1941 - German troops invade. 1944 - Estonia reannexed by the Soviet Union. Tens of thousands of Estonians deported to Siberia and Central Asia. 1988 - Popular Front campaigns for democracy. Independence 1991 - Communist rule collapses.
Soviet government recognizes the independence of the Baltic republics.
1992 - Lennart Meri becomes president. 1994 - Russian troops leave. Estonia joins Partnership for Peace, allowing limited military cooperation with Nato. 1997 - Estonia invited to begin European Union membership negotiations.