Soviet air raid on Tallinn to be remembered on March 9

TALLINN – At its sitting on Wednesday, the Tallinn city government allocated 5,870 euros from its reserve to finance events organized by the Estonian Heritage Society to mark the passage of 80 years since the Soviet air raid on Tallinn in March 1944.

The Estonian Heritage Society has organized events to commemorate the victims of the aerial bombing of Tallinn on March 9, 1944, since 1989.

On the anniversary of the air raid, a memorial service will take place at the monument to the victims of the bombing at Siselinna cemetery at noon.

At 6 p.m., a memorial service and concert will begin in St. Nicholas' Church, featuring a performance by the Veronika Portsmuth Choir Academy chamber choir. At 7:15 p.m., candles will be lit on Harju Street, and the bells of Tallinn's churches will toll in mourning.

At 8 p.m., Benjamin Britten's "War Requiem" will be performed at Kaarli Church. The concert is organized by the Estonian Academy of Music and Theater in cooperation with the City of Tallinn.

In March 1944, the Soviet Air Force mounted raids to drop bombs on Tallinn and other cities of Estonia. Tallinn was the target to two raids, on the evening of March 9 and the following night, resulting in the destruction of 1,549 buildings and damage to 3,350 others, including the Estonia Theater and St. Nicholas' Church. As a result of the air raid, approximately 20,000 residents of Estonia's capital lost their homes, 554 Estonian citizens, 50 German soldiers, and 121 prisoners of war perished.