Independence movements began in the mid-1800s as the country began to become more defiant against Russian rule, however this defiance only encouraged the Russians to send in troops to kill and deport rebelling Estonians. To respond, the Russians drafted tens of thousands of Estonians to fight in World War I, but by war's end the Russian tsar was overthrown and the Soviets were taking over, giving Estonia the opportunity to declare independence in 1918.
The declaration of independence sparked a Soviet invasion, but Estonia was backed by the Swedes, and British among others, which allowed them to maintain their independence. At first Estonia improved educationally and economically, but soon fell under poor rulers and suppression, which lasted until World War II (WWII).
At the outbreak of WWII, the Soviets invaded and successfully took all of Estonia; under a Soviet-installed government, the Estonians requested to join the Soviet Union. As the Germans began their push against Russia, the locals immediately welcomed the Germans, but soon after realized the Germans had no intention of giving them independence. As the Soviets returned, many Estonians fled to the west or to Finland as the Soviets enacted their revenge by ruthlessly bombing nearly every Estonian city.