The annexation of the Baltic states (1940)
발트 병합 (1940)
The Soviet Union's military occupation and forced incorporation of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania into the USSR in the summer of 1940. Triggered by the secret protocol of the Molotov–Ribbentrop Pact (August 1939), which assigned the three Baltic states to the Soviet sphere, the process unfolded through mutual assistance pacts (September–October 1939), ultimatums and Red Army invasion (June 1940), the installation of puppet governments, rigged elections, and formal annexation by the USSR Supreme Soviet on 3–6 August 1940.
In depth
Background: The Secret Protocol
On 23 August 1939, Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union signed the Molotov–Ribbentrop Pact. Its secret additional protocol divided Eastern Europe into spheres of influence, assigning Finland, Estonia, and Latvia to the Soviet sphere and Lithuania to the German sphere. On 28 September 1939, the German–Soviet Boundary and Friendship Treaty transferred Lithuania to the Soviet sphere as well.
Mutual Assistance Pacts (Autumn 1939)
In September–October 1939, the USSR concluded mutual assistance pacts with each Baltic state: Estonia (28 September), Latvia (5 October), and Lithuania (10 October). These treaties granted the USSR the right to establish military bases and to station troops: 25,000 in Estonia, 30,000 in Latvia, and 20,000 in Lithuania.
Ultimatums and Military Occupation (June 1940)
In June 1940, the USSR accused the Baltic states of violating the mutual assistance pacts and conspiring against the Soviet Union. Ultimatums were delivered to Lithuania on 14 June, and to Estonia and Latvia on 16 June, demanding new governments and the entry of unlimited Soviet forces. The Baltic states, facing overwhelming Soviet military superiority, complied. On 15–17 June, approximately 500,000 Red Army troops occupied all three countries.
Puppet Governments and Rigged Elections (July 1940)
Under Soviet supervision, puppet governments were installed: Justas Paleckis in Lithuania, Augusts Kirhenšteins in Latvia, and Johannes Vares in Estonia. These governments held elections on 14–15 July in which only pro-Soviet communist blocs were permitted to run, and results were fabricated. The newly elected 'people's parliaments' declared their countries Soviet Socialist Republics on 21–23 July and 'requested' admission to the USSR.
Formal Annexation and International Response
On 3–6 August 1940, the USSR Supreme Soviet formally admitted Lithuania (3 August), Latvia (5 August), and Estonia (6 August) as constituent republics. The United States, through the Welles Declaration of 23 July 1940, refused to recognise the annexation and throughout the Cold War continued to recognise the Baltic states' independent diplomatic missions. Soviet rule was interrupted by the Nazi invasion in June 1941, but restored through reoccupation in 1944 and lasted until 1991.
Sources
- Wikipedia (RU) Russian Wikipedia article covering the full chronology of the annexation, including the Molotov–Ribbentrop Pact secret protocol, mutual assistance pacts, June 1940 ultimatums, puppet governments, rigged elections, and formal incorporation on 3–6 August 1940
- Wikipedia (EN) English Wikipedia article detailing the Soviet military blockade, invasion timeline, Western reaction including the Welles Declaration, and the Sovietization process following annexation
- communistcrimes.org Detailed timeline published by communistcrimes.org (2020), documenting the chain of events from the Molotov–Ribbentrop Pact (23 August 1939) through the formal annexation (August 1940), including the Kaleva shootdown, puppet parliament elections, and the Welles Declaration
- britannica.com Encyclopaedia Britannica entry confirming the annexation of the Baltic republics in August 1940 as a direct consequence of the Molotov–Ribbentrop Pact's secret protocol