00:00The Declaration of Independence of Estonia, also known as the Manifesto of the Peoples of Estonia
00:04is the founding act of the Republic of Estonia dated February 24, 1918.
00:08It is celebrated on February 24th, Independence Day.
00:12During the First World War, between the withdrawal of Russia and the advance of the
00:15German troops, and with the approach of the occupation of Estonia by the German Empire, the committee
00:19of public safety, elected by the elders of the Estonian Provincial Assembly, drafted
00:23the Declaration.
00:25Originally scheduled to be proclaimed on February 21, 1918, the proclamation was postponed.
00:30on the evening of February 23, when the Manifesto was printed and read publicly in Pernu.
00:35The following day, February 24th, the Manifesto was printed and distributed in the capital.
00:40Tallinn.
00:40The German Empire did not recognize the New Republic of Estonia.
00:44However, after the defeat of the Central Powers during the First World War in November
00:48In 1918, Germany withdrew its troops from Estonia and formally transferred its powers to the government
00:53Estonian provisional on November 19th.
00:55The invasion by the Russian Bolsheviks and the subsequent Estonian War of Independence.
00:59On February 2, 1920, the Treaty of Tartu was signed by the Republic of Estonia.
01:04and the USSR.
01:05The Republic of Estonia gained international recognition by becoming a member of the Society
01:09of the Nations in 1921.
