As we prepare to celebrate Estonian Independence Day tomorrow, we must not forget those who perished as Estonia fought tirelessly to achieve freedom. Not all the casualties of the war were military, many civilians were killed too. One of the most horrendous crimes committed by the Soviet Army during the Estonian War of Independence was the Palermo Forest massacre.
The massacre in the Palermo Forest of Rakvere was one of the most brutal massacres committed by the Bolsheviks in Estonia between 1918–1919. On 15 December 1918, the Battle of Lagavere ended in the defeat of the Estonian Army and Lagavere fell to the Soviet Army. The Bolsheviks then began arresting and executing people immediately after conquering Rakvere, and the arrests were carried out throughout Viru and Järva counties. Those arrested were mainly innocent people, landlords, members of the Defence League, school teachers, priests, church caretakers, shopkeepers, clerks, local government officials and war deserters. When the bodies were later exhumed, it was discovered that the dead included women, elderly people, and young schoolchildren.
On 12 January 1919, the Estonian independence army and Finnish volunteers
liberated Rakvere, saving the lives of many prisoners who were still in captivity. A
commission was set up to investigate the Palermo massacre, and a total
of 82 bodies were found. The investigation revealed that many had been
tortured before being executed. In addition to the bullet wounds, most
of the victims had their chests and bodies pierced with rifle butts and bayonets, the intestines
had been punctured, and the bones in their legs and arms were broken.
This is another Soviet crime we will never forget.
