Koondistes

Koondistes refers to a group of people in Estonia who, alongside others, were forcibly deported from Estonia to Siberia and other parts of the Soviet Union by the Soviet authorities during the Soviet period. The term is often used to describe the recipients of repressive policies aimed at crushing opposition and dissent against the Soviet regime.

Many koondistes were Estonians who lived in Estonia during the period of Soviet rule after World War II. Following World War II, Estonia was annexed by the Soviet Union, and the Soviet government imposed numerous policies aimed at suppressing the Estonian language and culture, as well as stifling opposition to Soviet rule. Those who actively resisted these policies, or were simply members of the Estonian intelligentsia, were often targeted for persecution.

Koondistes includes those who were forcibly deported to Siberia and other parts of the Soviet Union, as well as those who were sentenced to prison or hard labor for their opposition to Soviet rule. The term specifically refers to those who were sent to places outside of Estonia, as distinct from others who faced repression inside the country. The circumstances of their deportation varied, with some individuals being arrested in the middle of the night while others were taken from their homes at dawn.

The term koondiste has become a powerful symbol in Estonian culture of resistance to Soviet rule and a testament to the strength and resilience of those who endured the hardships and suffering inflicted upon them.