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The Last Train from Estonia
Shortly after the Soviet Army occupied Estonia in 1940, a boy's beloved father is arrested and sent to prison in Siberia, never to be seen again by his son. Soon the Germans will roll across the border . . . This gripping memoir of life in World War Two-era Europe gives eloquent testimony to the realities of being caught in the fighting between the armies of two ruthless dictators, Hitler and Stalin. Through the eyes of the observant young man he once was, the author vividly recounts events large and small, the intensely personal and the geopolitically significant. We feel the deprivations and uncertainties of foreign occupation, existence upended by forces impossible to anticipate. We feel the visceral fear of totalitarian authority, where home and person can be searched at any time and families deported to the desolate steppes of Siberia. Along with the author we experience devastating bomb attacks and two hazardous and thrilling escapes from the Red Army, one in Estonia, the other in Germany at the end of the war. We also learn how the author coped with the challenges of living in displaced persons camps in post-war Germany before immigrating to America. The Last Train from Estonia is a story of survival, of resilience and ingenuity, of love and luck, lives changed forever by hard choices made under extraordinary circumstances. This compelling account, written with long perspective, is more than mere witness to history. In its parallels to present-day conflicts in Eastern Europe, it serves as a timely warning to all who love freedom.
218 pages, Paperback
Published February 23, 2016
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
May 17, 2017
Well-written in a storytelling style, this book is fascinating reading especially for those of us who have family that fled Estonia before the Soviet occupation in 1944. Author provides an inside glimpse of life under both the Soviet and German occupations of Estonia during the Second World War, including the fear, and reality, of suddenly being taken away by the Soviets, never seen again. Also interesting reading his experiences as a 'displaced person', after the war. I was born post-war in an UN Estonian Displaced Persons camp in West Germany and was too young to have memories of those first few years, I can relate as to what the experience must have been like for my parents. and the decisions that had to be made to continue life as it had become and to start life again in a new country. Eventually, the journey did take us to England and Canada. This is a landmark book in the story of 'displaced persons' from the Second World War, a subject too little has been written about.
August 6, 2017
Enjoyable and quick read. Meant a lot to me as I have family who escaped Soviet occupied Estonia. It helped provide an understanding of their experiences and some history on our culture.
September 11, 2025
I really enjoyed gaining a deeper insight into my wife’s people’s history and culture through this book. It is a unique biography of a boy growing up amidst struggle and loss, celebrating Estonian independence, grieving its erasure under the Soviets, and even yearning for Nazi occupation as the lesser evil.
As someone who grew up in the West, I found this perspective on the Germans particularly uncommon and thought provoking, from the return of confiscated radios to the welfare provided by German citizens that supported Jaak and his extended family.
What carries the story is Jaak himself. His optimism and “good luck” during the war laid the foundation for a successful life in America. He is a natural storyteller, and I valued his insight into a chapter of the war that often overlooks the Baltic states and their cultures.
I would recommend this to anyone interested in personal accounts of World War II that bring fresh and rarely heard perspectives.
As someone who grew up in the West, I found this perspective on the Germans particularly uncommon and thought provoking, from the return of confiscated radios to the welfare provided by German citizens that supported Jaak and his extended family.
What carries the story is Jaak himself. His optimism and “good luck” during the war laid the foundation for a successful life in America. He is a natural storyteller, and I valued his insight into a chapter of the war that often overlooks the Baltic states and their cultures.
I would recommend this to anyone interested in personal accounts of World War II that bring fresh and rarely heard perspectives.
December 31, 2016
It is an interesting book to read after visiting Estonia, particularly for those who ignore its recent history. Interesting also to learn about the lifes of displaced people during and after the II World War.
August 26, 2024
Childhood Remembrance
Jurison was born on May 6, 1931, in Tallinn, Estonia. The author has fond and humorous memories of his early years, especially of farming plants and vegetables. His father, Karl Jurison, managed a small pharmacy and was later promoted to a legislative position in the Estonian government.
German and Soviet Occupation
In 1939, the family became concerned about the possibility of war due to the author’s father’s scheduled trip to Berlin. Estonia came under Soviet occupation, and everyone was forced to be indoctrinated with Soviet propaganda. When the Germans invaded Poland and advanced from the south, the Soviet fronts were forced to retreat. Life under German occupation was much more liberal, as radios were allowed, and traveling outside Tallinn was permitted with valid reasons. On March 9, 1944, Tallinn was heavily bombed by the Soviets during their war with the Germans.
The Escape
This led to Jurison’s family’s decision to flee, catching the last train out of the city on their way to Sweden. Although their plans changed as there were no longer ferries to Sweden, they ultimately decided to head to Germany. After traveling from harbor to harbor, stopping at various accommodations, and seeking advice, they finally arrived at Danzig (now Gdańsk), a coastal city in German-occupied Poland. Then, transported to Jena, Thuringia, where a relative lived.
Life in Jena
Grandmother’s niece, Mrs. Oldekop, welcomed the family. Mrs. Oldekop was a great advisor and supporter of the supplements needed for survival. Fortunately, Jena was spared from Allied bombs, but the family often had to hastily hurry to an air raid basement shelter. During Christmas, they all celebrated at Zum Klause, an Estonian restaurant in downtown Jena. An air raid started as soon as they arrived, and the Jurisons quickly sought refuge in the safest shelter, the big city bunker. They soon realized this was fortunate because otherwise, they could have been buried alive under the remains of Zum Klause. The city was devastated by the bomb attacks, so the family decided to move to Bergern, a small village north of Jena. They settled into a small apartment while hearing the news that their previous neighborhood had suffered a direct bomb hit just a week or two earlier - another lucky escape.
Life in Burgern
Bergern was the time when the family stayed together safely and the end of WW2. Luckily, the American army gifted supplies to the villagers and everyone was showered with harmony. Unfortunately, Bergern was going to soon be Russian occupied land of East Germany. They settled into Weimar, a nearby city, to wait for the next move.
Life in DP Camps of Oldenburg
The family arrived and accommodated in a DP Camp called Camp Bloherfelde, which is one of three camps arround an area of British occupation. There, various family members got jobs to earn more food rations for the family; life seems to go back to normal.
Returning Culture and Traditions
Estonian culture flourished under British and American zones of occupied Germany. Jurison was able to go back to school, and sports, culture, and enturtainment returned back to normal. Especially dancing, where everyone in Estonian DP camps engaged in chorus and musical bands.
Life in the U.S.
Jurison auditioned for several engineering jobs around California. He later found his true love, Siret Jaanus. They lived happily ever after, experiencing a long-term pleasurable taste of freedom.
Jurison was born on May 6, 1931, in Tallinn, Estonia. The author has fond and humorous memories of his early years, especially of farming plants and vegetables. His father, Karl Jurison, managed a small pharmacy and was later promoted to a legislative position in the Estonian government.
German and Soviet Occupation
In 1939, the family became concerned about the possibility of war due to the author’s father’s scheduled trip to Berlin. Estonia came under Soviet occupation, and everyone was forced to be indoctrinated with Soviet propaganda. When the Germans invaded Poland and advanced from the south, the Soviet fronts were forced to retreat. Life under German occupation was much more liberal, as radios were allowed, and traveling outside Tallinn was permitted with valid reasons. On March 9, 1944, Tallinn was heavily bombed by the Soviets during their war with the Germans.
The Escape
This led to Jurison’s family’s decision to flee, catching the last train out of the city on their way to Sweden. Although their plans changed as there were no longer ferries to Sweden, they ultimately decided to head to Germany. After traveling from harbor to harbor, stopping at various accommodations, and seeking advice, they finally arrived at Danzig (now Gdańsk), a coastal city in German-occupied Poland. Then, transported to Jena, Thuringia, where a relative lived.
Life in Jena
Grandmother’s niece, Mrs. Oldekop, welcomed the family. Mrs. Oldekop was a great advisor and supporter of the supplements needed for survival. Fortunately, Jena was spared from Allied bombs, but the family often had to hastily hurry to an air raid basement shelter. During Christmas, they all celebrated at Zum Klause, an Estonian restaurant in downtown Jena. An air raid started as soon as they arrived, and the Jurisons quickly sought refuge in the safest shelter, the big city bunker. They soon realized this was fortunate because otherwise, they could have been buried alive under the remains of Zum Klause. The city was devastated by the bomb attacks, so the family decided to move to Bergern, a small village north of Jena. They settled into a small apartment while hearing the news that their previous neighborhood had suffered a direct bomb hit just a week or two earlier - another lucky escape.
Life in Burgern
Bergern was the time when the family stayed together safely and the end of WW2. Luckily, the American army gifted supplies to the villagers and everyone was showered with harmony. Unfortunately, Bergern was going to soon be Russian occupied land of East Germany. They settled into Weimar, a nearby city, to wait for the next move.
Life in DP Camps of Oldenburg
The family arrived and accommodated in a DP Camp called Camp Bloherfelde, which is one of three camps arround an area of British occupation. There, various family members got jobs to earn more food rations for the family; life seems to go back to normal.
Returning Culture and Traditions
Estonian culture flourished under British and American zones of occupied Germany. Jurison was able to go back to school, and sports, culture, and enturtainment returned back to normal. Especially dancing, where everyone in Estonian DP camps engaged in chorus and musical bands.
Life in the U.S.
Jurison auditioned for several engineering jobs around California. He later found his true love, Siret Jaanus. They lived happily ever after, experiencing a long-term pleasurable taste of freedom.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 15, 2022
This is a stellar book for anyone, like me, who is looking to learn more about Estonian history during and after WWII. Jurison provides a personal, informative, and surprisingly entertaining account of his family's struggles under Soviet and German occupation, and the great lengths they had to go, literally and figuratively, to find safety in the West. This is the best account I've found of an Estonian refugee in my reading so far, mostly due to the manner in which Jurison told this story. It felt like an immersive recollection you might hear from an older relative who found themselves in the thick of history. After reading that he passed away last year, I'm beyond grateful he had a chance to write down this extraordinary snippet of his long life.
August 13, 2025
'I believe everyone in the United States is lucky to live in a free country. People who have always lived in a free world tend to take their freedom for granted. They may not appreciate it because they have never experienced the fear of someone knocking on their door in the middle of the night to take them away for no other reason than that they expressed their opinion or read the wrong book. Having survived two dictatorships, I know how precious freedom is. It is a gift worth nurturing and protecting with care.'
Easy and enlightening read. One of the fortunate few to escape relatively unscathed. So many were, and are, less fortunate.
Easy and enlightening read. One of the fortunate few to escape relatively unscathed. So many were, and are, less fortunate.
September 26, 2017
I would recommend this book to those who have little or no knowledge of the eastern front during World War II, it gives a brief look into the events in Estonia (which are much the same as other countries along that longitude). For the unaware, this memoir serves to fill a gap in knowledge about the struggle and captivity of a nation. Those who know the history of Estonia during WWII and have read other accounts of civilian life during 1940's Europe can skip this one as there are better memoirs out there.
July 30, 2017
Interesting story about a part of WW2 I didn't know anything about. Not terribly well written but the author is an engineer who took a memoir writing class. It seemed to me like it was just skimming the surface, a presentation of facts. Still, a unique viewpoint and WW2 didn't happen to entertain me. Part of the reason I've been so obsessed with WW2 books is that it's an endless collection of individual stories that all contribute to the legacy of the war.
September 7, 2019
I enjoyed this first-hand account of one family's experience both during World War II and the immediate post-war years in Estonia. Under occupation by the Soviet Union and Germany, Estonia's freedom was extinguished. Jurison and family members eventually escaped westward, and several years later settled in the U.S. Interesting, informative and nicely written.
October 29, 2019
There is not as as much about Estonia as I would have liked but a very enjoyable read nevertheless. It is a bit like a grandfather’s story of his interesting life with a moral at the end, one’s critical view is silenced by licence given to age and the unimaginable life experience of the author. It is a reminder why Europe should stand together and avoid war at all costs.
September 28, 2021
My family also escaped the [2nd] takeover of Estonia by the Russians. This book paints a vivid picture of what they might have gone through. The writing is a bit simplistic and there are some editing issues. However, it’s good for those who want a bit of history from a personal perspective.
January 18, 2020
One of the most beautiful books I have ever read. Such thoughtful and humanising insight into the often-tragic 20th century experience of the Estonian people.
April 25, 2022
This was a very insightful book into WW2 era in Estonia, especially with the Soviets. I also think the stories of refugees are eye-opening. Well-written!
August 23, 2022
basically an easy-to-read history about a horrible and tragic time
frankly written and to the point
pushed through to Chapter 18, then abandoned.
frankly written and to the point
pushed through to Chapter 18, then abandoned.
November 11, 2024
A fascinating and personal account - very much enjoyed it
June 17, 2025
Jaak Jurison's account of his family's precarious escape ahead of the advancing Russian army, along with thousands of Estonians, Latvians and Lithuanians, spellbinding as it is for any reader, is an important record. Prof. Jurison's experience echoes some of my father's, who was five years older and grew up about 20 kilometers away. Since he'd turned 18 in 1944, my father had been, uh, removed from his homeland by German soldiers so he missed the flight ahead of the Russians but did spend two years or so in DP camps.
On page 131, Jurison recounts American troops present on the eastern Czechoslovakian border. This struck me because when I mentioned my father's account of encountering American soldiers in that region in my high school history class, the teacher said that there were no U.S. troops that far east. She said she knew this because she majored in history in college. So, here you go, Sally Ward, history teacher at Redwood High School, Larkspur, California in 1973: Another eyewitness account says American troops were in Czechoslovakia, as the country was then known. I'd read this in declassified documents about ten years ago as well.
Prof. Jurison recounts a helluva lot of meals, detailing what and how much food was available at various points of his journey, a fascination anyone who's lived with a refugee is familiar with.
I wish I'd read this book before Jaak Jurison died a year ago. He has filled in a lot of blanks for us.
On page 131, Jurison recounts American troops present on the eastern Czechoslovakian border. This struck me because when I mentioned my father's account of encountering American soldiers in that region in my high school history class, the teacher said that there were no U.S. troops that far east. She said she knew this because she majored in history in college. So, here you go, Sally Ward, history teacher at Redwood High School, Larkspur, California in 1973: Another eyewitness account says American troops were in Czechoslovakia, as the country was then known. I'd read this in declassified documents about ten years ago as well.
Prof. Jurison recounts a helluva lot of meals, detailing what and how much food was available at various points of his journey, a fascination anyone who's lived with a refugee is familiar with.
I wish I'd read this book before Jaak Jurison died a year ago. He has filled in a lot of blanks for us.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews