Site of the Treaty of Tartu Memorial site
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This building is situated at Vanemuise 35 in the centre of Tartu. It is of great importance in the history of Estonia: it was here that the Tartu Peace Treaty between Estonia and Russia was signed, ending the War of Independence.
The building was constructed in 1859 as the residence of one Baron Nolcken before being purchased by the Russian Ministry of War in the late 19th century. Among other things, the building accommodated the Red Army Latvian Riflemen. Following the declaration of independence it was acquired by the Supreme Court of Estonia, and the Treaty of Tartu was signed there on 2 February 1920. During the German occupation the building housed the local Sicherheitsdienst (Security Service) and Sicherheitspolizei (Security Police). The building was badly damaged during World War II, with only the outer walls and vaulted cellar surviving. After the war it was restored and turned into a vocational school; today an upper secondary school operates there.
The façade is adorned with a memorial tablet dedicated to the Treaty of Tartu in both Estonian and Russian.
Used sources and references:
Eesti sõjaajaloo teejuht, Tallinn 2010. Compiled by K. Luts.
National Heritage Board registry of cultural monuments. https://register.muinas.ee/public.php?menuID=monument&action=view&id=4371
Jaan Poska Gymnasium. https://jpg.tartu.ee/meie-kool/ajalugu/
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10 facts about how the Tartu Peace Treaty came about
One of the most striking stories about the birth of the Tartu Peace is how young soldiers were ordered to march in a circle around the city in the winter of 1919/1920. It probably started when the border negotiations failed to make any progress. In 1919, the commander of the 2nd Division, Colonel Viktor Puskar, ordered the Tartu schoolchildren's battalion to march around the city in such a way that it would repeatedly pass through both Aia (now Vanemuine) Street near the conference building and Veski Street, where the Russian delegation was staying.