The dilemmas faced by Estonia and other East European countries during the German occupation are rarely understood by Westerners, who have been led to believe that only one ‘Evil Force’ had to be confronted. In reality, the Germans wielded ruthless power and resistance was near-impossible. There were also sound patriotic reasons for joining the ‘war against Bolshevism’, particularly after a measure of self-government was introduced, extremely welcome after the preceding ‘Great Terror’.
