Figure 1.--We obtained this portrait in Estonia. We do not know if this boy was Estonian or Russian. It was taken after the Red Army had entered Estonia to set up bses, but before the Soviets seized power. Notice the Red Army star on the cap. We wonder if this boy's parents were Estonian Communists. Click on the image to see the writing on the back.

The Soviet Union had the largest army in the world. While it had many weakenes, they were not of a kind that Estonia or the other Baltic republic could take advantage of even if they worked in unison. The Soviets after the NAZI invasion of Poland (September 1, 1939), began concentrating forces along the border of the Estonia, the other Baltic Republics and Poland. Soviet forces on the Estonian border apparently reached 160,000 men and 600 tanks. Estonia had a minuscle army and even if fully mobilized would total only about 100,000 men with 30 tanks. The Soviets first invaded Poland (September 17). A week later the Soviets gave the Estonian Government an ultimatum. The soviets demanded that the Estonian Government permit them to set up bases on Estonian territory (September 24). Estonian authorities had no real option. They signed a treaty put before them by the Soviets--the Pact of Defense and Mutual Assistance (September 28). This permitted the Soviets to station 25,000 soldiers in Estonia. Practically there was, however, no way to control tge number of Soviet soldiers. The Estonians had no way of counting the Soviet soldiers nor even if they had evidence that the Soviets had exceeded the amount specified in the Treaty, of relalistically appealing to Soviet authorities. One source estimates that there were 30,000 Red Army soldiers and 10,000 members of a labor batalion in Estonia (April 1940). [Walter] This meant in realistic terms the end of Estonia's brief period of independence. The era from the entry of Soviet troops to formal Soviet seizure of power the following year is known as the Period of the Bases. Soviet troops first crossed the Estonian border (October 18). That same the first ship carrying Baltic Germans back to the Reich departed Tallin. Soviet military authorities began building bases immediately. They did not immediately, however, intervene in Estonian political and government affairs or to promote Estonia's Communist Party.

The Red Army

The Soviet Union had the largest army in the world. While it had many weakenes, they were not of a kind that Estonia or the other Baltic republic could take advantage of even if they worked in unison.

Soviets Moves Forces to the Border (September 1939)

The Soviets after the NAZI invasion of Poland (September 1, 1939), began concentrating forces along the border of the Estonia, the other Baltic Republics and Poland. Soviet forces on the Estonian border apparently reached 160,000 men and 600 tanks. Estonia had a minuscle army and even if fully mobilized would total only about 100,000 men with 30 tanks.

Soviet Demands (September 1939)

The Soviets first invaded Poland (September 17). A week later the Soviets gave the Estonian Government an ultimatum. The soviets demanded that the Estonian Government permit them to set up bases on Estonian territory (September 24). Stalin Allied himself with Hitler, but he was not unaware of Hitler's objectives. From the moment the Red Army entered Poland, Stalin primary goal was to strengthen the Soviet Unions Western defenses. Stalin immediately began building defenses in eastern Poland and then Finland, and the Baltics. The only mistake Stalin made was how much time he had before Hitler struck. He was sure that Hitler would not strike while Britain was still a threat in the West. Among the many demands made upon Estonia were the Pakri Islands. Estonian authorities had no real option. They signed a treaty put before them by the Soviets--the Pact of Defense and Mutual Assistance (September 28). This permitted the Soviets to station 25,000 soldiers in Estonia.

Soviet Troops Enter Estonia (October 1939)

This meant in realistic terms the end of Estonia's brief period of independence. The era from the entry of Soviet troops to formal Soviet seizure of power the following year is known as the Period of the Bases. Soviet troops first crossed the Estonian border (October 18). Practically there was, however, no way to control the number of Soviet soldiers. The Estonians had no way of counting the Soviet soldiers nor even if they had evidence that the Soviets had exceeded the amount specified in the Treaty, of relalistically appealing to Soviet authorities. One source estimates that there were 30,000 Red Army soldiers and 10,000 members of a labor batalion in Estonia (April 1940). [Walter]

Baltic Germans

That same the first ship carrying Baltic Germans back to the Reich departed Tallin. Soviet military authorities began building bases immediately.

Estonian Politics

They did not immediately, however, intervene in Estonian political and government affairs or to promote Estonia's Communist Party.

German Western Offensive (May-June 1940)

Germany struck in the West, launching its long awaited Western Offensive (May 1940). The spectacular results achieved convinced soon convinced Stalin that there was nothing to fear from the Western Allies and he finalized his plans for seizing the Baltics.

Soviet Seizure of Power (June 1940)

The Allied military dissater removed in any reservations Stalin might have had about seizing the Baltic Republics. The Soviets presented a new ultimatum to Estonia demanding that a new government be appointed and that they accept the total occupation og the country (June 16). The Estonian Government complied (June 17). This essentially meant the end of the Estonian state. The Red Army occupation was accomplished with 160,000 men and 600 tanks. The Soviets used 5 divisions of the Air Force with 1,150 aircraft to control the whole Baltic air space. The Soviet Navy blockaded Estonian and other Baltic ports. The KGB was ordered to prepare to receive 58,000 prisoners of war. [Walter]

Sources

Walter, Hannes "Estonia in World War II", webpage accessed April 9, 2004.

Created: 3:34 AM 12/12/2004
Last updated: 12:31 AM 4/20/2016