International Conference and Commemorations: The Mass Flight of 1944

The full recording, as well as program and speaker bio are available for viewing below:

In commemoration of the Great Refugee Flight to the West (in 1944), the Seminar Series “I Do Not Want to Leave, but I Cannot Stay” presented the international conference Mass Flight of 1944 at Estonia’s Parliament on September 19th in commemoration of the anniversary of the Great Refugee Flight to the West (1944).

Thank you to the organizers as well EANC council members Kristi Vuht Allpere and Jaak Rakfeldt, who presented at this important event.

*in the Estonian language, on-site translation provided.

Spaces are limited, preregistration required. Pre-register for in person participation by September 12, 2022, 5. p.m. (Estonia time). Kohtade arv on piiratud. Sissepääs vaid eelregistreerinutule.

Conference program and additional events listed below the brief slide show.

Suurpõgenemine 1944 ja meie / The Mass Flight of 1944 and Us
Rahva mälu ja pagulus / People’s memory and exile

(Begins 1 p.m. Estonia time, 6 a.m. Eastern time)

Avasõnad / Opening Remarks

Tarmo Kruusimäe – Riigikogu Välis-Eesti toetusrühma esimees / Chairman of the Riigikogu Välis-Eesti support group

Tõnis Lukas – EV haridus- ja teadusminister / Minister of Education and Research of the Republic of Estonia

Ettekanded / Presentations

Meelis Maripuu (Eesti) “Põgenejad, kes nad olid?” (The Refugees – who were they?”)

Lelde Neimane (Läti) “Läti pagulaste videod 1944 aasta mälestustest Läti Okupatsioonimuuseumis” (Video testimonies of the refugees of 1944, in the Museum of the Occupation of Latvia)

Juozas Banionis (Leedu) “Enne Leedu Harta avaldamist: Leedu pagulaskomitee Saksamaal 1944-1949” (Before the publication of the Lithuanian Charter: Organization of the Lithuanian Exile Community in Germany in 1944-1949)

Dr. Jaak Rakfeldt (Ameerika Ühendriigid) “Suurpõgenemine: trauma, vastupidavus ja kerksus” (The Mass Flight: Trauma, Coping, and Resilience)

Elin Toona (Ühendkuningriik) „Pagulus“ (Exile)

Mati Mandel (Eesti) “Admiral Johan Pitka võitlusgrupi liikmete saatus” (The Fate of the Members of Admiral Johan Pitka’s Resistance Group)

Madis Somelar (Eesti) “Suur põgenemine ja Välis-Eesti meie õpikutes” (The Mass Flight of 1944 and the subject of Estonians abroad in school textbooks) 

Kohvipaus 15 min / 15 minutes coffee break

Paneelvestlus / Panel discussions

Speakers: Riina Solman, Tunne Kelam, Mari-Ann Kelam, Kristi Allpere, Enn Hallik

Modereerib: Iivi Zajedova

Koordinaator ja tugi: Evelin Sennett

suurpogenemine1944.wordpress.com
www.facebook.com/suurpogenemine1944
[email protected]

Learn more about the speakers here:  https://youtu.be/55G5IGwfAls

The organizer reserves the right to make programming changes.

The conference was followed by the premiere of the performance “Pagulusse” (“Into Exile”).

Based on the memoirs of EANC Visnapuu Award for Arts and Letters author Elin Toona, performed by students of the 32nd High School and the ensemble “Estonian Folks.” Advisor: Eva Kalbus.