Estonia, Lithuania and Latvia gained independence after the division of the Russian Empire in 1918-1920. Opinions on the inclusion of the B altic states in the USSR differ. Some call the events of 1940 a violent takeover, others - actions within the boundaries of international law.
Backstory
To understand the issue, you need to study the European situation in the 30s. When Hitler came to power in Germany in 1933, the B altics fell under the influence of the Nazis. The USSR, which has a common border with Estonia and Latvia, rightly feared a Nazi invasion through these countries.
The Soviet Union invited European governments to conclude a general security treaty immediately after the Nazis came to power. The Soviet diplomats were not heard; the contract did not take place.
The diplomats made the next attempt to conclude a collective agreement in 1939. In the first half of the year, negotiations were held with the governments of European states. The agreement again did not take place due to a mismatch of interests. The French and British, who already had a peace treaty with the Nazis, were not interested in preserving the USSR, they were not going to interfere with the advance of the Nazis to the east. The B altic states, which had economic ties with Germany, preferred Hitler's guarantees.
The government of the USSR was forced to make contact with the Nazis. On August 23, 1939, a non-aggression pact, known as the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact, was signed in Moscow between Germany and the USSR.
Entry of Soviet troops into Poland
September 1, 1939, troops of the Third Reich crossed the border of Poland.
On September 17, the government of the USSR took a retaliatory step and sent troops to Polish territories. USSR Foreign Minister V. Molotov explained the introduction of troops by the need to protect the Ukrainian and Belarusian population of Eastern Poland (aka Western Ukraine and Western Belarus).
The previous Soviet-German partition of Poland moved the borders of the Union to the West, the third B altic country, Lithuania, became a neighbor of the USSR. The Union government began negotiations on the exchange of part of the Polish lands for Lithuania, which Germany saw as its protectorate (dependent state).
Unfounded speculation about the impending division of the B altic States between the USSR and Germany divided the governments of the B altic countries into two camps. The supporters of socialism pinned their hopes onpreservation of independence in the USSR, the ruling bourgeoisie advocated rapprochement with Germany.
Signing contracts
This place could become Hitler's springboard for the invasion of the Soviet Union. An important task, for the implementation of which a whole range of measures was taken, was the inclusion of the B altic countries into the USSR.
The Soviet-Estonian Mutual Assistance Pact was signed on September 28, 1939. It provided for the right of the USSR to have a fleet and airfields on the Estonian islands, as well as the introduction of Soviet troops into Estonian territory. In return, the USSR took upon itself the obligation to provide assistance to the country in the event of a military invasion. On October 5, the signing of the Soviet-Latvian Treaty took place on the same terms. On October 10, an agreement was signed with Lithuania, which received Vilnius, recaptured by Poland in 1920, and received by the Soviet Union following the partition of Poland with Germany.
It should be noted that the B altic population warmly welcomed the Soviet army, pinning hopes on it for protection from the Nazis. The army was met by local troops with a band and residents with flowers lined the streets.
The most widely read British newspaper, The Times, wrote about the lack of pressure from Soviet Russia and the unanimous decision of the B altic population. The article noted that this option was a better alternative than inclusion in Nazi Europe.
The head of the British government, Winston Churchill, called the occupation of Poland and the B altic states by Soviet troops the need for protection from the Nazis of the USSR.
Soviet troops occupied the territory of the B altic States with the approvalPresidents and Parliaments of the B altic States during October, November and December 1939
Change of governments
By the middle of 1940, it became clear that anti-Soviet sentiments prevailed in the government circles of the B altic States, negotiations were underway with Germany.
In early June, the troops of the three nearest military districts under the command of the people's commissar of defense were pulled together at the borders of states. Secular diplomats issued ultimatums to governments. Accusing them of violating the provisions of the treaties, the USSR insisted on the introduction of a larger contingent of troops and the formation of new governments. Deeming resistance futile, the parliaments accepted the terms, and between 15 and 17 June additional troops entered the B altic. The only head of the B altic states, the President of Lithuania, called on his government to resist.
The entry of the B altic countries into the USSR
In Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia allowed the communist parties, declared an amnesty for political prisoners. In the extraordinary government elections, the majority of the population voted for the Communists. In the West, the 1940 elections are called not free, violating constitutional rights. The results are considered falsified. The formed governments decided to become part of the USSR and proclaimed the creation of three union republics. The Supreme Soviet of the Soviet Union approved the entry of the B altic states into the USSR. However, now the B alts are sure that they were literally captured.
The B altic States as part of the USSR
From what year to countLatvia., Estonia and Lithuania an official part of the Soviet Union? Undoubtedly, since 1940, when they were included in the Union as the Latvian, Estonian and Lithuanian SSRs.
When the B altic States became part of the USSR, economic restructuring followed. Private property was confiscated in favor of the state. The next stage was repressions and mass deportations, which were motivated by the presence of a large number of unreliable population. Politicians, the military, priests, the bourgeoisie, the prosperous peasantry suffered.
The harassment contributed to the emergence of armed resistance, which finally took shape during the occupation of the B altic states by Germany. Anti-Soviet formations collaborated with the Nazis, participated in the destruction of civilians.
Most of the countries' economic assets held abroad were frozen when the B altics became part of the USSR. Part of the money for gold, bought by the State Bank of the USSR even before joining, was returned by the British government to the Soviet Union only in 1968. The UK agreed to return the remaining funds in 1993, after Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania gained independence.
International Assessment
When the B altic States became part of the USSR, there was a mixed reaction. Some acknowledged the affiliation; some, such as the US, have not.
U. Churchill wrote in 1942 that Great Britain recognizes the actual, but not legal, borders of the USSR, and assessed the events of 1940 as an act of aggression on the part of the Soviet Union and the resultcollusion with Germany.
In 1945, the heads of state of the allies in the anti-Hitler coalition recognized the borders of the Soviet Union as of June 1941 during the Y alta and Potsdam conferences.
The Helsinki Security Conference, signed by the heads of 35 states in 1975, confirmed the inviolability of Soviet borders.
Point of view of politicians
Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia declared independence in 1991, the first to declare their desire to leave the Union.
Western politicians call the inclusion of the B altic states into the USSR an occupation lasting half a century. Or occupations followed by annexation (forced annexation).
The Russian Federation insists that at the time when the B altic states became part of the USSR, the procedure complied with international law.
Citizenship question
When the B altic States became part of the USSR, the issue of citizenship arose. Lithuania immediately recognized the citizenship of all residents. Estonia and Latvia recognized the citizenship only of those who lived in the territory of the states of the pre-war period or their descendants. Russian-speaking migrants, their children and grandchildren had to go through the legal process of acquiring citizenship.
Different views
Considering the statement about the occupation of the B altic states, we need to remember the meaning of the word "occupation". In any dictionary, this term means the forcible occupation of the territory. In the B altic versionthere was no annexation of the territories by violent actions. Recall that the local population greeted the Soviet troops with enthusiasm, hoping for protection from Nazi Germany.
The allegation of falsified results of parliamentary elections and the subsequent annexation (forced annexation) of territories is based on official data. They show that the turnout at the polling stations was 85-95% of voters, 93-98% of voters voted for the communists. It should be borne in mind that immediately after the introduction of troops, Soviet and communist sentiments were quite widespread, but still the results were unusually high.
On the other hand, one cannot ignore the threat of the use of military force by the Soviet Union. The governments of the B altic countries rightly decided to give up resistance to superior military force. Orders for the solemn reception of Soviet troops were given in advance.
The formation of armed gangs that sided with the Nazis and operated until the early 50s, confirms the fact that the B altic population was divided into two camps: anti-Soviet and communist. Accordingly, part of the people perceived joining the USSR as liberation from the capitalists, part - as an occupation.
