Vaba Maa

Vaba Maa ( " Free Land" ) was one of the most important newspapers in Estonia during the interwar period. It was published from 1918 until 1938.

History

Prehistory

In February 1918, the Republic of Estonia declared its political independence from Russia. However, the country remained busy in the wake of the First World War by Imperial German troops.

Only with the military defeat of Germany in World War Estonia was given its de facto sovereignty. On 12 November 1918 the Estonian government took over the state power. The Republic of Estonia became a democratic state with a free press.

Newspaper

The first issue of Vaba Maa appeared on 5 December 1918. Editor was in the two early years, " Tallinn Publishing Association " ( Tallinna Kirjastusühisus ). The newspaper was published by the publishing house founded in 1920, OÜ Vaba Maa. In the autumn of 1920, the publisher acquired new premises in the center of the Estonian capital Tallinn.

Its founders Vaba Maa were in 1920, among other things, the journalist Aleksander Veiler, the politician Konstantin Konik and the doctor and publicist Juhan Luiga.

Was chief editor from 1918 to 1921, the diplomat Julius Seljamaa, from 1923, the diplomat and politician Ants Piip, then from 1923 to 1938, the diplomat and journalist Eduard Laaman. 1927 acquired the publishing house of the German company MAN modern rotary printing machines.

The newspaper published daily except Monday. The editorial office was in the Estonian capital Tallinn. The newspaper had its own local edition for the city of Pärnu.

From 1918 to 1932, the newspaper was politically close to the Estonian Labour Party ( Eesti Tööerakond ). From 1932 to 1935 she was the voice of the successor party National Centre Party ( Rahvuslik Keskerakond ).

Press censorship

1934 was made by the Estonian state and head of government Konstantin Pats with the help of the military in a bloodless coup. He established an authoritarian rule. Freedom of the press was severely restricted, demonstrates the political parties in March 1935 to an operating ban.

From the rigid rules of the police state also Vaba Maa was affected. Although the newspaper was able to appear on, but, like all print products a censorship of the press and police authorities subject.

End

1938 merged the newspaper founded in 1923 Rahvaleht ( " People's Journal " ) with Vaba Maa Both press organs belonged since 1927 to the same publishing house. The latest edition of Vaba Maa appeared on March 4, 1938. Thereafter, the newspaper has been discontinued and unites the editors of Vaba Maa and Rahvaleht. Rahvaleht was a daily newspaper.

The sheet existed until the Soviet occupation of Estonia in the summer of 1940. The Soviet authorities nationalized the publisher Vaba Maa They named it into Punane Täht ( "Red Star ").