279:
287:
604:
161:
149:
137:
410:
123:
112:
50:
500:
864:"Estonia 1940-1945: Reports of the Estonian International Commission for the Investigation of Crimes against Humanity. Ed. Toomas Hiio, Meelis Maripuu, and Indrek Paavle. Tallinn: Estonian Foundation for die Investigation of Crimes against Humanity, 2006. xxx, 1337 pp. Appendix. Notes. Index. Illustrations. Photographs. Maps. Hard bound"
356:
Their uniforms combined elements of the uniforms of the former
Estonian army, the Wehrmacht, and civilian clothing. They were armed mainly with infantry weapons that the Germans left behind when they were pushed back. Groups of Forest Brothers consisted of five to ten people, with whom several dozen
394:
In 1945, NKVD troops and destruction battalions killed 432 Estonian freedom fighters and arrested 584 people, including 449 supporters of the partisans. At the same time, 56 policemen, soldiers, and officers of the NKVD troops; 86 fighter squad members; and 141 pro-Soviet activists were killed. The
722:
According to historians who studied the partisans, there were between 14,000 and 15,000 Forest
Brothers in Estonia following the Second World War, along with people simply hiding in the woods. According to a report submitted by Soviet officer Oskar Borelli in June 1953, 1,495 members of the Forest
587:
am. The siege lasted almost three hours. When the Forest
Brothers were wounded, they set off their grenades to prevent them from being used by KGB forces. Eight Forest Brothers, Richard Vähi, Karl Kaur, August Kuus, August Kurra, Leida Grünthal, Endel Leimann, Lehte-Kai Ojamäe, and Ilse Vähi, were
476:
from March 31 to April 1, 1946. The battle between the Forest
Brothers and the Soviet KGB forces on Hendrik Farm was one of the largest in the county. Seven Forest Brothers, five men and two women, took part in the engagement. The exact number of KGB soldiers involved was unknown, but up to 300
320:
When war broke out between
Germany and the Soviet Union on June 22, 1941, many Estonians escaped into forests to aid the liberation of Estonia from Soviet occupation. During the Summer War, the Forest Brothers liberated various cities and towns in Estonia. The largest battles took place around
489:"Estonian People! Today, on 1 April 1946, we, the Estonian partisans, fought against the traitors of the Estonian people. We resisted about ~ 8 hours. Estonian people, fight just as firmly for the freedom and independence of the Estonian people. Long live free Estonia and the Estonian people!"
540:
am, gunshots broke out and could be heard from the forest in the nearby villages. The battle lasted around four hours. Five MGB soldiers were killed in the engagement along with six Forest
Brothers. August Kuus and Richard Vähi, the two surviving partisans, later died in a 1953 battle in
440:
The Forest
Brothers of Võrumaa were sent to destroy large Soviet KGB units, leading to several battles between the KGB forces and the Forest Brothers. Although losses were borne by both sides, most battles resulted in greater losses for the Soviet forces.
723:
Brothers and other resistance organizations had been killed by KGB forces between 1944 and June 1, 1953, and another 9,870 were arrested (5,471 members of the Forest
Brothers and 1,114 members of the secret organization, 1212 citizens).
378:
received a petition from the chairman of the
Council of People's Commissars of the Estonian SSR to evict the families of "traitors to the Motherland, traitors, and other hostile elements". In August 1945, 407 civilians, most of them of
912:
808:
305:
in 1940. From then on, former statesmen and soldiers hid in the forests, as they would otherwise have been executed or deported by the new regime. Many went into hiding after the mass deportation in June 1941.
477:
participated. The battle lasted seven hours; near the end, the partisans ran out of ammunition and the house caught fire. Two Forest
Brothers were killed during the battle and the rest died in the house fire.
726:
According to Soviet sources, 891 people died between 1946 and 1956 as a result of the Forest Brothers, including 447 Soviet activists; 295 members of extermination battalions; 52 members of the NKVD,
632:
The last Estonian partisan, August Sabbe, died on September 27, 1978, reportedly drowning in a river after being found by KGB officers while he was fishing. Sabbe's body was found lodged under a log.
1230:""Üks võimsamaid relvi võitluses kodanlise natsionalismi vastu on kindlasti eesti ajalugu…". Eesti vabariigi perioodi uurimisest Eesti NSV Teaduste Akadeemia ajaloo instituudis aastatel 1946–1950"
805:
Peeter Kaasik; Mika Raudvassar (2006). "Estonia from June to October, 1941: Forest brothers and Summer War". In Toomas Hiio; Meelis Maripuu; Indrek Paavle (eds.).
713:
officer who returns to Estonia during the ongoing conflict between Germany and the Soviet Union. Many characters who have aided him in the past hide in the forest.
561:
1309:
1329:
255:(RVL), which operated from 1946 to 1949. The most important RVL leaders were killed in the summer of 1949. Large battles between the Forest Brothers and
533:
region. MGB soldiers came to capture the bunker from two sides: from the village of Mauri towards Saika and from the village of Rebäse towards Saika.
1181:"Igor Kopõtin, Rahvuse kool: Eesti rahvusarmee ja vähemusrahvused aastatel 1918–1940 (Tartu: Rahvusarhiiv, 2020), 631 lk, ISBN: 978-9949- 630-07-3"
525:
Eight Forest Brothers and an unknown number of KGB guards took part in the battle. It was the first major conflict between the Forest Brothers and
591:
After the battle, the bunker was burned by security. The bodies of the dead partisans were taken for identification and buried at the edge of the
1324:
1153:
927:
823:
1314:
671:(Creators of the Legend) about the Estonian Forest Brothers was released in 1963. The film was funded by donations from exiled Estonians.
625:
compiled a list of Forest Brothers who have died since 1944. It contains 1,700 names, including those who died in captivity. Historian
153:
1273:
526:
1319:
1061:
1334:
270:
remained at large until 1978, when he was either killed in Võru County by the KGB or drowned attempting to escape them.
744:
361:
37:
840:
The tragedy of the Estonian people : the mortal struggle of an outpost of European culture, the Nation of Estonia
368:, stationed in Latvia under the command of Major General Pyotr Leontiev, extended its operations to Estonia. Estonian
1046:
278:
1113:
364:
created forces to fight underground resistance movements. The 5th Infantry Division of the Internal Troops of the
237:
41:
395:
anti-Soviet partisan war in Estonia continued until 1953. Up to 30,000 people joined the Forest Brothers.
20:
909:
Toomas Hiio (2006). "Combat in Estonia in 1941". In Toomas Hiio; Meelis Maripuu; Indrek Paavle (eds.).
1157:
1087:
968:
1339:
286:
698:
follows the story of two Forest Brothers in southern Estonia who fight with an Estonian from the
636:
617:
Here on 28 September 1978, drowned the last Estonian soldier of the Forest Brothers, August Sabbe
461:
455:
349:
had taken refuge in the forest. Former employees of the Soviet administration and people evading
508:
369:
680:
tells the story of the Estonian Forest Brothers from the viewpoint of one of its participants.
739:
513:
693:
391:
in October, 37 families (87 persons) in November, and 37 families (91 persons) in December.
1281:
754:
676:
566:
8:
655:
262:
The last Forest Brothers to be arrested were Hugo and Aksel Mõttus, who were captured in
218:
141:
473:
1255:
1210:
921:
891:
817:
685:
622:
425:
252:
1259:
1247:
1214:
1202:
883:
844:
749:
689:
583:
on March 29, 1953, when KGB officers raided a bunker occupied by Forest Brothers at 9
244:
were threatened with arrest and repression. People sought refuge in the forest after
222:
210:
290:
1237:
1192:
875:
245:
913:
Estonian International Commission for the Investigation of Crimes Against Humanity
809:
Estonian International Commission for the Investigation of Crimes Against Humanity
19:
This article is about Anti-Soviet partisans in Estonia. For Soviet partisans, see
640:
603:
552:
was opened in 2007 to honor the six Forest Brothers who died in the engagement.
779:
549:
421:
414:
404:
380:
993:
580:
337:
By November 25, 1944, the territory of Estonia was completely occupied by the
329:, where the Forest Brothers repelled the Soviet forces on July 10, 1941.
263:
259:
units ended in Estonia in 1953, although minor conflict continued until 1957.
1303:
1251:
1229:
1206:
887:
429:
388:
375:
240:
in 1940, former civilians, soldiers, and real and perceived opponents to the
1242:
848:
1180:
941:
710:
409:
350:
267:
160:
148:
136:
128:
77:
1197:
1019:
629:
claims, based on Kross, that there were more than 2,200 known fatalities.
644:
530:
384:
1139:
895:
592:
1156:(in English and French). Festival Cinema Nordique. 2003. Archived from
1117:
315:
863:
608:
293:'s "Home Guard" detachment on the day of its formation, August 1, 1941
1062:"Legendaarse Puutlipalu lahingu mõistatus lahendati 60 aastat hiljem"
879:
759:
699:
626:
346:
342:
341:. By the autumn of that year, thousands of Estonian soldiers, former
322:
302:
1154:"WE LIVED FOR ESTONIA: ELASIME EESTILE: NOUS VIVIONS POUR L'ESTONIE"
838:
49:
648:
338:
503:
Memorial for the Forest Brothers killed during the Battle of Saika
241:
230:
111:
612:
576:
542:
298:
226:
469:
432:. Kaljurand was arrested in 1949 and executed in March 1951.
387:. An additional 18 families (51 persons) were transferred to
326:
804:
727:
481:
365:
165:
16:
Anti-Soviet partisans in Estonia active in 1940s and 1950s
256:
1114:"1938. A Põhiseadusele tuginev Eesti Vabariigi Valitsus"
499:
251:
The largest organization of the Forest Brothers was the
468:), or Battle of Määritsa, took place in the village of
522:) occurred in the village's forest on March 7, 1951.
357:
accomplices in the local population were associated.
1047:"Metsavenna tütar on tänulik teda varjanud peredele"
282:
A group of Forest Brothers in northern Estonia, 1941
1234:
Ajalooline Ajakiri. The Estonian Historical Journal
1185:
Ajalooline Ajakiri. The Estonian Historical Journal
639:has organized the Põrgupõhja expedition, an annual
1301:
297:The Soviet Union occupied and annexed Estonia,
836:
607:August Sabbe's death place monument, near the
435:
360:The Soviet command and the government of the
93:Defeat of Estonian pro-independence partisans
68:July 1, 1944 – March 29, 1953
66:August 6, 1940 – June 22, 1941
54:Group of Estonian partisans between 1945–1950
1020:"Võrumaal avati mälestuskivi metsavendadele"
1310:Paramilitary organizations based in Estonia
908:
1330:Anti-Soviet resistance during World War II
926:: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (
822:: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (
1241:
1196:
494:
372:(comprising 5,300 men) were also formed.
1227:
969:"Six Forest Brothers to Be Laid to Rest"
861:
602:
498:
408:
285:
277:
902:
615:, Estonia, 2008. Estonian inscription:
555:
1325:Anti-communist guerrilla organizations
1302:
730:, and MGB; and 47 military personnel.
444:
353:into the Red Army hid alongside them.
1088:"История "лесного брата" завершилась"
798:
661:
428:, a partisan organization founded by
1178:
233:from 1940 to 1941 and 1944 to 1978.
1059:
966:
383:, were transferred from Estonia to
180:30,000 (total throughout 1944–1953)
13:
1315:Estonian Soviet Socialist Republic
994:"Metsavendade suurlahingud Eestis"
911:Estonia 1940–1945: Reports of the
807:Estonia 1940–1945: Reports of the
745:Guerrilla war in the Baltic states
654:In 2019, a job was created in the
449:
424:served as the local leader of the
38:guerrilla war in the Baltic states
14:
1351:
1179:Tark, Triin (December 31, 2020).
1044:
855:
398:
309:
484:of the house's furnace. It read:
159:
147:
135:
121:
110:
48:
1320:Occupation of the Baltic states
1266:
1228:Tannberg, Tõnu (May 27, 2019).
1221:
1172:
1146:
1132:
1106:
1080:
1053:
1038:
42:Occupation of the Baltic States
1012:
986:
960:
934:
830:
772:
658:to study the Forest Brothers.
1:
1094:(in Russian). October 4, 2006
765:
709:by Geraint Roberts follows a
651:, in honor of the partisans.
422:Ants "The Terrible" Kaljurand
345:officers, and members of the
332:
916:. Tallinn. pp. 413–430.
812:. Tallinn. pp. 496–517.
717:
598:
238:occupied and annexed Estonia
7:
1026:(in Estonian). June 8, 2007
733:
562:Battle of Puutlipalu Bunker
21:Soviet partisans in Estonia
10:
1356:
1335:Insurgent groups in Europe
674:The 1997 documentary film
480:A letter was found in the
453:
436:Forest Brothers of Võrumaa
402:
313:
273:
18:
862:Kasekamp, Andres (2007).
187:
174:
103:
58:
47:
35:
30:
643:event in the forests of
31:Guerrilla war in Estonia
1243:10.12697/aa.2018.2-3.05
967:ERR (August 21, 2012).
837:Vööbus, Arthur (1985).
683:The 2007 Estonian film
637:Estonian Defence League
266:in the summer of 1967.
1060:ERR (March 20, 2013).
780:"August Sabbe radadel"
619:
588:killed in the battle.
509:Battle of Saika Bunker
504:
495:Battle of Saika Bunker
492:
417:
370:destruction battalions
294:
283:
214:
1198:10.12697/aa.2020.2.05
740:Anti-Soviet partisans
606:
502:
486:
412:
289:
281:
196:891 (Soviet estimate)
188:Casualties and losses
1284:on November 17, 2011
755:Lithuanian partisans
702:against the Soviets.
677:We Lived for Estonia
556:Battle of Puutlipalu
246:the mass deportation
656:Estonian War Museum
445:Substantial battles
142:Soviet Armed Forces
946:metsavennad.esm.ee
686:Sons of One Forest
667:The Canadian film
662:In popular culture
623:Eerik-Niiles Kross
620:
520:Saika punkrilahing
505:
456:Battle of Määritsa
418:
295:
284:
253:Armed Combat Union
248:on June 14, 1941.
205:, also called the
203:Estonian partisans
116:Estonian Partisans
750:Latvian partisans
573:Puutlipalu lahing
223:guerrilla warfare
200:
199:
99:
98:
1347:
1294:
1293:
1291:
1289:
1280:. Archived from
1270:
1264:
1263:
1245:
1225:
1219:
1218:
1200:
1176:
1170:
1169:
1167:
1165:
1150:
1144:
1143:
1140:"Legendi Loojad"
1136:
1130:
1129:
1127:
1125:
1120:on July 27, 2011
1116:. Archived from
1110:
1104:
1103:
1101:
1099:
1084:
1078:
1077:
1075:
1073:
1057:
1051:
1050:
1042:
1036:
1035:
1033:
1031:
1016:
1010:
1009:
1007:
1005:
990:
984:
983:
981:
979:
964:
958:
957:
955:
953:
938:
932:
931:
925:
917:
906:
900:
899:
880:10.2307/20060245
859:
853:
852:
834:
828:
827:
821:
813:
802:
796:
795:
793:
791:
786:. Kultuur ja Elu
776:
635:Since 1998, the
586:
575:) took place in
570:
539:
517:
474:Sõmerpalu Parish
164:
163:
152:
151:
140:
139:
127:
125:
124:
115:
114:
60:
59:
52:
28:
27:
1355:
1354:
1350:
1349:
1348:
1346:
1345:
1344:
1340:Forest Brothers
1300:
1299:
1298:
1297:
1287:
1285:
1272:
1271:
1267:
1226:
1222:
1177:
1173:
1163:
1161:
1152:
1151:
1147:
1138:
1137:
1133:
1123:
1121:
1112:
1111:
1107:
1097:
1095:
1086:
1085:
1081:
1071:
1069:
1058:
1054:
1043:
1039:
1029:
1027:
1018:
1017:
1013:
1003:
1001:
992:
991:
987:
977:
975:
965:
961:
951:
949:
940:
939:
935:
919:
918:
907:
903:
860:
856:
835:
831:
815:
814:
803:
799:
789:
787:
778:
777:
773:
768:
736:
720:
707:Forest Brothers
705:The 2013 novel
694:Ühe metsa pojad
664:
641:military sports
601:
584:
564:
558:
537:
511:
497:
462:Battle of Osula
458:
452:
450:Battle of Osula
447:
438:
420:Forest Brother
407:
401:
335:
318:
312:
276:
221:who engaged in
207:Forest Brothers
158:
146:
134:
122:
120:
109:
89:Soviet victory
80:
67:
53:
24:
17:
12:
11:
5:
1353:
1343:
1342:
1337:
1332:
1327:
1322:
1317:
1312:
1296:
1295:
1274:"РСПП: Статьи"
1265:
1220:
1191:(2): 179–185.
1171:
1160:on May 9, 2022
1145:
1131:
1105:
1079:
1052:
1037:
1011:
998:Kultuur ja Elu
985:
959:
933:
901:
874:(2): 334–335.
854:
829:
797:
784:kultuur.elu.ee
770:
769:
767:
764:
763:
762:
757:
752:
747:
742:
735:
732:
719:
716:
715:
714:
703:
681:
672:
669:Legendi loojad
663:
660:
600:
597:
557:
554:
550:memorial stone
529:forces in the
496:
493:
454:Main article:
451:
448:
446:
443:
437:
434:
415:Ants Kaljurand
405:Ants Kaljurand
403:Main article:
400:
399:Ants Kaljurand
397:
381:German descent
334:
331:
314:Main article:
311:
310:The Summer War
308:
291:Mõniste Parish
275:
272:
236:When the USSR
198:
197:
194:
190:
189:
185:
184:
181:
177:
176:
172:
171:
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156:
144:
117:
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100:
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56:
55:
45:
44:
33:
32:
15:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
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1341:
1338:
1336:
1333:
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1328:
1326:
1323:
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1311:
1308:
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1305:
1283:
1279:
1275:
1269:
1261:
1257:
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1249:
1244:
1239:
1235:
1231:
1224:
1216:
1212:
1208:
1204:
1199:
1194:
1190:
1186:
1182:
1175:
1159:
1155:
1149:
1141:
1135:
1119:
1115:
1109:
1093:
1089:
1083:
1068:(in Estonian)
1067:
1063:
1056:
1048:
1045:Ideon, Argo.
1041:
1025:
1021:
1015:
999:
995:
989:
974:
970:
963:
948:(in Estonian)
947:
943:
942:"Hirmus Ants"
937:
929:
923:
915:
914:
905:
897:
893:
889:
885:
881:
877:
873:
869:
868:Slavic Review
865:
858:
850:
846:
842:
841:
833:
825:
819:
811:
810:
801:
790:September 25,
785:
781:
775:
771:
761:
758:
756:
753:
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748:
746:
743:
741:
738:
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731:
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724:
712:
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697:
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582:
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551:
546:
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534:
532:
528:
523:
521:
515:
510:
501:
491:
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485:
483:
478:
475:
471:
467:
463:
457:
442:
433:
431:
430:Endel Redlich
427:
423:
416:
411:
406:
396:
392:
390:
389:Tyumen Oblast
386:
382:
377:
376:Arnold Veimer
373:
371:
367:
363:
358:
354:
352:
348:
344:
340:
330:
328:
325:, as well as
324:
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108:
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92:
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84:
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75:
72:
71:
65:
62:
61:
57:
51:
46:
43:
39:
34:
29:
26:
22:
1286:. Retrieved
1282:the original
1277:
1268:
1233:
1223:
1188:
1184:
1174:
1162:. Retrieved
1158:the original
1148:
1134:
1122:. Retrieved
1118:the original
1108:
1096:. Retrieved
1091:
1082:
1070:. Retrieved
1065:
1055:
1049:. Postimees.
1040:
1028:. Retrieved
1023:
1014:
1002:. Retrieved
997:
988:
976:. Retrieved
972:
962:
952:February 28,
950:. Retrieved
945:
936:
910:
904:
871:
867:
857:
839:
832:
806:
800:
788:. Retrieved
783:
774:
725:
721:
711:British Navy
706:
684:
675:
668:
653:
634:
631:
621:
616:
590:
572:
559:
547:
535:
524:
519:
506:
488:
487:
479:
466:Osula lahing
465:
459:
439:
419:
393:
374:
362:Estonian SSR
359:
355:
351:conscription
336:
319:
296:
268:August Sabbe
261:
250:
235:
206:
202:
201:
168:(until 1946)
129:Soviet Union
119:
104:Belligerents
88:
78:Estonian SSR
25:
1278:www.rspp.su
1024:ERR Uudised
645:Vana-Vigala
581:Võru County
571:(Estonian:
565: [
531:Vastseliina
518:(Estonian:
512: [
464:(Estonian:
413:Mugshot of
385:Perm Oblast
264:Võru County
215:Metsavennad
1304:Categories
1072:October 3,
766:References
611:river in,
333:After 1944
316:Summer War
229:forces in
1288:April 22,
1260:198014148
1252:2228-3897
1215:234442443
1207:2228-3897
1124:April 25,
1098:April 22,
1030:March 16,
1004:March 16,
978:March 21,
922:cite book
888:0037-6779
818:cite book
760:Omakaitse
718:Estimates
700:Waffen-SS
627:Mart Laar
599:Aftermath
536:Around 10
347:Omakaitse
343:Wehrmacht
323:Timmkanal
303:Lithuania
219:partisans
193:>2,200
896:20060245
849:66009843
843:. ETSE.
734:See also
690:Estonian
649:Eidapere
595:forest.
593:Ristimäe
339:Red Army
225:against
211:Estonian
175:Strength
73:Location
36:Part of
1236:(2/3).
1142:. IMDb.
1092:Эстония
609:Võhandu
274:History
242:Kremlin
231:Estonia
217:) were
183:Unknown
1258:
1250:
1213:
1205:
1164:May 9,
1000:. 2008
894:
886:
847:
613:Paidra
585:
577:Puutli
543:Puutli
538:
301:, and
299:Latvia
227:Soviet
126:
85:Result
1256:S2CID
1211:S2CID
892:JSTOR
569:]
516:]
470:Osula
327:Tartu
1290:2022
1248:ISSN
1203:ISSN
1166:2022
1126:2022
1100:2022
1074:2023
1032:2023
1006:2023
980:2023
954:2023
928:link
884:ISSN
845:OCLC
824:link
792:2022
728:NKGB
647:and
560:The
507:The
482:flue
460:The
366:NKVD
166:NKVD
63:Date
40:and
1238:doi
1193:doi
1189:172
1066:ERR
973:ERR
876:doi
527:MGB
472:in
426:RVL
257:KGB
154:MGB
1306::
1276:.
1254:.
1246:.
1232:.
1209:.
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1187:.
1183:.
1090:.
1064:.
1022:.
996:.
971:.
944:.
924:}}
920:{{
890:.
882:.
872:66
870:.
866:.
820:}}
816:{{
782:.
692::
579:,
567:et
548:A
545:.
514:et
213::
1292:.
1262:.
1240::
1217:.
1195::
1168:.
1128:.
1102:.
1076:.
1034:.
1008:.
982:.
956:.
930:)
898:.
878::
851:.
826:)
794:.
696:)
688:(
209:(
23:.
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