Estonian Soviet Socialist Republic

The Estonian Soviet Socialist Republic,[1] or Estonian SSR or ESSR, was a republic of the Soviet Union. It was administered by and subordinated to the Government of the Soviet Union.

Estonian Soviet Socialist Republic Eesti Nõukogude Sotsialistlik Vabariik (Estonian) Эстонская Советская Социалистическая Республика (Russian)
1940–1941, 1944–1990/91
Flag (1940–1953) Emblem (1940–1990)
Anthem: "Anthem of the Estonian Soviet Socialist Republic"
Location of Estonia (red) within the Soviet Union
Status	Internationally unrecognized part of Soviet Union (1940–1941, 1944–1990/91)
Capital	Tallinn 59°25′00″N 24°45′00″E
Common languages	Estonian Russian
Religion	State atheism
Government	One-party Soviet socialist republic
Leader
• 1940–1941	Karl Säre
• 1944–1950	Nikolai Karotamm
• 1950–1978	Johannes Käbin
• 1978–1988	Karl Vaino
• 1988–1990	Vaino Väljas
Legislature	Supreme Soviet
Historical era	World War II · Cold War
• Soviet occupation	16 June 1940
• SSR declared	21 July 1940
• Annexed by USSR	6 August 1940
• Nazi occupation	1941
• Soviet re-occupation SSR re-established	1944
• Estonian Sovereignty Declaration	16 November 1988
• Singing Revolution	1988
• Soviet occupation declared illegal	8 May 1990
• Restoration of independent Estonia	20 August 1991
• Independence recognised by the USSR	6 September 1991
Area
1989	45,227 km2 (17,462 sq mi)
Population
• 1989	1,565,662
Currency	Soviet ruble (руб) (SUR)
Calling code	7 014
Today part of	Estonia

The ESSR replaced the Republic of Estonia on 21 July 1940, after the invasion of Soviet troops on 17 June 1940. A puppet government backed by the Soviet Union, declared Estonia to be a Soviet state. The Estonian SSR was taken into the USSR on 9 August 1940. The independence of the Republic of Estonia was reestablished on 20 August 1991.