nPostednon August 20, 2016
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Onnthis date in 1991, Soviet tanks were traveling across the Estoniannlandscape.
Onnthis date in 1991, Soviet tanks were traveling across the Estoniannlandscape. n
nSoviet paratroopers had floated down to a TV tower and wasnpreparing to cut off communications channels. The movement to breaknaway from the U.S.S.R. was surely going to be squashed!
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| The Estonians had been having huge demonstrations, agitating for independence, for several years before the 1991 declaration. The photo above is from 1988. |
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nButnEstonian politicians stayed the course: They went ahead and declaredntheir nation’s independence.
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nAndnthe people of Estonia backed their move: Volunteers surrounded the TVntower and would not back down just because the Soviet troops hadnweapons. n
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nMorenEstonians moved to protect the buildings that were most important tontheir would-be-independent nation. n
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nLuckily,nthe Soviet Union was pretty busy with its own internal meltdown –nthere was an attempted coup, and other republics were mumbling aboutnbreaking away from the U.S.S.R., as well. The coup failed, BorisnYeltsin and his more liberal government remained in power, and eventually thenU.S.S.R. broke apart.
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nAnd,nyes, Estonia did become free!
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nTonlearn more about Estonia, check out this earlier post.
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nAlsonon this date:
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nBirthdaynof Bernardo O’Higgins, the “Liberator of Chile”
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nSt.nStephen’s Day in Hungary
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nAnniversarynof the launch of Voyager 2
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Plannahead:
Plannahead:
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Checknout my Pinterest boards for:
Checknout my Pinterest boards for:
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n Augustn holidays
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n Augustn birthdays
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nn Historicaln anniversaries in August
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nAndnhere are my Pinterest boards for:
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n Septembern holidays
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n Septembern birthdays
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nn Historicaln anniversaries in September
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