Page 44 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Estonia Latvia & Lithuania

42 INTRODUCING EST ONIA , LA T VIA AND LITHU ANIA

to some extent by seizing Memel (Klaipėda)
in 1923 from French troops.
For the next 20 years, the three countries
operated in a very similar manner. Weak,
ever-changing govern ments in the 1920s
gave way in the 1930s to strong statesmen
who ran the state on Mussolini’s corporatist
model. Even though nobody in any Baltic
government had held a senior position
before independence, it was remarkable
what they were able to achieve in such a
Estonia’s Constituent Assembly in session, 1919 short period of time. In Estonia and Latvia,
the German estates were seized but the
Independence Declared many suc cessful urban businesses that had
As Western Europe welcomed peace in been established in the previous century
November 1918, the Baltic area was one were allowed to continue as before.
enormous battlefield. Anti-Bolsheviks still
hoped to overthrow the new Soviet regime, The Soviet Occupation
and the Germans wanted to make up for losses On 17 June 1940, the Baltic countries fell to the
in the West with victories in the East. The Poles Russians, as had been agreed in the Molotov-
were keen to form another commonwealth Ribbentrop Pact, a non-aggression treaty
with Lithuania. As a result, there was little signed between Germany and the USSR in
interest in supporting the declarations of 1939. All traces of the previous 20 years of
independence made by the three Baltic States independence were removed. Senior
early that year. Only a large British fleet, members of the three governments were
stationed off the Estonian coast, was happy executed. Flags, national anthems and Bibles
to supply arms to Estonia and Latvia and, were banned. The Soviet Union did not want
therefore, help them achieve independence. to be reminded of its failure to conquer the
By early 1920, Estonia and Latvia were Baltic States at the end of World War I. In
able to fight off all their June 1941, a massive
ene mies and get them to depor tation to Siberia was
agree to borders, which would organized of around 10,000
hold until 1940. Lithuania was Estonians, 15,000 Latvians
forced to give up Vilnius, after and 30,000 Lithuanians,
the Poles seized it later that most of whom died. A week
year. Subsequently, Kaunas later, Germany invaded the
was made the temporary Baltic States, violating the
capital. Lithuanians Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact.
The USSR and Germany signing the
compensated themselves Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact of 1939 Soviet forces, who called

1918 The three Baltic States 1939 Molotov- 1941 German occupation of 1956 Baltic deportees
declare independence
Ribbentrop Pact signed the Baltics begins allowed back
1922 Russia becomes between the USSR 1945 Soviet from Siberia
Soviet Union (USSR) and Germany reoccupation
1925 1935 1945 1955 1965
1920 Russia 1940 The three 1960 Foreign tourists are
recognizes inde pen- Baltic countries once more allowed to visit
dence of the three incorporated into the Baltic capitals
Baltic States the USSR
Soviet tanks in Rīga, 1940