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Hendrik AllikSoviet statesman and party figure
Date of Birth: 15.03.1901
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Content:
- Early Life and Education
- Political Beginnings
- Imprisonment and Resistance
- Liberation and Resistance Continued
- Role in Soviet Estonia
Early Life and Education
Hendrik Allik was born on March 15, 1901, in the Abbey Parish of Viljandi County, Estonia. His mother was the rector of the Hallist Lutheran Church, while his father was a farmer. Allik received an exceptional education, becoming fluent in English, German, and French in addition to Russian and Estonian.
Political Beginnings
Allik's political journey began in 1923 when he led conferences for young workers and sports clubs. As the Communist Party of Estonia (CPE) operated underground, Allik joined the United Front Bureau created by the CPE's Central Committee. Elected to the Estonian Parliament, he became a vocal representative of the working-class movement.
Imprisonment and Resistance
Allik's activism led to his arrest in 1924 for alleged anti-state conspiracy. During the subsequent "Process of 149 Communists," he was sentenced to life imprisonment. Despite his incarceration, Allik remained active in the workers' movement. He joined the "Vaba" Prison Bureau, a leadership group for imprisoned communists, and edited the illegal newspaper "Vangimaja Kiir" ("Prison Light").
Liberation and Resistance Continued
In 1938, Allik was released under a general amnesty. He was promptly elected secretary of the Illegal Bureau, effectively the CPE's Central Committee. In 1940, he participated in the "April Conference of the CPE," where he presented a report on the political situation and the party's goals.
Role in Soviet Estonia
After Estonia's incorporation into the Soviet Union, Allik played a central role in its administration. He served as chairman of the Committee for Trade Supervision and became the People's Commissar for Trade of the Estonian SSR until 1941. From 1943 to 1950 and again from 1965 to 1973, he held the position of First Deputy Chairman of the Council of Ministers of the Estonian SSR.
