[Split from Name Change Thread] Estonia: Nordic with a Twist??

[W. R.]

I happened to read in the Great Soviet Encyclopedia that the way of building houses in South-Eastern Estonia is influenced by the Belarusians.

It appears that I saved the fragment:

Характерным типом эстонского крестьянского дома в прошлом была жилая рига - срубное жилище, состоявшее из собственно жилой риги, гумна и каморы. В настоящее время в колхозных посёлках сохранившиеся кое-где жилые риги перестроены и жильём служит каморная часть, а рига используется как кухня или подсобное помещение. Около половины жилищ колхозников сейчас составляют дома городского типа. В сев.-вост. части Эстонии (район Ийзаку) сказывается влияние русского типа жилища, в юго-вост. Эстонии (у сету) - белорусского.

Большая советская энциклопедия, т. 49, второе издание, Москва, 1957 г.

Belarusian-inluenced Setos, lol!

Belarus strong!

[esaima]

[QUOTE=Karl;420405]

In the 1920's and especially in the first years, Estonia was more socialistic than Scandinavia.

Indeed, 1920 land reform is seen as one of the most left-wing/ radical in Europe.

Land was taken from the rich(Baltic-Germans) and given to the people(Estonians), though they could keep their mansions and some territory near it.

There were in fact a few Estonian (although Germanized or German wannabies) landowners who lost their lands.

Estonia was semi-autocratic since 1934 and fully autocratic in 1938.

Here I have to disagree. Estonia was authocratic 1934-1940 but most of historians don't think that adopting 1938 a new constitution made Estonia more authocratic. Rather the things might be vice versa: non governmental canditates were allowed to participate in elections (although one-party systeme was preserved), and finally, parliament itself was re-established in 1938.
1934-1938 there was no parliament at all.

But generally things didn't change in 1938.

Found an old short clip where you can see the hierarchy in pre war Estonia:top governmental persons arrive to an opening ceremony. Firstly comes prime minister, then- general Laidoner as a second person of the country and finally president Päts as the biggest boss.
[YOUTUBE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T-jbW0P79EE[/YOUTUBE]