Soviet ultimatum to Estonia

Occupation of the Baltic states
Part of a series on the

Baltic states Nazi Germany Soviet Union
Background Baltic–Soviet relations Non-aggression pacts Soviet–Estonian Soviet–Latvian Soviet–Lithuanian German–Estonian German–Latvian German–Lithuanian Molotov–Ribbentrop Pact
Soviet occupation in 1940 Mutual Assistance Treaties Soviet–Estonian Soviet-Latvian Soviet-Lithuanian Orzeł incident Ultimata to Estonia to Latvia to Lithuania People's Parliament Sovietization Deportations from Estonia from Latvia from Lithuania June deportation Welles Declaration
German occupation Estonia Occupation Resistance Holocaust Latvia Occupation Resistance Holocaust Lithuania Occupation Resistance Holocaust
Soviet re-occupation in 1944 Battle of Narva Baltic offensive Courland Pocket Guerrilla war in the Baltic states Latvian partisans Lithuanian partisans
Under Soviet rule Guerrilla war in the Baltic states Operation Priboi Operation Jungle Estonian SSR Latvian SSR Lithuanian SSR Territorial changes Baltic Way Singing Revolution Sąjūdis Tautas fronte Rahvarinne Congress of Estonia
State continuity Baltic diplomatic services (1940–91) Estonian Latvian Lithuanian Kersten Committee Helsinki Accords
Aftermath Estonia–Russia relations Latvia–Russia relations Lithuania–Russia relations Russians in Estonia Russians in Latvia Russians in Lithuania
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The Soviet ultimatum to Estonia was issued on 16 June 1940, with the demand to answer by the midnight of the same day. The pretext was political activities of Estonia allegedly in contradiction to the Soviet–Estonian Mutual Assistance Treaty. The demands were to set up a new government and to allow Soviet troops into Estonia.^[1] The Estonian government, after long deliberations, submitted the resignation to President Konstantin Päts, which he signed and an announcement was broadcast about the resignation and the expected entrance of the Soviet Army. The Soviet forces started occupation of Estonia the next day. It was part of the Soviet occupation of the Baltic States.

The Soviet occupation of the Baltic States was based on the 1939 secret protocol added to the Molotov–Ribbentrop Pact, which divided the spheres of influence of the Soviet Union and Nazi Germany.^[2]

In 1939, under Soviet pressure, the Soviet–Estonian Mutual Assistance Treaty was signed, similar to the Soviet-Latvian and Soviet-Lithuanian treaties. Under the treaties, Soviet military bases were to be established in all Baltic States, in particular, 25,000 Soviet soldiers were dispatched to Estonia. Also, the Soviet Union occupied the island of Naissaar that controlled sea access to Tallinn, the capital of Estonia.^[2]

Ultimatum

The ultimatum was handed at 2.30pm (Moscow time) on 16 June 1940, with the demand to answer by the midnight of the same day. The pretext was political activities of Estonia allegedly in contradiction to the Soviet–Estonian Mutual Assistance Treaty. The demands were to set up a new government and to allow Soviet troops into Estonia.^[1]

In addition, Johannes Klesment claimed that Molotov declared that "in the event no answer indicating acceptance of the ultimatum was received by the stated time, the Red Army units concentrated at the border of the Estonian Republic would be ordered to march into the country, suppressing all resistance by armed force."^[3]

The Estonian government decided, in accordance with the Kellogg–Briand Pact, to not respond to the ultimatum by military means. Given the overwhelming Soviet force both on the borders and inside the country, the order was given not to resist in order to avoid bloodshed and open war.^[4] The government submitted the resignation to President Konstantin Päts, which he signed and an announcement was broadcast about the resignation and the expected entrance of the Soviet Army.

Molotov's claims of violations were not supported by any evidence, neither in the ultimatum, nor any time later. Moreover, the position of the Soviet Union had no legal foundation, because the treaty stipulated that the resolution of disagreements must first proceed in peaceful form, by means of diplomatic negotiations.^[5]

Soviet ultimatum to Estonia

Ultimatum

Aftermath

References

Literature

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