It is the largest mountain-free part of the European landscape.The plain spans approximately and averages about in elevation...
. He was exiled from the Estonian SSR for life, but was eventually released in 1970 and returned to Tallinn
Tallinn
Tallinn is the capital and largest city of Estonia. It occupies an area of with a population of 414,940. It is situated on the northern coast of the country, on the banks of the Gulf of Finland, south of Helsinki, east of Stockholm and west of Saint Petersburg. Tallinn's Old Town is in the list...
, Estonia
Estonia
Estonia , officially the Republic of Estonia , is a state in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by the Gulf of Finland, to the west by the Baltic Sea, to the south by Latvia , and to the east by Lake Peipsi and the Russian Federation . Across the Baltic Sea lies...
, a year later. During his exile, he married Aili Jõgi
Aili Jõgi
Aili Jõgi is an Estonian patriot who on the night of 8 May 1946, together with her school friend Ageeda Paavel, blew up a Soviet War reburial monument : the preceding monument to the Bronze Soldier in Tallinn.After the conquest of Estonia in 1944, the Soviet occupation authorities began...
, a fellow Estonian who had been exiled in 1946 for having blown up the preceding monument to the Soviet Bronze Soldier in Tallinn.
In February 1997, Jõgi was awarded the Estonian Order of the Cross of the Eagle
Order of the Cross of the Eagle
The Order of the Cross of the Eagle was instituted in 1928 by the Estonian Defence League to commemorate the tenth anniversary of Estonian independence. It was adopted as a state order in 1936.The Order of the Cross of the Eagle is bestowed to give recognition for military services and services...
for his fight against Soviet occupation ("Freedom fighter of military merit") by the Estonian President
President of Estonia
The President of the Republic is the head of state of the Republic of Estonia.Estonia is a parliamentary republic, therefore President is mainly a symbolic figure and holds no executive power. The President has to suspend his membership in any political party for his term in office...
Lennart Meri
Lennart Meri
Lennart Georg Meri was a writer, film director and statesman who served as the second President of Estonia from 1992 to 2001. Meri was a leader of the Estonian independence movement.-Early life:...
.