Estonian Self-Administration
Estonian Self-Administration (Estonian: Eesti Omavalitsus), also known as the Directorate, was the puppet government set up in Estonia during occupation of Estonia by Nazi Germany. It was headed by Hjalmar Mäe.
According to the Estonian International Commission for the Investigation of Crimes Against Humanity (referred to as the Commission below)
- Although the Directorate did not have complete freedom of action, it exercised a significant measure of autonomy, within the framework of German policy, political, racial and economic. For example, the Directors exercised their powers pursuant to the laws and regulations of the Republic of Estonia, but only to the extent that these had not been repealed or amended by the German military command.[1]
The Commission also found that "The position of Director was voluntary; there is no evidence that any of the leadership of the Directorate were subject to any form of coercion. <...> The Directorate’s autonomy, in particular, enabled them to maintain police structures that cooperated with the Germans in rounding up and killing Estonian Jews and Roma, and in seeking out and killing Estonians deemed to be opponents of the occupiers, and which were ultimately incorporated into the Security Police. It also extended to the unlawful conscription of Estonians for forced labor or for military service under German command."[1]
Senior officials
- Hjalmar Mäe
- Oskar Angelus
- Alfred Wendt (or Alfred Vendt)
- Otto Leesment
- Hans Saar
- Oskar Öpik
- Arnold Raadik
- Johannes Soodla
The Commission concluded that the senior officials of the Directorate, by the virtue of their position, share responsibility with the German authorities for all criminal actions carried out in Estonia, and beyond its borders by military units or police battalions raised with their consent. [1]