Alfred Käärmann
Encyclopedia
Alfred Käärmann was born on September 14, 1922 in Hargla, a village in southern Estonia, and died on February 4, 2010 aged 87. He was an Estonian resistance fighter, or Forest brother
, as the Estonians call their guerrillas, and author. In 2007 he was decorated with a military honour in recognition of his service. According to the New York Times, Alfred Käärmann's life is "a monument to man's astounding ability to endure the unbearable".
In 1941 he enrolled in a local technical school, where he met and fell in love with a girl named Kleina. Conscripted by the Nazis in February 1944, Käärmann was among those who fought the Red Army
until Estonia was occupied by the Soviets seven months later. At the end of the war, the Soviets conducted extensive sweeps to arrest and deport the many Estonians who had served in the German occupation Army. Wanting to avoid the fate of his brother, who was arrested and sent to Russia's most dreaded Arctic prison camp near Vorkuta
, Käärmann returned home to his family farm on October 4, 1944. After a rest period, he went into hiding in the forest and joined up with fellow Estonian and Latvian Forest brothers
, in the belief that it was "better to die in the forest with a weapon in your hands than in a Soviet camp".
On October 17, 1945, he was shot and wounded in a skirmish with Red Army forces. Evading capture by hiding in a swamp, then moving house to house, he was given refuge in the home of an elderly lady. Ten days later, after a message was sent via a Latvian Forest brother, a nurse from Latvia came secretly to the house and amputated his badly injured arm. After recovering from this near death experience, he was to spend another seven years in the forest. Eventually captured in 1952 by the KGB, he was sentenced to 25 years' hard labour and spent the next 15 years in various prison camps in the Ural mountains
and in Mordovia
, eventually being released in 1967. Returning to his home village, he found his beloved Kleina still waiting for him after 23 years.
Three months later he was given 72 hours' notice and expelled from Estonia. His internal passport
was stamped "annulled", effectively making him homeless within the Soviet Union, nor was he permitted to take a job until 1972. Drifting from place to place, Käärmann was eventually permitted by the Soviet government to return to Estonia in August 1981. Again returning to his village, he found Kleina still waiting for him, where they spent 11 years together before she died in 1992.
Alfred Käärmann was elected a member of the Congress of Estonia
in 1990.
, awarded the Cross of Merit
(third class) on September 10, 2007, to Alfred Käärmann for his part in the struggle to establish Estonia’s sovereignty. The award citation read: "I highly appreciate your contribution as one of many strong and determined men who fought for the freedom of our homeland. I know that it was not easy. This Cross of Merit embodies our sincere gratitude - despite its symbolic essence – for your bravery at a dark and pivotal time in our history. On behalf of our nation, I thank you for your acts of bravery! I wish you good health, perseverance, and strength of soul."
Forest Brothers
The Forest Brothers were Estonian, Latvian, and Lithuanian partisans who waged a guerrilla war against Soviet rule during the Soviet invasion and occupation of the three Baltic states during, and after, World War II...
, as the Estonians call their guerrillas, and author. In 2007 he was decorated with a military honour in recognition of his service. According to the New York Times, Alfred Käärmann's life is "a monument to man's astounding ability to endure the unbearable".
Life
Alfred Käärmann has written many books about his life as a resistance fighter. The "The Girl Guide of Udumäe" (Udumäe kodutütar) is about his relationship with his beloved Kleina.In 1941 he enrolled in a local technical school, where he met and fell in love with a girl named Kleina. Conscripted by the Nazis in February 1944, Käärmann was among those who fought the Red Army
Red Army
The Workers' and Peasants' Red Army started out as the Soviet Union's revolutionary communist combat groups during the Russian Civil War of 1918-1922. It grew into the national army of the Soviet Union. By the 1930s the Red Army was among the largest armies in history.The "Red Army" name refers to...
until Estonia was occupied by the Soviets seven months later. At the end of the war, the Soviets conducted extensive sweeps to arrest and deport the many Estonians who had served in the German occupation Army. Wanting to avoid the fate of his brother, who was arrested and sent to Russia's most dreaded Arctic prison camp near Vorkuta
Vorkuta
Vorkuta is a coal-mining town in the Komi Republic, Russia, situated just north of the Arctic Circle in the Pechora coal basin at the Usa River. Population: - Labor camp origins :...
, Käärmann returned home to his family farm on October 4, 1944. After a rest period, he went into hiding in the forest and joined up with fellow Estonian and Latvian Forest brothers
Latvian national partisans
Latvian national partisans were the Latvian national partisans who waged guerrilla warfare against Soviet rule.- Aftermath of World War I :...
, in the belief that it was "better to die in the forest with a weapon in your hands than in a Soviet camp".
On October 17, 1945, he was shot and wounded in a skirmish with Red Army forces. Evading capture by hiding in a swamp, then moving house to house, he was given refuge in the home of an elderly lady. Ten days later, after a message was sent via a Latvian Forest brother, a nurse from Latvia came secretly to the house and amputated his badly injured arm. After recovering from this near death experience, he was to spend another seven years in the forest. Eventually captured in 1952 by the KGB, he was sentenced to 25 years' hard labour and spent the next 15 years in various prison camps in 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...
and in Mordovia
Mordovia
The Republic of Mordovia , also known as Mordvinia, is a federal subject of Russia . Its capital is the city of Saransk. Population: -Geography:The republic is located in the eastern part of the East European Plain of Russia...
, eventually being released in 1967. Returning to his home village, he found his beloved Kleina still waiting for him after 23 years.
Three months later he was given 72 hours' notice and expelled from Estonia. His internal passport
Internal passport
An internal passport is an identity document used in some countries to control the internal movement and residence of its people. Countries that currently have internal passports include Russia, Ukraine, China and North Korea...
was stamped "annulled", effectively making him homeless within the Soviet Union, nor was he permitted to take a job until 1972. Drifting from place to place, Käärmann was eventually permitted by the Soviet government to return to Estonia in August 1981. Again returning to his village, he found Kleina still waiting for him, where they spent 11 years together before she died in 1992.
Alfred Käärmann was elected a member of the Congress of Estonia
Congress of Estonia
The Congress of Estonia was an innovative grassroots parliament established in Estonia as a part of the process of regaining of independence from the Soviet Union. It also challenged the power and authority of the pre-existing quasi-parliament in the country, called the Supreme Soviet of the...
in 1990.
Published works
- Metsavenna käsiraamat, Tallinn : SE&JS, 1999 ([Tallinn] : Pakett)
- Sissitegevuse käsiraamat, [Tallinn] : Kroonu Klubi, [2002] (Tallinn : ETPV Trükikoda)
- Surmavaenlase vastu: Eesti lõunapiiri metsavenna mälestusi Tartu : Tartu University PressTartu University PressTartu University Press is a university press publishing house that is part of Tartu University, Estonia.The press was founded in 1632. It is the largest university press in Estonia....
, 2000. ISBN 9789985562307 - Udumäe Kodutütar: lugu metsavenna armsamast, Tallinn : SE & JS, 1998.
- Vabaduse vaim: Alustatud 16. Okt. 1999, Tartu : Tartu University PressTartu University PressTartu University Press is a university press publishing house that is part of Tartu University, Estonia.The press was founded in 1632. It is the largest university press in Estonia....
, 2000. ISBN 9789985565193
Awards
The Estonian Minister of Defence, Jaak AaviksooJaak Aaviksoo
Jaak Aaviksoo, born 11 January 1954 in Tartu, Estonia is an Estonian politician and current Estonian Minister of Education and Research. He is a member of liberal conservative Union of Pro Patria and Res Publica.- Education and career in science :...
, awarded the Cross of Merit
Cross of Merit
There are hundreds of decorations that bear the name "Cross of Merit". As a rule a cross of merit is higher than a medal but not as esteemed as the grade of Knight in an order of merit.- The Netherlands :...
(third class) on September 10, 2007, to Alfred Käärmann for his part in the struggle to establish Estonia’s sovereignty. The award citation read: "I highly appreciate your contribution as one of many strong and determined men who fought for the freedom of our homeland. I know that it was not easy. This Cross of Merit embodies our sincere gratitude - despite its symbolic essence – for your bravery at a dark and pivotal time in our history. On behalf of our nation, I thank you for your acts of bravery! I wish you good health, perseverance, and strength of soul."