Soviet–Baltic Mutual Assistance Treaties (1939)
상호원조조약 (1939년 발트)
The three bilateral treaties the Soviet Union forced on Estonia (28 September), Latvia (5 October) and Lithuania (10 October) in September–October 1939. They declared respect for each party’s sovereignty and system but admitted Soviet military bases and garrisons, which facilitated the Soviet occupation of June 1940.
In depth
Using the escape of the Polish submarine Orzeł as a pretext to question Estonia’s neutrality, the Soviets demanded the treaty from the Estonian foreign minister Karl Selter on 24 September; in Latvia the foreign minister Vilhelms Munters signed. The treaties provided for military co-operation against an attack by a third party, Soviet help with armaments, the establishment of bases, a ban on alliances against the other party, and non-interference with each party’s political and economic systems and sovereignty. The garrisons were set at 25,000 troops in Estonia, 30,000 in Latvia and 20,000 in Lithuania.
The Lithuanian treaty also transferred to Lithuania Vilnius and part of the Vilnius Region, which the Soviets had taken in the invasion of Poland. Finland, which rejected a similar treaty, was attacked in the Winter War in November 1939. In June 1940 the Soviet Union sent the three states ultimatums, accusing them of violating the treaties and conspiring against it.