Autonomy and German occupation Konstantin Päts

konstantin päts 1 of authors of estonian declaration of independence.

in 1917, when german forces advancing on estonia, päts able avoid mobilization. since control after february revolution in hands of russian provisional government, estonians pursuing autonomy within russian empire. in local debates on whether form 1 or 2 autonomous governorates in estonia, konstantin päts, supported single autonomous governorate, took yet victory jaan tõnisson, supported 2 autonomous governorates. after estonian mass protests in petrograd, provisional government formed autonomous governorate of estonia on 12 april [o.s. 30 march] 1917.

the estonian provincial assembly (maapäev) elected; päts joined , became 1 of leading figures of estonian country people s union, took 13 of 55 seats. left- , right-wing politicians gained equal number of seats in provincial assembly, made difficult appoint speaker assembly. jaan tõnisson of centre-right nominated candidacy of konstantin päts, lost 1 vote unknown artur vallner. @ first, päts chose not join of parliamentary groups, joined right-wing democratic group. päts replaced jaan raamot chairman of provincial government on 25 october [o.s. 12 october] 1917. during october revolution, bolsheviks took control in estonia , provincial assembly disbanded. after failing give on official documents, päts arrested 3 times, until went underground.

since bolshevik power in estonia relatively weak, council of elders of maapäev declared on 28 november [o.s. 15 november] 1917, assembly legally elected , constituted authority in estonia. since council of elders big work underground, three-membered estonian salvation committee formed on 19 february 1918 , konstantin päts became 1 of members.

soviet russian forces evacuating, salvation committee wanted use interregnum , declare estonia s independence. on 21 february 1918, delegation päts sent haapsalu, chosen site of initial declaration, forced head tallinn, since german forces had captured haapsalu on same day. attempts reach tartu before german occupation had failed.

when soviet russian forces had evacuated tallinn , german forces advancing, salvation committee issued estonian declaration of independence on 24 february 1918 (the declaration had been delivered pärnu, proclaimed on 23 february). instantly estonian provisional government formed , konstantin päts became chairman of council of ministers, minister of internal affairs , minister of commerce , industry. position of minister of commerce , industry remained vacant in reality.

on 25 february 1918, german forces captured tallinn , arrested konstantin päts on 16 june 1918. sent several prison camps in latvia until placed in camp in grodno, poland. released @ end of war on 17 november 1918.

after deputy chairman of council of ministers jüri vilms mysteriously died in finland, jaan poska led underground republic. after germany surrendered, konstantin päts s 2nd cabinet of provisional government took office on 12 november 1918, making päts prime minister of provisional government , minister of internal affairs.

after päts arrived tallinn , maapäev had gathered, päts s 3rd cabinet of provisional government formed on 27 november 1918, päts prime minister of provisional government , minister of war, leaving him organize national defence. however, due multiple portfolios in government, of work in ministry of war higher officers.