Estonian military history – in one day!
This tour of the Estonian capital takes you through the most significant events in the country's 20th-century history – from World War I and the War of Independence to World War II, the Soviet occupation and the restoration of independence. Visiting the War Museum, the Memorial to the Victims of Communism, the KGB chambers and the Vabam Museum, students will learn about both military history and people's personal stories of freedom, resistance and repression. The route encourages understanding the impact of historical events on society and the value of democracy today.
What the tour includes
This will not only be a tour of “museums with information”, but a real journey through Estonian history, where you will be able to feel how people lived, fought and changed their country. The Estonian War Museum – General Laidoner Museum allows you to explore a historical manor and imagine the lives of soldiers and commanders in different historical periods, viewing weapons, uniforms and stories about battles in which Estonians participated. The Memorial to the Victims of Communism is a place where, walking between walls of words and symbolic “roads”, you can feel how many families were affected by Soviet-era repressions. The KGB prison cells provide a very powerful and also frightening experience – the narrow spaces and authentic environment show what the conditions of investigation and imprisonment were like. The Vabamu Occupation and Freedom Museum helps to understand history more broadly – through stories, films and people's experiences that show both the occupation and the restoration of freedom in the Singing Revolution.