Baltic States under Soviet Rule (1940–1991)

1. Soviet ultimatum forces entry into Lithuania

   Jun 14, 1940Labels: Soviet Union, Lithuania, Ultimatum

   • Ultimatum
   • StateHist

2. Lithuania accepts ultimatum; occupation begins

   Jun 15, 1940Labels: Lithuania, Soviet occupation, Puppet government

   • Ultimatum
   • OccBalt

3. Soviet forces occupy Estonia and Latvia

   Jun 17, 1940Labels: Estonia, Latvia, Red Army

   • StateHist
   • OccBalt

4. United States issues Welles Declaration

   Jul 23, 1940Labels: United States, Welles Declaration

   • Welles
   • USStateHist

5. USSR formally incorporates Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia

   Aug 6, 1940Labels: Supreme Soviet, Baltic SSRs, Annexation

   • OccBalt
   • HistEst

6. Mass June deportations from the Baltic states

   Jun 14, 1941Labels: Deportations, NKVD, Baltic civilians

   • OccLatvia
   • DepEst

7. Red Army retakes Tallinn; second Soviet rule

   Sep 22, 1944Labels: Red Army, Tallinn, Forest Brothers

   • CommCrimes

8. Operation Priboi mass deportations

   Mar 25, 1949Labels: Operation Priboi, Deportations, Collectivization

   • Priboi
   • BalticTimes

9. Lithuanian reform movement Sąjūdis formed

   Jun 3, 1988Labels: S j, Lithuania, Reform movement

   • Sajudis
   • LMAC

10. Estonia asserts sovereignty of republican law

    Nov 16, 1988Labels: Estonia, Sovereignty declaration, Supreme Soviet

    • Riigikogu
    • WaPo1988

11. Baltic Way human chain demonstration

    Aug 23, 1989Labels: Baltic Way, Mass demonstration, Human chain

    • UNESCO
    • Europeana

12. USSR condemns Molotov–Ribbentrop secret protocols

    Dec 24, 1989Labels: Congress of, Molotov Ribbentrop, Soviet admission

    • USSRRes
    • MRPact

13. Lithuania declares restoration of independence

    Mar 11, 1990Labels: Lithuania, Act of, Supreme Council

    • Act1990
    • LithMFA

14. Latvia adopts declaration to restore independence

    May 4, 1990Labels: Latvia, Restoration declaration, Supreme Soviet

    • LatviaDecl

15. Soviet troops assault Vilnius TV Tower

    Jan 13, 1991Labels: Vilnius TV, Soviet troops, Lithuania

    • UPI1991
    • JanEvents

16. Riga Barricades mass civil defense mobilization

    Jan 13, 1991Labels: Riga Barricades, Latvia, Civil defense

    • Barricades

17. Estonia restores independence amid August coup

    Aug 20, 1991Labels: Estonia, Restoration of, August Coup

    • EstRestore

18. Soviet State Council recognizes Baltic independence

    Sep 6, 1991Labels: Soviet State, Baltic independence, USSR recognition

    • WaPo1991