To commemorate 80 years since the creation of the Baltic University in Exile in Hamburg, Germany, Vabamu will be screening Helga Merits’ film The Story of the Baltic University (2015).

The Baltic University in Exile was established by Baltic refugees in Germany, to educate refugees from Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania, who were forced to put their studies on hold to flee the oncoming Red Army. While the university was only in operation for a few years (1946-1949), the existence showcases the motivation and organisational power of Baltic refugees in the post-war years.

The film screening will be followed by talks and a Q&A with film-maker Helga Merits, literary scholar Tiina Kirss, whose parents attended the university, and telecommunications engineer Guntis Berzins, whose parents lectured at the University, with his mother an Associate Professor.

For those interested, before the film there will also be an introductory guided tour to Vabamu’s new temporary exhibition Worldwide Estonia, which deals with the history of Estonian migration in the past 150 years.

While attendance is free, please do register beforehand as seating is limited.

More information about the film can be found here.

The film will be shown with Estonian subtitles, thanks to support from the Estonian American National Council, EANC (Eesti Rahvuskomitee Ühendriikides, ERKÜ).

The event is supported by the embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Estonia.

Schedule

• 17:15 Guided tour of Vabamu exhibition Worldwide Estonia by Ede Schank Tamkivi, exhibition curator
• 18:00 Film screening The Story of the Baltic University followed by Q&A and discussion
• 19:30 Reception