PURPOSE

S-KESKUS is a non-profit association aiming at developing the academic as well as popular research of the recent history of Estonia creating for its members favourable conditions for launching, carrying out, and maintaining recent history research projects, publishing the findings and source materials, arranging scientific symposiums, conferences, and seminars, co-operating with research organzations of similar nature in Estonia and abroad, publishing materials about the activities of the association.

RESEARCH FIELD

Under Estonian recent history we mean the periods of German and Soviet occupation, i. e. years 1940 - 1991. This field, so far having been sporadically and insufficiently studied, should become one of the priorities of our historical science in the coming years. Eventually we should get a complete picture of the Nazi and Soviet occupations in Estonia. Such knowledge would be of interest for comparison for scientists from other countries having undergone the same kind of historical conditions. Several research fields, e. g. the functioning of totalitarian societies, the stifling of civic society by the Soviet system, the transmutation of mentality (the formation of Homo Sovieticus), etc., are essential research subjects even within the framework of global science. The fragile democratic political systems of Eastern Europe are rather unprotected against the possibility of the totalitarian deformities to repeat themselves. Estonia can be set as an appropriate example even on a larger scale because the mentality and structure of our society were European before the Soviet occupation. In addition, the research concerning the Soviet period has a special value for the future - shaking off the burden of the Soviet era presumes exact diagnosis of the preceding situation.

The co-ordination of the research of the above-mentioned periods was the reason why S-KESKUS was set up.

Contemporary History in Baltic and European Context

on March 30-31, 2005

March 30, 2005

14.30 Professor emeritus Enn Tarvel

Methodological Problems in the Research of Estonian Contemporary History

15.00 Professor Klas-Göran Karlsson, Lund University

The Uses of World War II History in the Baltic Sea Area

15.30 Coffee break

16.00 Jan Dahlin, Lund

The Rinkaby Camp and the Deportation of Estonian and Latvian Soldiers

16.30 PhD Aigi Rahi-Tamm, research fellow, Tartu University

The Card Index of “Politically Coloured Persons”. Gathering and Using of Personal Data on Behalf of Soviet Régime in 1940s–1960s in Estonia

17.00 Ainur Elmgren, PhD student, Lund University

The Image of Sweden and Swedes in Interwar Finland

Discussion

March 31, 2005

10.00 Indrek Paavle, PhD student, Tartu University

The Mechanisms of Power in Occupied Estonia: the First Year of Soviet Occupation 1940–1941

10.30 Professor Kim Salomon, Lund University

The Cold War: A Swedish Narrative

11.00 Meelis Maripuu, S-Centre, Tallinn

Between Facts and Propaganda: the KGB and the CC of the CPSU Investigating Crimes against Humanity in 1960–1980s

11.30 Johan Öhman, PhD student, Lund University

The Two Ukrainian Holocausts

12.00 Coffee break

12.30 Olev Liivik, S-Centre, Tallinn

National Composition of the Communist Party Apparatus in Estonia in 1944–1953

13.00 Professor Kristian Gerner, Lund University

Between Nazism and Communism: the Hungarian Example

Discussion and closing remarks

S-KESKUS is grateful for any kind of help and support we can use for the purpose of the research of the recent history of Estonia. Above all, we are interested in manuscripts, documents, photos, and other materials reflecting the events having taken place during 1941 - 1991. We also need financial aid for the development of our activities. Our bank account is 221012078595, Hansapank.