Baltic Legations (1940–1991)

Occupation and annexation of the Baltic states
Part of a series of articles on the
Baltic states · Nazi Germany · Soviet Union
Background Baltic–Soviet relations Soviet–Estonian Non-Aggression Pact Soviet–Latvian Non-Aggression Pact Soviet–Lithuanian Non-Aggression Pact German–Estonian Non-Aggression Pact German–Latvian Non-Aggression Pact Molotov–Ribbentrop Pact
Soviet occupation and annexation Soviet–Estonian Mutual Assistance Treaty Soviet–Latvian Mutual Assistance Treaty Soviet–Lithuanian Mutual Assistance Treaty Orzeł incident · Ultimatum to Estonia Ultimatum to Latvia · Ultimatum to Lithuania People's Parliament Sovietization · June deportation
Nazi occupation Estonia: Occupation · Resistance · Holocaust Latvia: Occupation · Resistance · Holocaust Lithuania: Occupation · Resistance · Holocaust
Soviet re-occupation in 1944 Battle of Narva · Baltic Offensive Courland Pocket · Forest Brothers Lithuanian partisans
Under Soviet rule Guerilla war in the Baltic states Operation Priboi · Operation Jungle Estonian SSR · Latvian SSR Lithuanian SSR · Territorial changes Baltic Way · Singing Revolution · Sąjūdis · Rahvarinne · Congress of Estonia
State continuity Baltic diplomatic services (1940–1991) United States House Select Committee Helsinki Accords
Aftermath Estonia–Russia relations Latvia–Russia relations Lithuania–Russia relations Russians in Estonia Russians in Latvia Russians in Lithuania

Baltic diplomatic services (1940–1991), comprising the Estonian diplomatic service, the Latvian diplomatic service and the Lithuanian diplomatic service, continued to be recognised in the West as the legal representatives of the independent pre-World War II states of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania,^[1] and provided consular services to citizens of those states during the period from 1940 to 1991.

Between May and June 1940, the Baltic governments reached a secret decision that in the event of an emergency, the powers of government to appoint and recall diplomatic and consular representatives were assigned to the heads of the respective legations in the event that connection with the governments was lost.^[2]

After the Soviet occupation in 1940, Soviet authorities attempted to have missions turned over and the diplomatic representatives return home. Draconian laws were promulgated in 1940 to induce compliance; the diplomats who refused to return were declared outlaws with the penalty of death by shooting with 24 hours of their capture.^[2]

References

^ McHugh, James; Pacy, James (2001). Diplomats without a country: Baltic diplomacy, international law, and the Cold War. Greenwood Publishing Group. ISBN 9780313318788.
^ ^a ^b Mälksoo (2003), p. 142.

Bibliography

Mälksoo, Lauri (2003). Illegal Annexation and State Continuity: The Case of the Incorporation of the Baltic States by the USSR. M. Nijhoff Publishers. ISBN 9041121773. http://books.google.com.au/books?id=p5w6AQAAIAAJ.