The Village and the Class War: Anti-Kulak Campaign in Estonia 1944-49

Chapter 4 Inventing Kulaks

Chapter 4 inventing Kulaks leida B1 was included on the list of kulaks already in the first round as kulaks were listed in september 1947. she was the sole adult of her household, a woman 34 years of age with two sons, ages 5 and 7. The farm was small, 24 hectares in all; it was not one of the older farms. leida B called herself a settler; in her appeal against the kulak declaration she wrote that her family had earlier rented the farm, but had received full rights of usage in 1945.2 The family had a sizable number of livestock: two horses, four cows, an ox, sheep and pigs. The form, which served as the primary document for justifying the kulak declaration , was called a characterisation (est. iseloomustus). it contained preprinted questions pertaining to the kulak decrees, about labour, implements , land leases etc. since kulak declarations concerned a family and not just individuals, the family members were asked for. in addition, there was an open space where the township executive Committee could add remarks about the political attitudes of the family, or its record in fulfilling the labour and product deliveries due to the household . This form also mentions a reaper. in addition, it stated that the family had employed a russian prisoner of war on the farm during the 1 The names have been changed. 2 VilMa F599, op. 2, Vol. 688: 2. 114 THE VILLAGE AND THE CLASS WAR german occupation. day labourers also were mentioned in the part of the questionnaire that concerned labour power.3 leida B. made her appeal to the executive Committee of Viljandi County. she referred to the fact that she had rented the farm already for nine years, and that the communist land reform had finally made it possible for her to work for herself. in october 1947 the executive Committee exempted her from kulak status.4 The eastern Township had pointed out a large number of kulaks, but had also been criticised for not preparing the decisions properly. The case of leida B. was sent back to the township for additional data. The new form for characterisation is not dated, but it was probably written in spring or summer 1948. it contained a number of new aspects. Firstly, leida’s husband, hans, had been arrested earlier. This was probably a very important change. now it was no longer the case of a simple settler family; it was a family in which the husband had been arrested for crimes against the new regime. This meant they were not categorized as presumptive supporters, but as enemies. additionally, it turned out that the farm leida’s husband had rented was an old farm of larger size, 60 hectares . included were data formally needed for the kulak accusation— the information about the russian poW and a few day labourers, with their names.5 When the county executive Committee changed its decision in July 1948 and reinstated the family of leida B. in the kulak register, these were the facts that they referred to, not the arrest of her husband.6 Who supplied these additional data? it might have been the work of the security forces, but it is probable that such recent events were well known in the local community. leida B. appealed a second time to the Council of Ministers. she referred to friendly relations with the poW, a statement supported by another poW who had been working on the neighbouring farm. after the liberation of the germans, she had not used external labour except for a few days in the high season, she maintained. her emphasis, however, was on her belonging to the working people, the masses who were to benefit from soviet rule. she wrote: “i come from a poor 3 VilMa F599, op. 2, Vol. 688: 1. 4 VilMa F599, op. 2, Vol. 688: 3. 5 VilMa F599, op. 2, Vol. 688: 4. 6 VilMa F599, op. 2, Vol. 688: 5. 115 Inventing Kulaks peasant family; i worked as a maid until the age of 23, and at that point i married a tenant farmer. now i am a settler and my parents are settlers too.”7 This appeal was discussed when the representatives of the Council of Ministers visited Viljandi County on september 14–17, 1948. her appeal was refused, on the grounds of her having employed the referenced poW and day labourers. leida B...