The National Committee of the Republic of Estonia (Estonian: Eesti Vabariigi Rahvuskomitee, EVRK) was formed by the underground resistance movements in German-occupied Estonia in March 1944. By April 1944 a large number of the committee members were arrested by the German security agencies. The Committee succeeded in establishing a communication network with the Estonian diplomats in Finland and Sweden. On 12 January 1953, the Estonian Government in Exile was established in Oslo, Norway.