Chronology
Nov. 28, 1917 The Provisional Assembly of Estonia (Maapäev) declared itself to be the supreme power in Estonia
Feb. 24, 1918Maapäev’s Committee of Elders declared the independent Republic of Estonia. The first Provisional Government was nominated.
March-Nov., 1918German occupation on the territory of Estonia
Nov. 28, 1918The beginning of the Estonian War of Independence
April 5-7, 1919The Estonian Constituent Assembly was elected, laying a formal foundation to the independent statehood of Estonia
April 23, 1919 The first session of the Constituent Assembly; birthday of the Estonian Parliament
Feb. 2, 1920 The Tartu Peace Treaty was signed by the Republic of Estonia and Soviet Russia, wherein Russia recognized the Republic of Estonia
June 15, 1920The Estonian Constituent Assembly adopted the first Constitution of the Republic of Estonia, according to which Estonia was a parliamentary democratic republic
Sept. 22, 1921Estonia became a member of the League of Nations
Oct. 14-16, 1933A draft constitution was approved on a referendum
March 12, 1934Introduction of a moderately authoritative regime. The power concentrated in the hands of the President Konstantin Päts
July 28, 1937The Constituent Assembly adopted the third Constitution of the Republic of Estonia. The institutions of the President with great powers and the Riigikogu with two Chambers were established
April 24, 1938K. Päts was elected the President of the Republic of Estonia
Aug. 23, 1939Soviet Russia and Germany signed a nonaggression pact and the secret protocols, according to which Estonia became a part of the USSR sphere of interests
Sept. 28, 1939The USSR, threatening force, obliged Estonia to sign an agreement of mutual assistance, allowing establishment of Red Army military bases in Estonia and turning Estonia in essence into a protectorate of the USSR
June 17-18, 1940 The Red Army occupied Estonia
Aug. 6, 1940 Annexation of Estonia by the USSR, beginning of large-scale terror
June 14, 1941Beginning of the first deportation: over 10,000 people were deported to Russia
June 22, 1941Germany attacked the USSR and occupied Estonia. Estonia was annexed to the State Commissariat Ostland as a General Commissariat
Autumn, 1944German occupation was replaced by Soviet occupation; 70,000 Estonians fled the country to get away from the mass terror
March 25, 1949Over 20,000 people were deported to Siberia
Aug. 23, 1987First large political demonstration in Hirvepark, Tallinn
Sept. 11, 1988Rally “Song of Estonia” with 300,000 participants
Nov. 16, 1988The 11th Supreme Soviet of the Estonian SSR passed a sovereignty declaration
Aug. 23, 1989A 600 km long human Baltic Chain was organized from Tallinn to Vilnius (2 million people)
March 11-12, 1990 The first session of the Congress of Estonia (representative body of Estonian citizens) decided to restore the Republic of Estonia on the basis of legal continuity
March 30, 1990The Supreme Soviet proclaimed a transition period for the restoration of the Republic of Estonia
March 3, 1991Referendum on restoration of the independent Republic of Estonia (supported by 77.8 % of the voters) 
Aug. 20, 1991The Supreme Council passed a resolution on national independence and on the convening of the Constitutional Assembly
Sept. 13, 1991-April 10, 1992The Constitutional Assembly elaborated a draft constitution of the Republic of Estonia
Sept. 17, 1991Estonia became a member of the United Nations Organization
June 28, 1992The Constitution of the Republic of Estonia was adopted by a referendum
Oct. 5, 1992The Riigikogu elected Lennart Meri the President of the Republic of Estonia
Oct. 7, 1992 The Riigikogu declared the restoration of constitutional order
Aug. 31, 1994The last Russian troops left Estonia
Sept. 20, 1996The Electoral Body re-elected Lennart Meri the President of the Republic of Estonia
March 31, 1998The beginning of the accession negotiations between the European Union and Estonia
Sept. 21, 2001The Electoral Body elected Arnold Rüütel the President of the Republic of Estonia
Nov. 21-22, 2002At the Prague Summit Estonia was invited to join NATO
Sept. 14, 2003Referendum on the European Union membership (supported by 66,8 % of voters)
March 29, 2004Estonia became a full member of NATO
May 1, 2004The Accession Treaty between Estonia and the European Union comes into force
21.01.2005
05.10.2005
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