Siselinna Cemetery in Tallinn, photo Mirek Osip-Pokrywka, 2023, all rights reserved
Fotografia przedstawiająca Siselinna and Poolamägi Cemetery in Tallinn
Siselinna Cemetery in Tallinn, photo Mirek Osip-Pokrywka, 2023, all rights reserved
Fotografia przedstawiająca Siselinna and Poolamägi Cemetery in Tallinn
Tallinn Military Cemetery, photo Mirek Osip-Pokrywka, 2023, all rights reserved
Fotografia przedstawiająca Siselinna and Poolamägi Cemetery in Tallinn
Maria Laidoner's tombstone in Tallinn, Tallinn, photo Mirek Osip-Pokrywka, 2023, all rights reserved
Fotografia przedstawiająca Siselinna and Poolamägi Cemetery in Tallinn
Maria Laidoner's tombstone in Tallinn, photo Mirek Osip-Pokrywka, 2023, all rights reserved
Fotografia przedstawiająca Siselinna and Poolamägi Cemetery in Tallinn
Quarter marking at Siselinna cemetery in Tallinn, photo Mirek Osip-Pokrywka, 2023, all rights reserved
Fotografia przedstawiająca Siselinna and Poolamägi Cemetery in Tallinn
Siselinna Cemetery in Tallinn, photo Mirek Osip-Pokrywka, 2023, all rights reserved
Fotografia przedstawiająca Siselinna and Poolamägi Cemetery in Tallinn
Stone with a memorial plaque in Tallinn, photo Mirek Osip-Pokrywka, 2023, all rights reserved
Fotografia przedstawiająca Siselinna and Poolamägi Cemetery in Tallinn
Stone with a memorial plaque in Tallinn, photo Mirek Osip-Pokrywka, 2023, all rights reserved
Fotografia przedstawiająca Siselinna and Poolamägi Cemetery in Tallinn
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ID: POL-002001-P/160638

Siselinna and Poolamägi Cemetery in Tallinn

ID: POL-002001-P/160638

Siselinna and Poolamägi Cemetery in Tallinn

Siselinna Cemetery is a large (more than 18 ha in area) historical Tallinn necropolis located in the southern part of the city. Its original area included several historical necropolises of different faiths, some of which were destroyed in the 1950s as a result of the adaptation of part of the cemetery for sports infrastructure (football pitch, tennis courts, halls). This was the fate of, among others, Poolamägi, or 'Polish Hill', a Roman Catholic cemetery established in the first half of the 19th century, where Poles living in Estonia were buried (as its name confirms). The necropolis was significantly damaged during the warfare during World War II. The final stage of annihilation of the necropolis occurred at the beginning of the 1950s, when a sports hall was built on part of the former cemetery and the remaining part was transformed into a walking park. The site was not commemorated in any way for many years and it was only on the initiative of the Polish community that a wooden cross with a plaque inscribed "TO THE OFFICERS OF PROFANATION" (in Polish, Russian and English) was placed in the park in autumn 1990. In the summer of 2010, a stone was unveiled next to it with a granite plaque and an inscription in Estonian and Polish: "TO REMEMBER THE POLACIANS BURIED IN THE HISTORIC ALEXANDR NEWSKY CEMETERY". The park in question is located in the former northern part of the former necropolis - access from the car park in Staadioni Street or from the opposite direction via the staircase from Herne Street.

There are three cemeteries within the boundaries of the Siselinna necropolis preserved today. These are: the former Russian Orthodox cemetery of St Alexander Nevsky established in 1775 (forming the western part of the necropolis), the Estonian cemetery of Vana-Kaarli or "Old Charles" opened in 1864 (forming the smaller eastern part of the necropolis), and the Military Cemetery established in 1887 (located in the north-eastern corner from Tehnika Street). An important Polish feature at the Siselinna necropolis is the grave of Maria Laidoner, née Skarbek-Kruszewska, coat of arms Abdak (1888-1978). She was the wife of General Johan Laidoner, and by virtue of her husband's position was considered the first lady of the pre-war Republic of Estonia. She came from a Polish borderland noble family. She received a thorough education and was a pianist and music teacher. In addition, she knew five languages: Polish, Russian, German, English and Estonian. She met her future husband (as a cadet of the Tsar's officer school) in Vilnius as a 16-year-old girl. A few years later, in 1911, the wedding took place. After the October Revolution, the couple returned to her husband's hometown, where Johan Laidoner became Chief of the General Staff and then Commander-in-Chief of the newly formed Estonian Army. The Laidoner family quarters, enclosed by a metal fence, is located in the west-south part of the Alexander Nevsky Orthodox cemetery. It is located according to the local designations AN I 5, 9-8 (the quarters divided by alleys are clearly marked by stone pillars with a description). The resting place of Maria Krushevskaya-Laidoner also serves as the symbolic grave of her husband General Johan Laidoner, who died while serving his sentence in exile in Vladimir-on-Klyazma in the hinterland of Russia. He was buried in a mass grave in 1953 and his remains have not been found to date. Next to the Laidoners' gravestone is also buried their only son Michael (who died tragically in 1928).

Related persons:
Time of origin:
1st half of the 19th century.
Author:
Mirek Osip-Pokrywka
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