Provisional Government (Estonia)
The Provisional Government of the Republic of Estonia ruled as the Estonian executive from February 24, 1918 to May 8, 1919 and led Estonia to independence from Soviet Russia .
First Provisional Government
In the power vacuum of the First World War with the collapse of the tsarist order in Russia , the withdrawal of Russian troops from the Baltic States and the advance of the German army , the Provisional Government of the Republic of Estonia was formed on February 24, 1918. On the same day, the independence of the Republic of Estonia was proclaimed.
The Provisional Government was set up by the so-called Estonian Rescue Committee (Estonian: Eestimaa Pästekomitee ), which was set up as an executive body by the Provisional Diet of the Estonian Governorate (Estonian: Eestimaa Kubermangu Ajutine Maanõukogu ) with a decree of February 19, 1918.
The members of the Provisional Government were:
- Konstantin Päts , Chairman of the Council of Ministers, Interior Minister, Trade and Industry Minister
- Jüri Vilms , Deputy Chairman of the Council of Ministers, Minister of Justice
- Jaan Poska , Foreign Minister
- Juhan Kukk , Minister of Finance and Treasury
- Jaan Raamot, Minister of Agriculture and Food
- Andres Larka , Minister of War
- Villem Maasik, Minister of Labor and Social Affairs
- Ferdinand Peterson, Minister of Transport
- Peeter Põld, Minister of Education
Three ministerial posts intended for members of the German, Russian and Swedish minorities initially remained vacant.
One day after the formation of the Provisional Government, on February 25, 1918, German troops marched into Tallinn . The Estonian government went underground. Prime Minister Konstantin Päts was imprisoned by the German authorities in an internment camp until November 11, 1918, the collapse of the German Empire .
Second Provisional Government
On November 12, 1918, the second Provisional Government was formed. Konstantin Päts became Prime Minister and Minister of the Interior. On the same day, the Estonian armed forces were officially launched by a government decision. On November 27, 1918, through a government reshuffle, Konstantin Päts also became Minister of War. One day later, the so-called Estonian War of Independence against Soviet Russia (November 28, 1918 to February 2, 1920) broke out.
The activities of the second Provisional Government ended on May 8, 1919 with the swearing-in of the first regular Estonian government under Otto Strandman .