Fact Wizard
Aediles
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Join date : 2021-09-10
 |  Subject: The Baltic states under Soviet tyranny 1939-1941 Sat 27 Nov 2021, 18:02 | |
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. After invading part of Poland on the 17 September 1939 in accordance with the Nazi-Soviet pact, the Soviets turned their attention to the Baltic states. On the 24 September 1939, the Soviets gave Estonia an ultimatum, in which they indicated a doubt as to Estonia's neutrality, relating to the escape of an interned Polish submarine from Tallinn, they demanded that Soviet military bases be established in Estonian territory. On the 28 September 1939 Estonia accepted the Soviet ultimatum and signed the Mutual Assistance treaty, this allowed 25,000 Soviet military to be placed in Estonia. Similar treaties were also signed by Latvia on 5 October 1939 , 30,000 Soviet military entered the country, and by Lithuania on 10 October 1939, with the entry of 20,000 Soviet military. The arrival of Soviet troops was followed later by a staged protest by Baltic Communists, who asked for a new government, one that reflected the so called will of the people. New transitional governments were formed, composed of Soviet cronies. Presidents of Estonia and Latvia were forced to resign, and were deported to the Soviet Union, never to be seen again.The forthcoming incorporation of these states within the Soviet Union, had to appear to be the will of the people. So in July 1940, general elections were held in Latvia, Estonia, and Lithuania, initially citizens were offered two listings, but soon this was reduced to just one, a typical Soviet-style election. When the newly formed parliaments assembled in July 1940 in all three states, number one on the agenda, was a formal application to become part of the USSR, this was approved, and all three states became members of the Soviet Union in early August 1940.Soon followed measures that were the start of Stalin's ruthless reign. Thousands of former government members, army officers, public officials industrialists, and clergy of all denominations were arrested, the reign of fear intensified, with the arrest of all citizens suspected of anti-Soviet sentiment. Special vehicles equipped with small prison cells and driven by NKVD agents, would pay night visits on suspects. They would take away their victim for questioning, very often a journey of no return, sometimes the suspect would out of fear commit suicide, in most such cases when this took place, their entire family would be taken away. The Communists also strictly controlled public activity, and they abolished ideological organisations and groups.These included religious organisations, newspapers, and professional societies, even the Boy Scout movement was banned. Prisons were filled with suspects, those considered a significant threat taken to NKVD headquarters for special treatment. Before the war the Baltic states had stable economies, and a well developed social life, with the arrival of the Soviets, it all disappeared. |
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