Aksel Mark Giving an Interview on July 17, 1986 (1986)

Interview with policitian and editor Aksel Mark in his home in Uppsala on July 17, 1986. He shortly recalls of his home and father, completing two years of elementary school instead of four in Karaski. When he talks about the War of Independence, he remembers the refugees and his father's imprisonment. Mark served in the artillery of the defence forces. He studied agronomy at the University of Tartu and recalls his lecturers. Memories of the fraternity "Veljesto". He started to work as an agricultural adviser in Rakvere in 1937 and continued in Viru-Jaagupi. Aksel Mark points out the positive aspects of the Republic of Estonia, including the fact that there was general democracy and freedom, class distinction was minimal, joint activities were extending. The negative aspect was poor economic situation among the farmers and cooperations were formed in order to improve the conditions. Mark recalls Estonian politicians, the silent era, the first Soviet occupation, June deportation and Estonian Land Reform. He talks longer about his profession as a head agronomist and his chief Villem Soo who was a Communist against Russians. He also talks about the elections in June 1941 and the end of German occupation in 1944 that made local people escape to the West. Aksel Mark with Rudolf Penno escaped to Finland. Mark recalls these complicated, tense times. The first months of refugee life in Sweden, political organizing, Estonian Committee, forming of the National Council and founding the government of the first Republic of Estonia in exile in Oslo, Norway on January 2, 1953. Aksel Mark believes that Estonia has a future since dictatorships won't last long and international journalism produces increasingly stories about the situation in Estonia. He also believes in the preservation of the principal essence of Estonian nation under any authorities and power whatsoever.