Molotov Ribbentrop Pact Analysis

The era of war in Europe, was an era of great turmoil, great changes, and great horrors. The wars which sprung out in conjunction to colonial territorial disputes, in the end shaped the way the European map looks today. Before the end of the 20th century the national borders and national sovereignties of Europe were constantly changing. The End of world war brought about the reformation of countries such as Poland and Lithuania, and the formation of new Baltic countries such as Estonia and Latvia. The end of world war one, created the three Baltic states as we know them today: Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania. These counties enjoyed a brief interwar period of independence and sovereignty, until being forcefully incorporated into the Soviet Union at the start of the second

world war. The Baltic states were incorporated in the Soviet Union forcefully through manipulation, threats, and violence. It was no until the demise of the Soviet Union in the early 1990’s that these countries regained their sovereignty. The restoration of independence and the transition to western democracy was not easy for th Baltic states, however their progress and development in modern time are remarkable.
In the case of forceful incorporation into the Soviet Union and Soviet sphere of influence the Baltic states remained mostly powerless. The Baltic states entered into numerous treaties and pacts of mutual assistance, that in turn eventually led them into a downward spiral and incorporation into the Soviet Union. The Baltic states were challenged by their size and military strength as well as geographic location to remain fully independent in a time of vast turmoil in Europe. They were not capable of challenging the demands of the USSR. Through theses various treaties, pacts and relations the Soviet Union used manipulation and tactics of bullying and threats of conflict to have the Baltic states act according to Soviet interests.
The Ultimate catalyst for the Baltic states incorporation into the Soviet Union came through the result of the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact.

This pact was originally known as the Nazi-Soviet non-aggression pact. It was signed in Moscow on August 23rd 1939, By German minister Jochim Von Ribbentrop and Soviet foreign minister Vyacheslav Molotov. This significance of this protocol was that it included a secret protocol over the political and territorial rearrangement in Eastern Europe. The secret protocol divided up Eastern Europe between German and Soviet political influence. The pact held a strong anti-capitalist sentiment, and rearranged nations territorial borders for political gain of Nazi Germany and the USSR. This pact was later used as justification for the Soviet Union to incoporate the Baltic states, which according to the pact were deemed to be under Soviet influence. Signed on August 23rd 1939 this pact agreed to allot Estonia and Latvia into the influence of the Soviet Union and Lithuania into the Sphere of German influence. The fate of Lithuania the later changed after territorial changes during the German invasion of Poland and the beginning of the second world war on the European

front.
The first step in the direction of incorporation took place during the signing of the treaty of mutual assistance. Although resistant to sign this treaty unified the Baltic states Soviet Union in the case of military conflicts. The treaty held multiple demands from the Baltic states, including the use of annexed Red army bases in their territory. After the treaty of mutual assistance, the relationship between the USSR and the Baltic States remained normal and somewhat docile; outside of a few isolated incidents with the establishment of red army military bases aboard. The Baltic state remained confident and willing to avoid giving the Soviet Union any reason to believe the recent treaties had been broken. (Toivu). However, in May of 1940 Molotov and Soviet officials accused the Lituaniania government of treaty violations. The letter sent to Lithuania specifically cited that there was government coordination and responsibility in the kidnapping and disappearance of Red army personnel. Merkys the prime minister of Lithuania was then summoned to Moscow for a meeting. When arriving in Moscow, Merkys came with a report that there had been no evidence of Molotov’s claims. Several investigation and commission reports came back with a lack of evidence and with the idea that the Soviet Union was fabricating an excuse for confrontation. In the meeting Merkys was met with an unpleasant and uncooperative Soviet leadership. Only five days later a second meeting was held to which Merkys himself was accused of writing anti-Soviet articles in Lithuanian press. The accusation stated that Lithuania officials were calling of an anti-Soviet Baltic alliance. The article itself did not call for any specific military alliance however the Kremlin viewed this action as a direct violation of Lithuanian and Russian agreements. A third and final meeting wa then held on June 11th, two days later. This meeting concluded with the Soviet Union declaring damaged relations between the two countries. The Soviet Union declared Lithuania’s violations as: disrespecting the red army, conspiring attacks on Soviet military bases, and forming a secret military alliance with Latvia and Estonia. The result of this meeting concluded with several demands from the Soviet Union. The Kremlin demanded: the prosecution of generals and officials involved with the kidnapping of Red army officials, the election of a new cabinet, and the admission of numerous Soviet Troops in Lithuania. Thus, in June of 1940, the Soviet Union ultimately approached the Baltic states each with an ultimatum of meeting Soviet demands or facing military invasion. Within days Both Lativa and Lithuania were given the same ultimatums on rather For the the Baltic states this wasn’t nearly much of a choice as it was a forceful incorporation. The Baltic states were much too small and did not have the military strength to put up a fight with the Red army. On top of that the Baltic states lacked a necessary backing of Western allies to protect their right to self-determination. The Baltic states did not have established governments in exile, as the Polish and the French did after invasion. In addition the attitude of the Western allied countries was to ignore the Soviet incorporation of the Baltic states. The Western allied powers let the Baltic states essentially slip into the grasp of the Soviet Union. Mostly due to mutual treaties and geographic proximity and unified history, western powers did not act on behalf of the Baltic states. Western powers rather saw it fit that the Baltic states be unified with the Soviet union. This lack of support by western nations ultimately left the Baltic state out to dry, because they are simply to small in population and too insignificant militarily to defend themselves against the Soviet Union.
After successful occupation an annexation of the Baltic countries the next step for the Soviet Union was to fully incorporate these countries into the Soviet Union. This was mainly done through a swindling of elections and a implementation of Pro-Soviet government. In Lithuania, an unconstitutional and rather duplicitous move, the acting president was pushed out just days after the occupation. In accordance the replacement for acting president was former prime minister Merkys; who at this point was a threatened pawn, and puppet of Soviet officials. Once Merkys became acting president, a primarily pro-communist, pro-soviet cabinet, although under-qualified, was appointed. Following were rigged elections that resulted in an overwhelming amount of pro-communist elected into government. The fate of of Estonia and Latvia fell similar; and hardly a week after the occupation a Pro-Soviet communist government was formed in the Baltic states. What followed were secure steps to ensure the maintenance of Soviet controlled governments, by outlawing any non-communist political parties. In addition, all news and media became government owned and operated, as a form of controlling people and controlling the information they acquired. Any defectors or challengers to the communist party and ideology were arrested and/or deported. This was the case for the former presidents of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania as well.
Full indoctrination into the Soviet Union meant the Baltic states were now to abide by the constitution and laws of the Soviet Union. The laws of the USSRs constitution including the dedication to the socialist movement, ownership of property by the state now all applied to the Baltic states. In fact, article 19 of the Soviet constitution ensure that the laws of the USSR apply to all the territories of the Union. (Const. article19). The Baltic states had found themselves, far away from the sovereignty and independence they briefly enjoyed.