On Thursday, the 12th of May 2022, at 6 PM there will be a lecture on the topic of Estonians in post-war Germany: culture, politics, humor and the making of the global diaspora at the Estonian Embassy in Berlin (Hildebrandstr. 5, 10785 Berlin).
The lecture will be held in English and can be attended in-person at the Estonian Embassy in Berlin or followed online via Zoom. To receive the Zoom link or confirm your participation at the embassy, please register by sending an email to [email protected].
The most significant exodus of Estonian people was brought on by the Second World War, which uprooted more than a tenth of the population. Some were deported to Siberia, some fled to the West. Most of the latter ended up either in Swedish refugee camps or Displaced Persons’ camps in Germany. The presentation will shed light on the lived experiences of Estonians who had to exhibit courage and creativity in navigating the treacherous waters of international politics to secure themselves as a self-governing group with an active cultural life and establish a globally connected diaspora. In Estonian collective memory, especially the small town in Baden-Württemberg called Geislingen has found a special place as a symbol of the new beginning.
Dr. Maarja Merivoo-Parro is a Fulbright scholar dedicated to exploring the history of mentality and the crossroads of culture and politics. She divides her time between research, teaching and working in the media hosting TV and radio programs on science and research. She is also active in the non-profit sector in her field by serving on the boards of Baltic Heritage Network and Estonian Diaspora Academy and the curator of the permanent exhibition depicting Estonian refugees at Vabamu Museum of Occupations and Freedom in Tallinn. She received her Ph.D. in 2018 from Tallinn University for the dissertation “Pursuing Estonianness in Cold War U.S.A.: Education, Recreation, Humor and Overlapping Diasporic Conditions”.
