GOVERNMENT AND PUBLIC REACTION IN ESTONIA TO SOVIET PRESSURE AND THE EVENTS OF SEPTEMBER–DECEMBER 19391
Magnus Ilmjärv
In the history of the Baltic people, the years 1939 and 1940 represent a most painful period of the twentieth century. These years signified the end of one era, the first epoch of the independent nationhood. The establish- ment of independent Baltic States was made possible by the collapse of Tsarist Russia and Imperial Germany in 1917 and 1918 respectively. Clearly, although the birth of the Baltic States had essentially been helped forward by the changes in the arena of grand politics, independence would not have been achieved without the combined will of the Baltic peoples and their victorious armed struggle for freedom. Twenty years later, changes in the field of grand political ideas and ideals, as well as the prevailing fric- tion between the European great powers affected the Baltic States, easing the way for their loss of sovereignty. Although admittedly they did not do much to protect this by their own actions. A study of how this process unfolded needs to consider the German-Soviet non-aggression pact as reflected in the Baltic diplomatic representatives’ accounts, in reports by the accredited foreign diplomatic representatives in the Baltic States, in press-communiqués of the Baltic and foreign newspapers, and in the pub- lic’s efforts to clarify the background to the events and their consequences in general terms.
The Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact
The events of 23 August 1939 are well known and do not require further explanation here. As early as the 1920s, Estonian, Latvian and Lithuanian diplomats reported rumours that the Soviet Union and Germany might very well reach a mutually beneficial compromise at the expense of the Baltic States. Similar suggestions can be found in press reports in the Baltic as well as throughout the world.2 When the Soviet Union and Germany
1 The research was financially supported by the Estonian Science Foundation grant nos. 2905, 3817, 5095, 9896, targeted financing projects of the Estonian Ministry of Education and Research SF1130057s07 and SF0130038s09. 2 See Helsingin Sanomat, 17 September 1926. Vaba Maa, 4 November 1931.
3 Duckwitz’s report, 11 November 1930. US National Archives II [NA II], College Park, Maryland RG242 T120 R5769б, K663033-K663040. 4 Schmidt’s report, 26 August 1939. Estonian State Archive [ERA], Tallinn 957-14-700, p. 120; see also Telegram from the Finnish legation to Great Britain, August 26, 1939. Archive of the Finnish Foreign Ministry [UM], Helsinki Tulleet sähkeet Lontoo. Phone call from London, 1 September 1939. UM Tulleet sähkeet Lontoo; G.A. Gripenberg: Lontoo-Vatikaani- Tukholma, p. 56. Leppik’s report, 25 August 1939. ERA 957-14-722,1-3. Warma’s report, 23 August 1939. ERA 957-14-704,116; Pallo’s report, 25 August 1939. Molotovi–Ribbentropi pak- tist baaside lepinguni. Dokumente ja materjale. Tallinn, 1989, p. 96. Rebane’s report, September 12, 1939. ERA 957-14-7 04, p. 230. Mollin’s report, 11 September 1939. ERA 495-11- 42, 59. Raidna’s report, 9, 11 and 18 September 1939. ERA 495-11–41, 15–16, 18, 34. Rei’s report, 31 August 1939. Molotovi-Ribbentropi paktist baaside lepinguni, pp. 98–99.