The Soviet–Estonian Mutual Assistance Treaty, also known as the Bases Treaty was a bilateral treaty between the Soviet Union and Estonia, signed in Moscow on 28 September 1939. The treaty obliged both parties to respect each other's sovereignty and independence, and allowed the Soviet government to establish military bases in Estonia.[1] These bases facilitated the Soviet takeover of the country in June 1940.
It was signed by Estonian Minister of Foreign Affairs Karl Selter and Soviet Commissar of Foreign Affairs Vyacheslav Molotov. Ratifications were exchanged in Tallinn on 4 October 1939 and the treaty became effective on the same day. It was registered in League of Nations Treaty Series on 13 October 1939.[2]
In September 1939 the Soviet Union asserted its control over the Baltic states with the Molotov–Ribbentrop Pact. The Soviets invaded Poland on 17 September, concluding operations on 6 October. After occupying eastern Poland, the Soviets pressured Finland and the Baltic states to conclude mutual assistance treaties. The Soviets questioned the neutrality of Estonia following the escape of a Polish submarine on 18 September. A week later, on 24 September, the Estonian foreign minister Karl Selter was given an ultimatum in Moscow. The Soviets demanded the conclusion of a treaty of mutual assistance which included the establishment of military bases in Estonia.[1] The Estonian government yielded to the ultimatum.
Articles of the treaty
third page
Article 1 provided for military cooperation between the parties in case of an attack by a third party.
Article 2 obliged the Soviet government to assist the Estonian government in providing armaments.
Article 3 permitted the Soviet government to establish military and naval bases on Estonian territory.
Article 4 obliged the Soviet and Estonian governments not to engage in military alliances against the other party.
Article 5 stipulated that the political and economic systems and the sovereignty of both parties shall not be affected by the treaty. It clearly stipulated that the areas where Soviet bases were to be established shall remain part of Estonia.
Article 6 dealt with ratification, and stipulated that the treaty shall remain in force for ten years, with an option to extend it for further five years.
Article 7 stipulated that the official text of the treaty would be in the Russian and Estonian languages.
Aftermath
Red Army entering Estonia in 1939 after Estonia had been forced to sign the bases treaty.
The Soviets made similar treaties with Latvia on 5 October and Lithuania on 10 October. The latter treaty transferred Vilnius district to Lithuania.[1] Finland was invited to enter similar negotiations on 5 October. Unlike the Baltics, the Finnish-Soviet negotiations lasted weeks without result.
During October 1939, the Soviet government began stationing troops in Estonia in numbers exceeding the Estonian armed forces. As a result, the Soviet government gradually gained control over the territory of Estonia. This allowed the Soviet forces to sink the Estonian merchant ship Kassari in the Baltic sea on December 10, 1939 without any Estonian response.[3]
Hiden, John; Salmon, Patrick (1994) [1991]. The Baltic Nations and Europe (Revised ed.). Harlow, England: Longman. ISBN0-582-25650-X.
Estonian State Commission on Examination of the Policies of Repression, The White Book: Losses Inflicted on the Estonian Nation by Occupation Regimes 1940-1991 (Tallinn, 2005)
External links
Text of the treaty
April 11, 2023
soviet, estonian, mutual, assistance, treaty, also, known, bases, treaty, bilateral, treaty, between, soviet, union, estonia, signed, moscow, september, 1939, treaty, obliged, both, parties, respect, each, other, sovereignty, independence, allowed, soviet, gov. The Soviet Estonian Mutual Assistance Treaty also known as the Bases Treaty was a bilateral treaty between the Soviet Union and Estonia signed in Moscow on 28 September 1939 The treaty obliged both parties to respect each other s sovereignty and independence and allowed the Soviet government to establish military bases in Estonia 1 These bases facilitated the Soviet takeover of the country in June 1940 It was signed by Estonian Minister of Foreign Affairs Karl Selter and Soviet Commissar of Foreign Affairs Vyacheslav Molotov Ratifications were exchanged in Tallinn on 4 October 1939 and the treaty became effective on the same day It was registered in League of Nations Treaty Series on 13 October 1939 2 Contents 1 Background 2 Articles of the treaty 3 Aftermath 4 Gallery 5 See also 6 References 6 1 Citations 6 2 Bibliography 7 External linksBackground EditMain article Background of the occupation and annexation of the Baltic states In September 1939 the Soviet Union asserted its control over the Baltic states with the Molotov Ribbentrop Pact The Soviets invaded Poland on 17 September concluding operations on 6 October After occupying eastern Poland the Soviets pressured Finland and the Baltic states to conclude mutual assistance treaties The Soviets questioned the neutrality of Estonia following the escape of a Polish submarine on 18 September A week later on 24 September the Estonian foreign minister Karl Selter was given an ultimatum in Moscow The Soviets demanded the conclusion of a treaty of mutual assistance which included the establishment of military bases in Estonia 1 The Estonian government yielded to the ultimatum Articles of the treaty Edit third page Article 1 provided for military cooperation between the parties in case of an attack by a third party Article 2 obliged the Soviet government to assist the Estonian government in providing armaments Article 3 permitted the Soviet government to establish military and naval bases on Estonian territory Article 4 obliged the Soviet and Estonian governments not to engage in military alliances against the other party Article 5 stipulated that the political and economic systems and the sovereignty of both parties shall not be affected by the treaty It clearly stipulated that the areas where Soviet bases were to be established shall remain part of Estonia Article 6 dealt with ratification and stipulated that the treaty shall remain in force for ten years with an option to extend it for further five years Article 7 stipulated that the official text of the treaty would be in the Russian and Estonian languages Aftermath Edit Red Army entering Estonia in 1939 after Estonia had been forced to sign the bases treaty The Soviets made similar treaties with Latvia on 5 October and Lithuania on 10 October The latter treaty transferred Vilnius district to Lithuania 1 Finland was invited to enter similar negotiations on 5 October Unlike the Baltics the Finnish Soviet negotiations lasted weeks without result During October 1939 the Soviet government began stationing troops in Estonia in numbers exceeding the Estonian armed forces As a result the Soviet government gradually gained control over the territory of Estonia This allowed the Soviet forces to sink the Estonian merchant ship Kassari in the Baltic sea on December 10 1939 without any Estonian response 3 The Soviets invaded Finland on 30 November 4 On 17 June 1940 the Soviets occupied and annexed Estonia after invading the two other Baltic states Gallery Edit See also EditSoviet Latvian Mutual Assistance Treaty Soviet Lithuanian Mutual Assistance TreatyReferences EditCitations Edit a b c Hiden amp Salmon 1994 p 110 League of Nations Treaty Series vol 198 pp 224 229 White Book p 10 Hiden amp Salmon 1994 p 111 Bibliography Edit Hiden John Salmon Patrick 1994 1991 The Baltic Nations and Europe Revised ed Harlow England Longman ISBN 0 582 25650 X Estonian State Commission on Examination of the Policies of Repression The White Book Losses Inflicted on the Estonian Nation by Occupation Regimes 1940 1991 Tallinn 2005 External links EditText of the treaty Minutes of 1939 Estonian Soviet Negotiations Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Soviet Estonian Mutual Assistance Treaty amp oldid 1082580688, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
