About

On March 1st, 1935 the Estonian Radio Amateurs Union (ERAÜ) was officially registered by the Ministry of Internal Affairs as an organization uniting amateur radio activity of the country. This fact marks the “official birth” of the organized amateur radio in Estonia. The first meeting of the society was held on September 22nd 1935 in Tallinn, where the first board was elected. The board members were - Arnold Isotamm (ES5F) as the president, vice president Ants Pärjel (ES7C), secretary Vitali Suigussaar (ES6C), treasurer Aleksander Rähn (ES3DW) and Richard Paide (ES5C) as a member.



On September 1st, 1938 ERAÜ became a member of IARU. During the period 1924-1940 the total number of known radio amateurs (both – licensed and “unlis”) was 56. Many of them were actively working on air, achieving contacts with all continents (first WAC in Estonia was completed in 1935 by ES7C), taking part in the contests of these days, organising the first field day events etc. Unfortunately their activity was interrupted by the World War II. With the military occupation of Estonia by the Soviet Red Army in 1940 amateur radio in the country was prohibited and most of radio equipment was confiscated. It is sad to mention that most of the pre-war radio amateurs of Estonia never got back to their hobby again – many were arrested and killed by the “soviet authorities”, some perished in the war, some never dared to give any notice about their activities in the 1930-s. Some also luckily managed to escape to the west and even had a chance to return to ham radio – yet, they were just a few...