Estonia has had a large Swedish population living in the islands and coastal area since the 13th century. During the Second World War, this area, was first invaded by Soviets through the Molotov Ribbentrop deal, and then, in summer 1941 by Germany. In the autumn of 1943, the German authorities granted Sweden permission to make a transfer of 780 old and sick Estonian Swedes. A government committee, "The Committee of Estonian Swedes", was formed to administer the transfer. After prolonged negotiations with the German authorities, in the spring of 1944, it was granted permission to transport the remaining Estonian Swedes to Sweden. The Estonian schooner "Juhan" hired for the transport made a total of nine trips in 1944. The last transport went on September 18 with a small boat, "Triina", from Tallinn. In total, 3335 Estonian Swedes came to Sweden with these boats. About the same number came on their own in various boats. Between 1940 and 1944, a total of 7,000 Estonian Swedes, 25,000 estonians, 4000 latvians and 500 lithuanians came. The great escape from the Baltics is the first major refugee wave to Sweden in modern times. Most refugees came across the Baltic Sea to Gotland or to Stockholm's Archipelago and were quarantined there because of infectious diseases in the war-torn areas. After the time in quarantine, most were sent to work within Swedish forestry and agriculture. The film is a unique document that shows the ship "Juhan" under the Nazi flag with estonian sweds ,arrives to Sweden and their recovery on Sabbatsberg.
http://www.filmarkivet.se/movies/veckorevy-1944-08-21/
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