Eric Soovere, a renowned Estonian photo-documentalist, would have turned 110 these days. He is celebrated for his in-depth and detailed photography capturing the escape of Estonians from their homeland in Räpina to the United States. During the onset of the Soviet invasion, he documented the harrowing experiences of Estonians, including young Soovere family members, as they fled primarily to Northern and Western Estonia and eventually over the Baltic Sea.

Soovere later captured images of the temporary settlements in displaced persons camps in Germany, and his photographic work provides a compelling visual narrative of the often tragic circumstances faced by many during this turbulent period in the 1940s. His photographs hold significant historical value as they depict the trauma and resilience of the Estonian people who lost their beloved freedom and were forced to migrate to the west.

With his strikingly composed images, Soovere has created symbols that resonate through time, encapsulating the high tension of the specific realities that defined the 1940s. As Estonia lost its independence, countless residents found themselves in dire situations, desperately seeking safety and a new home, which Soovere documented with a remarkable eye for detail and emotion, ensuring that these stories would not be forgotten.