The Soviet–Estonian Mutual Assistance Treaty ( Estonian : Eesti Vabariigi ja NSV Liidu vaheline vastastikuse abistamise pakt , Russian : Пакт о взаимопомощи между СССР и Эстонией , romanized : Pakt o vzaimopomoshchi mezhdu SSSR i Estoniyey ), also known as the Bases Treaty ( Estonian : baaside leping ) 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. These bases facilitated the Soviet takeover of the country in June 1940.
8-602: 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. In September 1939 the Soviet Union asserted its control over the Baltic states with
16-642: Is now a great power whose interests need to be taken into consideration. I tell you—the Soviet Union needs enlargement of her security guarantee system; for this purpose she needs an exit to the Baltic Sea … I ask you, do not compel us to use force against Estonia.” The enforced in this manner treaty gave the Soviet army a right to set up military bases in Estonia, and it significantly reduced Estonia's independence until Estonia
24-590: 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
32-611: 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. The Soviets invaded Finland on 30 November. On 16 June 1940
40-606: The Soviets issued an ultimatum to Estonia (and to Latvia). On 17 June 1940 the Soviets occupied and annexed Estonia after invading the two other Baltic states. Karl Selter Karl Selter (24 June 1898 in Koeru , Estonia – 31 January 1958 in Geneva , Switzerland ) was an Estonian politician and a Minister of Foreign Affairs of Estonia . He served as Minister of Economic Affairs from 1933 to 1938 and as minister of Foreign affairs from 1938 to 1939. His historically most memorable act
48-567: Was formally incorporated into the Soviet Union between June and August 1940. Selter left Estonia in November 1939, resigning both as Foreign Minister and as a member of Parliament. He moved to Geneva, Switzerland as a diplomat. After Germany occupied Estonia between 1941 and 1944, and after it was re-incorporated into the Soviet Union in 1944, he stayed in Switzerland as an exiled diplomat and politician. This article about an Estonian politician
56-494: 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. The Estonian government yielded to the ultimatum. The Soviets made similar treaties with Latvia on 5 October and Lithuania on 10 October. The latter treaty transferred Vilnius district to Lithuania. Finland was invited to enter similar negotiations on 5 October. Unlike
64-553: Was to sign a non-aggression and mutual assistance treaty with the Soviet leaders in Moscow in September 1939. This was also his personal and national Estonian most tragic act. It followed a brutal ultimatum from the Soviet Foreign Minister, Vyacheslav Molotov on 24 September. Molotov said to Selter: Estonia gained sovereignty when the Soviet Union was powerless, but you “don’t think that this can last… forever… The Soviet Union
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