kreekalaadsed

Kreekalaadsed is a term used in the context of the Soviet occupation of Estonia during World War II. It refers to the process of installing Estonian farmers and residents in the border areas as a way to resist and combat the local partisan movement. This was part of the effort by the Soviet government to crush resistance and increase control over the occupied territory.

As part of the kreekalaadsed initiative, the Soviet authorities displaced local residents and moved them into the previously evacuated areas, essentially swapping one population group for another. The goal was to replace residents who were deemed to be sympathetic to the partisan movement with individuals who would be more loyal and cooperative. This population swap also served to break the ties between local residents and the surrounding landscape, rendering it more difficult for partisans to launch guerrilla attacks from within the existing population centers.

By implementing the kreekalaadsed policy, the Soviet occupiers aimed to create a more controllable and submissive local population. The process not only involved relocating existing inhabitants but also entailed incorporating others, often ethnic Russians, from distant areas. Through this means, the Soviet government could impose its authority more effectively over the occupied territory. The exact impact and scale of kreekalaadsed remain matters of historical research and debate.