ESSR

Estonian SSR was Soviet republic 1940-1991, capital Tallinn. Baltic republic, one of 15 SSRs, annexed 1940. Known for forests, islands, electronics, shipyards, dairy, Tallinn old town. Population 1.56M in 1989, mostly Estonians and Russians. Soviet rule brought collectivization, Russification, deportations 1941 1949, heavy industry, naval bases. Voted independent 1991 after singing revolution. After collapse became Estonia, joined EU NATO.