An archive article from June 1940 details the Soviet Union's annexation of Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia. Following the initial occupation of Lithuania, Soviet troops entered Latvia and Estonia, leading to the resignation of their governments and the appointment of Soviet-friendly 'people's governments.' The USSR justified its actions by claiming the Baltic military alliance was 'directed against Russia,' despite previous mutual assistance pacts.
The Soviet Union occupies the Baltic States – archive, 1940
Second world warRussiaEuropeLithuaniaLatviaEstonia
AI Summary
TL;DR: Key points with love ❤️An archive article from June 1940 details the Soviet Union's annexation of Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia. Following the initial occupation of Lithuania, Soviet troops entered Latvia and Estonia, leading to the resignation of their governments and the appointment of Soviet-friendly 'people's governments.' The USSR justified its actions by claiming the Baltic military alliance was 'directed against Russia,' despite previous mutual assistance pacts.
- 1 September and October (unspecified year, likely 1939): Mutual assistance pacts concluded between the Soviet Union and the Baltic States.
- 2 June 15, 1940: The Red Army began the annexation of Lithuania.
- 3 June 17, 1940: First Russian forces crossed the borders of Latvia and Estonia; President Smetona of Lithuania fled and was interned by Germans.
- 4 June 18, 1940: Riga and Tallinn were occupied; the governments of Latvia and Estonia resigned; a 'people’s government' friendly to the Soviet Union was formed in Lithuania; the archive article was published.
- Loss of independent state existence for Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia
- Economic setback for Germany due to loss of foodstuffs from the Baltic States
- Increased Soviet strategic position in the Baltic Sea
What: The Soviet Union occupied and annexed Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia. This led to the resignation of their governments and the formation of 'people’s governments' friendly to the Soviet Union, with key officials arrested or dismissed.
When: June 15, 1940 (Red Army began annexation), June 17, 1940 (first Russian forces crossed borders of Latvia and Estonia), June 18, 1940 (article publication date), last September and October (mutual assistance pacts concluded).
Where: Baltic States (Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia), Riga, Tallinn, East Prussia (German frontier), Moscow, Gulf of Finland, Libau, Windau, Aaland Islands, Leningrad, Sweden, Germany.
Why: The Soviet Union claimed the military alliance between Latvia, Estonia, and Lithuania was 'directed against Russia' and dangerous for its security, despite previous mutual assistance pacts. The occupation also served to reduce land frontiers through which German armies might attack Russia and to secure strategic points in the Baltic.
How: Soviet troops crossed borders, Soviet warships entered ports, armoured cars and tanks took positions in cities. Soviet authorities demanded the resignation of existing governments and the appointment of new 'people’s governments' capable of ensuring the carrying out of mutual assistance pacts.