Political situation in the three Baltic countries

After the collapse of Russia, the bourgeois provisional government granted Estelin the right of ethnic autonomy in April 19 17. The local bourgeoisie quickly elected a "local self-government" and declared that the local self-government was the only embodiment of the highest political power in Estelin Province. But not long after, the Bolsheviks in Estelin Province dissolved the local self-government of the bourgeoisie, and the bourgeois nationalists in Estelin were forced to go underground. At the same time, Russian naval officers and men stationed on Ness Island, north of Tallinn, revolted, declared Ness Island independent and established the "Ness Soviet Republic". 19 18 On February 24th, taking advantage of the power vacuum after the Red Army retreated and before the German invasion, the Senate of the local self-government declared Estonia's independence and formed an interim government. The next day, the Germans entered Tallinn. The German occupation authorities neither recognized the provisional government of Estonia nor the independence of Estelin. On 26th, the German army occupied Nice Island, and the Soviet government in Nice was forced to dissolve.

After the defeat of Germany in World War I, the Estonian bourgeois provisional government made a comeback, but it was resisted by the Soviet Red Army and the Estonian Bolsheviks, and the civil war broke out. This war was called "Estonian War of Independence" by the Estonian bourgeoisie. At the beginning of the war, the Red Army defeated the Estonian White Army outside Tallinn, and the Estonian Bolsheviks established the Soviet regime at the end of October at 19654, 38+08, 165438+29, and announced the establishment of the Estonian Soviet Socialist Republic. The government called it "Estonian Labor Commune". However, the Estonian White Army, led by Commander-in-Chief John Ledenna, quickly organized a counterattack and was supported by a small British fleet. The bourgeoisie in Finland, Sweden and Denmark even sent volunteers to help the Estonian White Army. By February 19 19, the Red Army was forced to leave Estonia completely.

19 19 In the early summer, with the help of the German regular army "Iron Division", the Baltic Germanic military organization "Landeswehr" based in Latvia went north to attack Estonia in an attempt to merge Estonia into the German-led "Baltic Principality". 19 19 In June, Estonian troops effectively smashed the attack of the Baltic Germanic armed forces led by General rudiger von de Goltz in northern Latvia.

19 19 10 to1912. The Estonian White Army also assisted General Nikolai nikolayevich Yudenich, commander-in-chief of the Russian White Army, in attacking Leningrad, but was repelled by the Soviet Red Army.

1920 On February 2, Estonia signed the Tartu Treaty with Russia, and Russia gave up all its territorial claims to Estonia. Estonia was immediately recognized by the international community and accepted as a member of the League of Nations in 192 1.

After independence, Estonia began a series of economic, social, cultural and political reforms. Economically and socially, the land reform in 19 19 was the most important step. A large amount of land originally owned by Baltic nobles was redistributed to landless or landless farmers, especially volunteers who served in Estonia's war of independence. The main export markets of Estonian commodities have become Scandinavia, Britain and Western Europe, and a few commodities are exported to the United States and the Soviet Union. Culturally, ethnic minorities have gained cultural autonomy and the status of Jews has been greatly improved.

In domestic politics, the first Estonian Constitution adopted in 1920 declared Estonia a parliamentary republic. Parliament consists of 100 members, each with a term of three years. From the end of 1920 to the beginning of 1934, the Estonian government was established, and the head of the government was called "Estonian national patriarch". During this period, Constantine ··P & amp；; AumlTs) became a national veteran five times.

1934, patz launched a military coup, declared the country into a "state of emergency", banned all political parties and dissolved the parliament. Patz began his dictatorship as a "national protector". 1938, Paz was elected president.

1939, Estonia and Nazi Germany signed a non-aggression treaty, but the following year, the Soviet Red Army entered Estonia. After the fall of the Patz dictatorship, the Estonian Production Party became the only legitimate political party, and Estonia once again became a Soviet socialist republic and joined the Soviet Union. 1956, Paz died in Kalinin. 1965438+At the end of July 2007, the Widzem Soviet, Riga Soviet and Latvian United Soviet held a joint meeting to elect Latvian Soviet. After the October Revolution broke out, the Latvian Soviet Executive Committee announced that it would take over the Latvian regime, and on 12 and 19, it declared that the Soviet Union was the only legal regime in Latvia, and at the same time, it dissolved the "peasant Soviet" and confiscated the landlord's property. The Latvian Soviet Executive Committee also sent a delegation headed by Stuchka to participate in the Brest Peace Treaty negotiations. 1965438+In February 2008, the whole territory of Latvia was occupied by the Germans, and the Soviet Union was forced to go underground.

With the defeat of the Germans in World War I, the Latvian bourgeoisie announced the establishment of the Latvian People's Committee on June 5438+09 165438+ 10/7, with Kārlis Ulmanis as the chairman of the interim government. The next day, the People's Committee declared Latvia's independence, but it was not recognized internationally. The main reason is that the newly established bourgeois government did not expel the Germans, but supported the German "iron division" to interfere in Soviet Russia and Estonia within its territory.

19 18 12.4. Latvian Soviet once again held a secret meeting in Riga to establish the provisional Soviet government of Latvia. 19181217. The Soviet government announced the establishment of an independent Latvian Soviet Republic. On the 22nd, Soviet Russia "recognized the independence of Latvian Soviet Republic".

19 18 12 A Soviet Red Army, mainly Latvian infantry, invaded Latvia. 1919 65438+10 2, an armed proletarian uprising broke out in Riga to coordinate with the actions of the Red Army. 654381October 3, Riga was liberated and became the capital of Soviet Latvia. 65438+ 10/3, the Latvian Soviet was formally declared, and the first Latvian Constitution, namely the Constitution of the Latvian Soviet Socialist Republic, was adopted on June+10/5, 65438.

1920 65438+ 10/3 After nearly a year of civil war, the Latvian White Army finally defeated the Red Army with the support of international imperialism, and the Latvian Soviet government was forced to dissolve. 1 May, Latvia's bourgeois constitutional conference was held, and the bourgeois people's committee completed its functions. Ironically, on August 1 1, Soviet Russia announced its recognition of "Latvia * * * and the country" and became the first country in the international community to recognize the independence of bourgeois Latvia. On September 22nd, Latvia was admitted as a member of the League of Nations.

After 13 bourgeois democracy, Latvia finally failed to withstand the impact of the Great Depression of capitalism. For a time, the deterioration of the political and economic situation has intensified people's aversion to democratic politics. Taking this opportunity, Kārlis Ulmanis launched a military coup in May 1934 and overthrew the democratic government. He dissolved parliament, banned all political parties and admitted that he was the prime minister. 1936, Ulmanis once again admitted that he was the president after the departure of President Albert Kervis. 1939, he signed a non-aggression treaty with Hitler.

Despite Ulmanis's dictatorship over Latvia, Latvia's economy and culture have developed by leaps and bounds during this period, and people's living standards, gross national product, foreign trade exports and adult literacy rate are among the highest in Europe. Therefore, apart from industrialists, there was almost no opposition to dictatorship in Latvia at that time.

At 3 am on June 1940, the Red Army entered Latvia. Ulmanis called on the people not to rebel against the Soviet Red Army. He said on the radio that "I take my seat and you take your seat" became a famous saying at that time. /kloc-in June of 0/7, Ulmanis's dictatorship collapsed, Latvia's * * * production party became the only legal political party, Latvia became a Soviet socialist Republic again and joined the Soviet Union. 1942, Ulmanis died in Novotsk, Clasey, Turkmenistan. All of Lithuania was occupied by Germany. 1965438+In July 2007, Germany supported Lithuanian bourgeois conference. With the collapse of the Russian Empire in World War I, Germany instigated Lithuania to become independent on February 19 16, 2008. 1918 In July, the bourgeois conference announced the establishment of the "Kingdom of Lithuania", and the king was appointed by the Germans. 165438+ 10, the first Lithuanian bourgeois government headed by Augustinas Voldemaras was established, and the temporary seat of the government was kaunas, the temporary capital of Lithuania. 19 19 in April, the bourgeoisie abolished the monarchy and declared Lithuania a republic, with Tanas Smetana as the first president of Lithuania.

As early as 19 18 12.8, the Lithuanian Provisional Revolutionary Government of Workers and Peasants was established in Vilnius. 16 February, the Provisional Revolutionary Government announced the establishment of the Lithuanian Soviet regime. 12 on February 22nd, the Soviet government passed the decree of "recognizing the independence of the Lithuanian Soviet Republic". 1965438+On February 2, 2009, the Belarusian Production Party and the Lithuanian-Western Belarus Production Party unanimously decided to merge Lithuania and Belarus. On February 28th, the Socialist Soviet of Lithuania and Belarus and the government of workers and peasants were announced in Vilnius. At the same time, the national flag and national emblem were determined, and the Belarusian Production Party and the Lithuanian-Western Belarus Production Party were merged into the Lithuanian-Belarusian Production Party. However, the government of workers and peasants actually only controls the eastern part of Lithuania. With the support of allied imperialism, the Lithuanian White Army, based in the western town of kaunas, quickly gained the upper hand. 19 19 In August, the socialist Soviet regimes in Lithuania and Belarus were overthrown and the workers' and peasants' governments were forced to dissolve.

After defeating the Bolsheviks, the second threat faced by Lithuanian bourgeois government is "Belmont White Bandit Army". The Belmont White Bandit Army was composed of a group of Russian soldiers captured by the Germans during World War I. After their release, they promised the allies to attack the Bolsheviks. But under the leadership of Pavel Belmont-Avalov, general of Russian White Army, they decided to attack newly independent Lithuania and Latvia.

Belmont thinks that the Bolsheviks will be defeated in the Russian civil war, so there is no need to waste his army on fighting the Bolsheviks. On the contrary, he is more keen to annex the newly independent Baltic States again, and at most, let them enjoy more autonomy under the rule of bourgeois Russia in the future. For Belmont White Bandit Army, the first task is to capture western Lithuania.

Every time Belmont white bandits captured a town, they forced the local residents to speak Russian. This has become the main reason for their unpopularity in the controlled area. In Latvia, they have arrived at the gates of Riga; However, for them, the conquest of kaunas, the temporary Lithuanian capital, is still far away. Despite being threatened by the Bolsheviks in the east, the Lithuanian White Army still assembled enough troops, which dealt a heavy blow to the Belmont White Bandit Army. Belmont White Bandits finally defeated the railway town of Radvilishkis. There, they were sent back to Russia. At the same time, Estonia also helped Latvia recover its lost land. It is said that in exchange, Latvia ceded Ruhunu Island to Estonia.

The third threat facing Lithuanian bourgeois government is Poland, which is the "Libo War" mentioned when introducing Poland. There is a large disputed territory between the two newly independent countries, including Vilnius. Lithuania thinks Vilnius has been the capital of Lithuanian nation since ancient times, although the city now has only 2% Lithuanians. However, Lithuanians still account for the majority of the population in the whole Vilnius district with the city as the center. In addition, there are some Belarusians and Jews in this area. Therefore, in the Russian-Polish War, Lithuanian bourgeoisie did not hesitate to stand on the side of Soviet Russia and declared war on Poland. Finally, at 1920, 10, that is, in the later period of the Russian-Polish war, Poland sent special forces to occupy Vilnius district, and established a puppet regime of "Central Lithuania" there.

These three wars were called "freedom war of Lithuania" by Lithuanian bourgeoisie. Despite some successes and failures, they won the recognition of Lithuania's independence by the international community. Since 1922, Lithuania has entered a period of stable democracy. The President is elected by the Parliament for a term of seven years. Members of Congress are elected from all over the country. During this period, the two most intractable problems in Lithuania's political life were the "Vilnius ownership" and "Klebeda ownership" left over from history.

Because Lithuania insisted on its sovereignty over Vilnius after the war, it was at war with Poland throughout Lithuania's democratic period. 1922 65438+1On October 8th, Vilnius held parliamentary elections. At first, both Lithuania and Poland tried to cram their parliamentary candidates into parliament, but later, local Lithuanians and Jews boycotted the election. In this way, the new Vilnius regional parliament is completely controlled by pro-Polish forces. The new parliament passed a bill and formally decided to incorporate Lithuania into Poland. 1922 On March 22nd, Polish Sem (the lower house of Polish Parliament) accepted the decision of Vilnius Regional Council. The League of Nations also confirmed this fact in March 1923. However, the Lithuanian kaunas authorities refused to recognize Poland's annexation of Vilnius and continued to maintain a state of war with Poland.

Cleopatra is a disputed territory between Germany and Lithuania. The city was originally founded by Livonia Knights in 1252. 1328 became a part of Prussia; Since 15 and 16 centuries, most residents have been bilingual in Lide, and they think Cleopatra belongs to Prussia. 1920, according to the treaty of Versailles, the whole Cleopatra region was occupied by the French army and was no longer under the jurisdiction of Germany. During the period from 1923+ 10 to 15, Lithuania successfully annexed the Klaipida region by taking advantage of the "Ruhr crisis" and renamed it Memmel region. 1924 became an autonomous region of Lithuania in May, and was under martial law until 1938.

After several successive Conservative governments, the first left-wing government of Lithuania was elected in June 1926. But six months later, a military coup overthrew the short-lived new government. The coup was initiated by the first president, Ann Tanas Smetana. After the coup, he became president and exercised dictatorship over Lithuania. Remarkably, the first Prime Minister Augustinas Validimaros was also appointed as Prime Minister after the coup. Wally Dumareau is the leader of the Lithuanian fascist organization "Iron Wolf". Although Voldemort stepped down in 1929, Lithuania's fascist dictatorship continued until 1940.

1938, Lithuania and Poland had a border conflict, and a Polish soldier was killed. Subsequently, Poland issued an ultimatum to Lithuania, demanding that Lithuania give up its sovereignty over Vilnius within 24 hours, or it would declare war on Lithuania. At that time, European powers were too busy dealing with the tension created by Hitler to take care of Vilnius crisis. In this case, the weak Lithuania had to make concessions to Poland. Representatives of the two countries signed an agreement in Tallinn, Estonia, and Lithuania recognized Vilnius as Polish territory. Although the signing of the agreement led to large-scale protests in Lithuania, the diplomatic relations between Lithuania and Poland were normalized. The two countries have realized the intercommunication of mail, railway and telephone, the border trade has flourished and personnel exchanges have become increasingly frequent. Although Lithuanian officials still claim Vilnius as their legal capital, the two countries have established diplomatic relations at the ambassadorial level. The Vilnius Liberation League, an underground resistance organization funded by Lithuania, also stopped its activities.

In Memmel region, the pro-German National Socialist Party (Nazi Party of Klebeda) won the regional council election with 1938. In this way, the Lithuanian authorities actually lost control of the area. 1in March, 939, Lithuania gave in to the pressure of Germany's final opening and returned Memmel District to Germany.

On September 1939, the Soviet Red Army occupied Vilnius and returned it to Lithuania. On July 1940, 14 and 15, Lithuania elected the People's Assembly, and the Lithuanian Production Party came to power, becoming the only legal political party in Lithuania. The government of Bedrich Smetana collapsed. On July 2 1, the People's Assembly announced Lithuania's joining the Soviet Union. On August 3rd, supreme soviet of the ussr declared Lithuania an autonomous Soviet socialist republic. 1944 65438+1On October 9th, Bedrich Smetana died of illness in Cleveland, Ohio, USA.