The Communist Coup Attempt in Estonia: 1 December 1924

December 1, 2024 marked the centenary of the communist attempt to overthrow the Republic of Estonia.

The communist coup attempt began in the early morning of December 1, 1924, with an attack on the Military Academy in Tondi, Tallinn. The aim was to capture strategic sites throughout the country in order to seize power and then invite in Soviet occupation troops. Those responsible for the security of the Republic of Estonia managed to repel the attack within hours. 26 Estonian soldiers and civilians were killed.

A traveling exhibition at the Estonian War Museum summarizes the preparations for the coup and the events in Tallinn, provides an overview of international media coverage, and portrays participants from both sides. The exhibition ends with a brief summary of Russia’s aggressive policy against the independence of neighboring countries after the collapse of the Soviet Union.