The newly “elected” people’s representatives passed a resolution to join the Soviet Union.
July 23 – Estonian President Päts resigned.
July 31 – The President and his son were exiled. They last saw Estonia through the windows of wagon #204 as it left the Narva train station.
The cadets had little to do during those days. We spent most of our time reading and playing bridge. There was a large library in the school’s basement where we spent a great deal of time talking about the events that were taking place around us.
Class picture. Detailed memoirs for this book were provided by V. Orav 3rd row 3rd from left, H. Kubja 3rd row 4th from right, A. Võhma 3rd row extreme right, E. Reiksaar last row extreme left, J. Jaagus last row 5th from left.
On the tenth of July, 1940, we had our graduation ceremony. The event was to recognize and promote the graduates of both the Military Academy and the Military Technical Academy. The Military Academy graduated 41 ensigns and all 41 were promoted to second lieutenants. The Military Technical Academy graduated 25 ensigns and five lieutenants. The 25 ensigns were promoted to second lieutenants. Major Generals Jonson and Rotberg headed the Estonian dignitaries along with the Soviet Union’s top commanders. Major General Jonson, as Estonia’s top military man, addressed the assembly. He commented on how our environment had changed very quickly during the last semester and how these changes demanded even keener focus and commitment from the new graduates. He stressed the need to maintain inner discipline, both by officers and their enlisted men. He said that the Estonian army cannot remain a spectator and that everyone has to contribute, especially the officers who are in contact with and lead the army. He said that in doing our duty, the army represents the flesh and blood of the people of Estonia. He talked about the importance of cooperation with our Russian neighbor and stressed that our respective officers have to develop and foster each other’s respect and friendship. He hoped that each Soviet officer would find each Estonian officer to be a worthy ally.
When we returned to our school after the graduation ceremony we had one remaining task, which was to choose the army unit in which to begin our careers as officers. The selection sequence was established by academic rank, with the best students choosing first. The ones at the bottom of the class had little choice.
We had started as fresh cadets in 1936. Back then we had dreams, high hopes and aspirations of doing our best to protect the security of our tiny and beloved nation. The dreams were shattered in 1940. We had become numbed and passive spectators when a foreign power had rampaged through our fatherland, destroyed our government, and robbed our people of their freedom.
We were given two weeks of vacation after which we were to report to our newly selected military commanders.
Chapter 2
Bits of War Memories
Hugo Kubja
Orientation map of Lt. Hugo Kubja’s war experience:
1. Military Academy, 1936 – 1940
2. Pärnu, 1940
3. Petseri, 1940
4. Irboska, 1941
5. Haystack, 1941
6. Petseri, 1941
7. Battle of Tartu, 1941
8. Leningrad front, 1942
9. Tallinn, 1943
10. Petseri, 1943
11. Escape from Saaremaa, 1944
Hugo Kubja was born on February 23, 1913, in Pala, Tartumaa, Estonia. He graduated from the Tartu Real High School and joined the army, graduating as an Ensign from the Estonian Officers Candidate School in 1933. He was accepted to the Estonian Military Technical Academy in 1936 and promoted to Second Lieutenant upon graduation in 1940.
After graduation from the Estonian Military Technical Academy, I chose the 9th Infantry Battalion at the town of Pärnu as the place to start my military career. There I was assigned to be the leader of one of the units of the 1st Company. The Academy had strongly recommended that new officers entering the service should act very humbly and conservatively and concentrate on observing the professionals. So, I tried. The activities here were very mundane and boring – marching, learning songs, and singing.
Eventually, we were required to elect political committees that were associated with the Red Army. There was to be a political recitation at a large military social event and I was assigned the task of making the preparations for it. Everything went well during the rehearsals, but we failed miserably at the main event. Right about this time, they started looking for political leaders for all the military units. Younger officers were part of this search and were interviewed for their suitability from the socialistic viewpoint. When I stated that my father had a 750 acre farm near Tartu, they found me unfit for the assignment. Likewise a schoolmate of mine, Second Lt. Linsi, also failed. The interviews for our unit soon ended since an Estonian, Major J. Ein, showed interest for this political position. Our relationship with the major immediately deteriorated. He showed his dislike for us, presumably because we were considered unfit as Communists.
One day the top brass of the division came for an inspection, but they could not find Major Ein. Non-commissioned officers were sent out to find him but failed. The battalion commander asked me to notify Major Ein of the need for his presence at a top level military meeting. That evening I took my wife to the officers’ mess for dinner and encountered Major Ein. When I notified him of the meeting, he burst out cussing and swearing at me. I couldn’t stand it and reminded him that it was inappropriate to carry on in this manner in front of other officers and their wives. My response took him off guard. He then proceeded with an apology that dragged out for some time because of his inebriated condition. I found out later that he had not forgotten this incident. He became the 9th Battalion’s true, energetic, political leader and a Red Army loyalist.
On September 10, 1940, the 3rd, 6th, and 9th Battalions were ordered to Petseri on the Russian border to form the 171st Rifle Regiment. The people of Pärnu became very curious when we pulled out. Nobody knew where we were heading. When all the troops were on board the train at the station there was a mass of people there to send us off. We received gifts of flowers, wine, and other items.
Farewell packages for the Estonian troops.
Major Ein was responsible for our transport, and I was made his security officer. The air was electrified when people joined in with a very patriotic Estonian song. This, of course, rubbed our political leader Major Ein the wrong way. He shrieked at me to demand an end to the singing since I was the security officer. I replied that all troops on the train were orderly and that the singers are civilians who I did not have any authority over. I suggested that he, as our leader, might be able to stop it. Instead he stormed off to his wagon, presumably to be with his wine bottle.
Later, I found that Major Ein was in charge of preparing reserve officers for mobilization to Russia. He did not go there with the men and was arrested when the Germans arrived. I was questioned regarding the major’s background and was obligated to report on
