Arnold Susi, Estonian lawyer and politician, Estonian Minister of Education (d. 1968)

Arnold Susi (Estonian: [ˈɑrnolt ˈsusʲi]; 4 January 1896 – 29 May 1968) was a prominent Estonian lawyer and an important figure in the nation's struggle for independence during World War II. His life was marked by service to his country, political persecution, and a significant connection to one of the 20th century's most influential literary works.

The Minister of Education in the Otto Tief Government

During the tumultuous final stages of World War II, as German occupation forces retreated and Soviet forces advanced into Estonia in September 1944, Arnold Susi was appointed Minister of Education in the last legitimate government of the Republic of Estonia. This interim government, led by Prime Minister Otto Tief and established on 18 September 1944, represented a courageous, albeit ultimately doomed, attempt to restore Estonia's independence between the two totalitarian powers. The Tief government sought to prevent the re-occupation by the Soviet Union following the earlier Soviet annexation in 1940 and the subsequent Nazi German occupation. Susi's involvement in this government underscored his commitment to Estonian sovereignty and democratic values, even in the face of overwhelming odds.

Imprisonment and the Crucial Link to Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn

Born in the North Caucasus region, Arnold Susi's life took a dramatic turn after the Soviet re-occupation of Estonia. Like many members of the Tief government and other Estonian patriots, Susi was arrested by the Soviet authorities. He subsequently endured years of imprisonment within the notorious Soviet Gulag system, a vast network of forced labor camps. It was within these harsh conditions that Susi forged a profound and historically significant friendship with the renowned Russian dissident writer Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn, who would later become a Nobel laureate for Literature.

Susi's connection to Solzhenitsyn extends beyond their shared ordeal in the Gulag. After his release from imprisonment, Arnold Susi provided crucial sanctuary to Solzhenitsyn. From 1965 to 1967, Solzhenitsyn secretly hid at Susi's modest country house in Klooga, Estonia. It was in this clandestine environment, shielded by Susi and his family, that Solzhenitsyn meticulously completed a significant portion of his monumental work, The Gulag Archipelago. This seminal non-fiction book, which unflinchingly exposed the brutal realities of the Soviet forced labor camp system to the world, relied heavily on testimonies, documents, and Solzhenitsyn's own experiences, shared and verified in part through his conversations with fellow survivors like Susi. Solzhenitsyn himself briefly recounts his impactful meeting and connection with Arnold Susi within the pages of The Gulag Archipelago, acknowledging Susi's steadfast support during a perilous period.

Writings from Exile: Doom of the Russian Empire

Beyond his political and dissident activities, Arnold Susi was also a writer. While in exile in Abakan, a city in Siberia, Russia, likely during or after his imprisonment, he penned his memoirs of World War I. This work, titled Doom of the Russian Empire (in Estonian: Vene impeeriumi hukk), offered his unique perspective on the collapse of the Russian Empire, a pivotal historical event that profoundly shaped the geopolitical landscape of the 20th century and directly impacted Estonia's path to independence.

A Lasting Legacy: The Heli and Arnold Susi Mission Award

Arnold Susi passed away in Tallinn, Estonia, at the age of 72. His enduring legacy and courage continue to be recognized in modern Estonia. In 2019, the Estonian Ministry of Justice, in collaboration with the Estonian Institute of Human Rights, established the prestigious Heli and Arnold Susi Mission Award for the Courage to Speak Out. This award is named not only in honor of Arnold Susi but also his courageous daughter, Heli Susi, a translator who also faced Soviet persecution and was instrumental in sheltering Solzhenitsyn. The award serves to celebrate and support individuals who demonstrate exceptional bravery in using their words to champion democratic values, human rights, and the truth, often at great personal risk, reflecting the very principles Arnold and Heli Susi embodied throughout their lives.

Frequently Asked Questions About Arnold Susi

Who was Arnold Susi?
Arnold Susi was an Estonian lawyer and politician, notably serving as the Minister of Education in the short-lived, legitimate Estonian government of Otto Tief in September 1944. He is also widely recognized for his imprisonment in the Soviet Gulag and for providing refuge to Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn while the latter was writing The Gulag Archipelago.
What was the significance of the Otto Tief government?
The Otto Tief government was Estonia's attempt to restore its independence between the retreating German forces and the advancing Soviet Red Army in September 1944. It was the last constitutional government of the Republic of Estonia before the second Soviet occupation, symbolizing the nation's unwavering commitment to sovereignty despite overwhelming external pressures.
How was Arnold Susi connected to Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn?
Arnold Susi befriended Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn in a Soviet Gulag prison. Crucially, after their release, Susi offered Solzhenitsyn refuge at his country house in Estonia, where Solzhenitsyn secretly completed significant portions of his seminal work, The Gulag Archipelago, which exposed the horrors of the Soviet labor camp system.
What is the Heli and Arnold Susi Mission Award?
The Heli and Arnold Susi Mission Award for the Courage to Speak Out is an honor established in 2019 by the Estonian Ministry of Justice. It recognizes individuals who courageously use their words to advocate for democratic values and human rights, continuing the legacy of Arnold Susi and his daughter Heli Susi, both of whom resisted Soviet oppression.
Did Arnold Susi write any books?
Yes, Arnold Susi authored his memoirs of World War I, titled Doom of the Russian Empire (Estonian: Vene impeeriumi hukk). He wrote this work while in exile in Abakan, Siberia, offering insights into the collapse of the Russian Empire.