Where is the Baltics located? Baltic states

V.L. MARTYNOV
Doctor of Geography sciences, professor
Russian state
Pedagogical University named after. A.I. Herzen
Saint Petersburg

Baltic republics former USSR- Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania have always been extremely interesting for the population of the rest of the Union. In Soviet times, the Baltic states were a kind of “ersatz-West”, where residents of other republics went to look at the unique life and the cities in which they filmed Soviet films about foreign Europe (from “Seventeen Moments of Spring” to “The Three Musketeers”). During the years of perestroika, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania were first republics who demanded independence. In the 90s, the formation of a market economy in these states occurred faster than anywhere else in the vastness former Union, and in beginning of XXI V. all three Baltic countries became members of NATO and the European Union. I deliberately use the name “Baltic” in relation to these countries, which was used in Russian throughout the 20th century, since I consider the name “Baltic” to be absolutely non-Russian, and the name “Baltic” in relation to states is ridiculous (the population of the Baltic is fish).

Recently, interest in the Baltic countries has increased again. This was due both to the anti-Russian position taken by the leadership of these countries in connection with the 60th anniversary of the Victory, and to the signing (or non-signing) of border agreements with Estonia and Latvia. You need to stop at two key points- the formation and initial development of these states in 1918-1919. and their inclusion in the USSR in 1940 with subsequent changes in borders.

The first thing that is important to understand is that there is no “monolithic” Baltic region at all. And this is precisely how this region was and is perceived as a “single massif” by a significant part of the population of our country. Differences appeared already during the very formation of these states. The westernmost of them, Lithuania, was created as a puppet state by the German occupation authorities during the First World War on February 16, 1918. The motives for the formation of this quasi-state are not entirely clear, but apparently the Germans intended to play the Lithuanian card against the Polish one. Estonia's independence was declared amid the chaos of the German offensive in February 1918, but German troops occupied Revel (Tallinn) a day after declaration of independence which occurred on February 24, 1918. Almost a year earlier, in April 1917, the Provisional Government issued a law on self-government for the Estonian province.

Estonia and especially Lithuania at that time were relatively underdeveloped territories where both the Russians and the Germans could tolerate the existence of puppet governments. The economic and, to a large extent, political heart of the Baltic states was Riga, and with it the territory of present-day Latvia. For the Germans, Riga was primarily a German city; for Russia, it was one of the main ports of the Empire. Therefore, there were no special advances towards Latvia, and a contemporary noted: “Both under the tsarist regime and under the Germans, the very word “Latvia” - a synonym for the state idea - was strictly prohibited.” Latvia's independence was proclaimed only after Germany's defeat in the First world war, November 18, 1918

However, the Entente states were in no hurry to recognize not only the Baltic states, but also Finland. Thus, France, having recognized the independence of Finland in January 1918, took it back in October of the same year. And existence independent state Latvia was temporarily recognized by France only in April 1920. The British government temporarily recognized the Latvian National Council, but the British took this step for economic reasons in order to put the ports of Riga and Vindava under their control. The United States did not recognize the Baltic republics until 1933. The US position was made very clear in 1920: the US government was convinced that the people of Russia would overcome the poverty and misery from which they were suffering (i.e., overthrow the Bolsheviks and restore state unity Russian Empire), and categorically refused to recognize the independence of the Baltic states. In 1933, having recognized the Soviet Union, the United States automatically recognized all other states formed on the ruins of the Russian Empire as independent. It is curious that from 1940 to 1991, the United States was the only large country in the world that did not recognize the entry of the Baltic republics into the USSR.

It can be assumed that the emergence of new states bearing the names of hitherto unheard of peoples was a complete surprise to the Entente and the rest of the world. Of the three Baltic peoples, only the Lithuanians, who created in the 11th-15th centuries, had left a mark on history by this time. a huge state stretching from Baltic Sea to Chernoe, - the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. But at the beginning of the 20th century. only ethnographic scientists knew that the descendants of these “great Lithuanians” were still preserved somewhere in the forests of the middle and lower Neman basin. Lithuanians themselves very rarely recognized themselves as such; in any case, educated Lithuanians immediately added “-sky” to their surname and preferred to be considered Poles.

An Estonian or Latvian, having received an education, changed his surname to a German one and tried to forget about his origin. Educated Finns “rebaptized” into Swedes. This was the case until the turn of the 19th-20th centuries, when the government of the Russian Empire decided to protect the Baltic peoples subject to it from excessive German and Swedish influence, and Finnish, Estonian, Latvian literary languages. The basis of the armies of the new states were Russian officers. For example, in 1918, the Bolsheviks were expelled from Yuryev (present-day Tartu) by a detachment under the command of Captain Kupriyanov. I wonder if the authorities of present-day Estonia and Latvia remember the Russians who died in the battles for their independence? It is unlikely that there is a Captain Kupriyanov Street in Tartu, although there is definitely a Dzhokhar Dudayev Street (as in Riga, where the former Cosmonaut Street became Dudayev Street).

What happened to the new states after their formation? Naturally, all three newly formed republics find themselves involved in civil war, which had a tripartite character - in the Baltic states the forces of the Bolsheviks, national governments and white armies collided, either fighting among themselves or concluding the most unimaginable alliances. The most outstanding military successes were achieved by Estonia, whose army not only liberated the territory of the Estonian state from all hostile forces, but also took a decisive part in the capture of Riga, and even occupied Pskov in the war with Soviet Russia.

But in 1920, the Baltic countries, primarily Estonia, began to make efforts to conclude peace treaties with Soviet Russia. The Bolshevik government also sought to achieve this, intending in this way to eliminate the threat from the Baltic Sea. For this, the Soviet government makes territorial concessions: Estonia is expanding due to part of the territories of the Petrograd and Pskov provinces (the lands east of the Narva River, or Narova; the lands south of Lake Pskov with the main city of Pechory, its Estonian name is Petseri). But the biggest increase, although almost formal, is received by Lithuania. According to the Soviet-Lithuanian treaty of 1920, the southern border of Lithuania was supposed to lie significantly south of the current Lithuanian-Belarusian border: the city of Grodno and its surroundings was supposed to go to Lithuania. However, the Lithuanian flag over Grodno lasted three days, after which the city was occupied by the Poles. It is not a widely known fact that in Soviet-Polish war 1920 The Lithuanian army fought alongside the Red Army against the White Poles. After the defeat of the Red Army, the Poles descend on Lithuania and occupy its capital, Vilna (present-day Vilnius). This city was under Polish rule until 1939. It should be admitted that Vilna at that time was not a Lithuanian city at all in terms of its population. At the beginning of the 20s, Lithuanians made up only 1.2% of the population of Vilno, Poles - 53.6%, Jews - 41%.

But in February 1923, the Lithuanians captured the German city of Memel (present-day Klaipeda), thanks to which Lithuania gained wide access to the Baltic Sea. This city remained part of Lithuania until March 1939, when it was returned to Germany. Contemporaries argued that the Lithuanian occupation of Memel and the adjacent territory (Memel region) occurred “with the hidden but decisive support of Moscow.” It can be assumed that this support was a kind of compensation for the unsuccessful war against Poland: no matter how weak Germany was in the early 20s, Lithuania could hardly dare to oppose it alone. Kaunas became the de facto capital of Lithuania, where the authorities of the pre-war Republic of Lithuania remained until the autumn of 1939 - spring of 1940.

Interwar Lithuania is a very interesting state. It was an agrarian state, within which there was essentially only one industrial city- Memel (Klaipeda). "IN economically Lithuania is a completely exceptional phenomenon. Due to the lack of industry and subsistence farming Lithuania... doesn’t even print paper money... Lithuania has every reason to become a peasant state, a republic of agricultural producers.” Of course, in the 20-30s, Lithuania achieved some success, but still, by the time the Second World War began, Lithuania’s main export was labor - peasants hired as farm laborers in neighboring Latvia or sent to more distant countries. The area of ​​Lithuania within its actual borders in the interwar period was approximately 50 thousand km 2, the national composition was as follows: Lithuanians - about 70% of the population, Jews - about 12, Poles - 8, Russians - 6, Germans - 4%. The population of the actual capital of Lithuania, Kaunas, in the mid-20s was approximately 100 thousand people.

Latvia, in contrast to Lithuania, before the revolution was one of the most industrially developed parts of the Russian Empire, mainly thanks to Riga. In addition, at the beginning of the 20th century. great value acquired the ice-free port of Vindava (Ventspils), through which “all Siberian butter, broken poultry and 1/3 of the grain cargo passing through the ports of the Baltic Sea were exported abroad.” But during interwar independence, Latvia's economy suffered a constant and steady decline. Before the First World War, 2.5 million people lived in the territories ceded to Latvia (which is approximately equal to the current population of the republic), and in 1919 - 2 million. The number of workers at industrial enterprises decreased by more than four times by the mid-20s, from 93 thousand workers to 22 thousand. The population of Riga, which reached 600 thousand people before the First World War, dropped to 180 thousand by the mid-20s. The question may arise - maybe at a later time the situation changed for the better? Alas, Latvia's independence did not bring it any prosperity. Maritime cargo turnover in 1939 was 30.7% of the 1913 level, the population of Liepaja and Ventspils, which were among the main ports of the Russian Empire, decreased by 2 times. The standard of living of the population in interwar Latvia can hardly be considered high. In Riga, the so-called “Ulmanis” houses, built in the 30s, are still preserved. These houses, naturally, multi-story, but the “conveniences” are in the courtyard. In general, it can be argued that the standard of living in the interwar Baltic republics was approximately the same as in the Soviet Union at that time, although Baltic historians often claim the opposite. The area of ​​interwar Latvia was 75 thousand km 2, and the national composition of the population was as follows: 70% of the population were Latvians, 10 were Russians (therefore, to claim that Russians in Latvia are a “non-indigenous population” is at least strange), 7 were Germans, 6% are Jews.

Relations both between the Baltic countries and between these countries and the rest of the world were clearly not warm and cordial. Latvia and Estonia began their coexistence as neighbors in 1920 with a conflict over the town of Valk, which almost turned into war and was referred to international commission, which simply divided the city into two parts - Estonian and Latvian. The conflict between Lithuania and Poland was constantly smoldering. Radical forces in interwar Poland constantly advocated for a “march on Kovno,” that is, for the complete annexation of Lithuania. In the 1930s, Poland had its own aggressive plans. In March 1938 Polish army was already ready to cross the border of Lithuania, and from Polish attack The Lithuanians managed to save themselves only by accepting a humiliating ultimatum for them, according to which Lithuania would forever renounce its claims to Vilnius and recognize the legality of Southern Lithuania’s entry into the Polish state.

In general, all three republics - Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia were classified as buffer states - “limitrophes”. Their main task before the “Great Crisis” was a barrier one - the separation of Soviet Russia and Europe. And the Baltic states, especially Latvia, solved this problem very diligently, for which they were supported by Great Britain. But later, the economic policy of the leading states turns towards isolationism and the Baltic countries become of no use to anyone, a period of political unrest begins there, and clearly undemocratic regimes come to power in all three countries.

There are parallels between the 20s and the present: then Soviet Russia managed to establish much stronger ties with Estonia than with Latvia. Estonia was the first Baltic country to make peace with Soviet Russia. This peace treaty was signed despite the active opposition of the Entente, which even threatened to blockade the Estonian coast. Estonia, like Latvia, experienced deindustrialization and economic degradation during the interwar period. “The Russian-Baltic shipyard... where 15 thousand workers worked in 1916, completely ceased its activities... just like the Russian-Baltic shipyard, Petrovskaya was razed to the ground... the Dvigatel carriage plant was completely destroyed..."

The most controversial and most difficult period was the entry of the Baltic republics into the USSR. These countries now consider entry into the USSR an occupation and believe that the beginning of this occupation was laid by the secret additional protocols to the Non-Aggression Treaty between the USSR and Germany (“Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact”), signed on August 23, 1939. The additional protocols themselves have not survived; texts are published from typewritten copies. Clause 1 of the secret additional protocol regarding Baltic countries, looks like this: “In the event of a territorial and political reorganization of the regions that are part of the Baltic states (Finland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania), the northern border of Lithuania is simultaneously the border of the spheres of interest of Germany and the USSR. At the same time, Lithuania’s interests in relation to the Vilna region are recognized by both parties” 10. If we translate this phrase from diplomatic language into ordinary language, it means the following: Finland, Estonia and Latvia should have gone to Soviet Union, Lithuania - to Germany, while its historical capital Vilna (Vilnius) should be returned to Lithuania.

The agreement between the USSR and Nazi Germany regarding the division of the Baltic states is, without a doubt, not a very noble matter. The leadership of the Baltic states was not at all obliged to “surrender” their countries to the Soviet Union; they not only could, but were also obliged to protect them.

However, only Finland, which defended its independence in the winter of 1939/40, dared to engage in military confrontation with the Soviet Union. But the two Soviet-Finnish wars should not be combined: 1939-1940. (“winter war”) and 1941-1944. (“continuation war”, as it is called in Finland). In the “winter war” the Soviet Union was the aggressor, but in the war of 1941-1944. the aggressor was Finland, which fought on the side of Nazi Germany. It is curious that in Finland the struggle of the Baltic countries for “independence from the USSR” in the late 80s - early 90s did not enjoy much support, and the widespread opinion in Finnish society was the following: “When we fought, they chose to surrender. So what do they need now? Moreover, in the Soviet-Finnish war of 1939-1940. The Baltic countries were de facto allies of the USSR. The Soviet planes that bombed Helsinki took off from Estonian airfields.

In 1939, the governments of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, one after another, signed Mutual Assistance Pacts with the USSR, according to which Soviet military bases were located in these states. The agreement with Lithuania was different from the others. It was called in full: “Agreement on the transfer of the city of Vilna and the Vilna region to the Lithuanian Republic and on mutual assistance between the Soviet Union and Lithuania.” Somewhat earlier, on September 28, 1939, a Soviet-German treaty on friendship and border was signed with a secret additional protocol to him. According to this protocol, the Soviet Union renounced the part of Poland due to it under the agreement of August 23, in exchange for which it received the rights to Lithuania. But this protocol, like the previous one, was not at all binding on the leadership of the Baltic countries. Consent to the entry of Soviet troops was not extracted from them by force, it was proposed - and the Baltic governments agreed to it. If we believe that all the actions of the Soviet Union, determined by the “Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact,” were unlawful, then it is obvious that Lithuania owns Vilnius illegally and it should be returned to Poland. The Red Army occupied Vilna (Vilnius) during the fighting against Poland, which began on September 17, 1939, Lithuanian troops entered their ancient capital on October 28 of the same year. But until Lithuania joined the Soviet Union, its government remained in Kaunas, afraid to move to Polish-Jewish Vilnius.

Soviet troops began to enter the Baltic countries in October 1939. According to the agreement, up to 25 thousand Soviet soldiers were to be brought into Estonia, the same number into Latvia, and 20 thousand into Lithuania. Overall this is not much. How Soviet troops entered the Baltic states can be understood from the example of Estonia alone. The entry of Soviet units into Estonia began at 8 a.m. on October 18, 1939. At the border, the Red Army units were met by the commanders of Estonian divisions, accompanied by their headquarters. “After mutual greetings, the orchestras performed - on our side, the Internationale, on the Estonian side - the Estonian national anthem, at the same time gun salutes (21 shots each) were fired from both sides...” 11 If the Soviet Union occupied Estonia, as claimed the current Estonian authorities, then the orchestra and fireworks are a very unique way of meeting the occupiers. The Red Army entered the Baltic countries and garrisoned at those points that were determined by the relevant interstate agreements.

It is characteristic that in the fall of 1939, against the backdrop of the entry of the Red Army into the Baltic states, nationalist sentiments were growing in these countries. A mass exodus of Germans begins from Latvia, welcomed by the Latvian state. “The Latvian public and ruling circles emphasize the enormous historical significance departure of the Germans from Latvia. The constantly fueled enmity and historical hatred of Latvians towards the Germans suddenly received a détente. Therefore, the Latvian government is also in a hurry to quickly facilitate the departure of the Germans” 12. Indeed, history repeats itself... One gets the impression that the authorities of independent Latvia don’t care who they expel from the country, as long as they expel them. In the interwar period, the Germans were expelled; in modern Latvia, the Russians were expelled. The Germans gave rise to present-day Latvia by founding Riga; under Russian rule it became one of the most developed and prosperous lands of our vast state. It’s curious, if we manage to expel the Russians, who will be next?

In the fall of 1939, the top Soviet leadership, apparently, did not intend to advance relations with the Baltic countries beyond the deployment of troops. In the orders of the People's Commissar of Defense of the USSR K.E. Voroshilov, units of the Red Army stationed in the territories of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, Soviet military personnel were prohibited not only from interfering in inner life states, but also conducting any propaganda among local population: “Any attempt on the part of a serviceman, regardless of his position, to pretend to be an “Archile” and conduct communist propaganda, at least among individuals... will be considered an anti-Soviet act...” 13. Moreover, these orders themselves were definitely not propaganda - their numbers began from scratch; Numbers start with this number secret documents, they were intended exclusively for the command staff of the Red Army.

The arrival of the first units of the Red Army in the fall of 1939 was also perceived differently in different Baltic states. “If there is a situation in Estonia ... “welcome”, then Latvia has never said this in its press and generally tries least of all to describe the friendly side of the arrival of Soviet troops” 14. In Lithuania, they simply kept silent about the fact that Vilnius was recaptured from Poland by the Soviet Union.

By the beginning of the summer of 1940, a decision was made to join the Baltic countries to the Soviet Union. In June 1940, Soviet units in the Baltic states united under a common command. The Baltic countries are presented with demands for the introduction of new contingents of Soviet troops, after which the number of Red Army units in each of the Baltic republics was supposed to be approximately twice the size of their own armies. At the same time, new units of the Red Army were to be located not in garrisons, but in large cities. The first country to which the demand for the deployment of troops was presented was Lithuania. June 15, 1940

The Lithuanian government allows the entry of new Red Army units into its territory. Commanding Lithuanian army General V. Vitauskas orders: “In relation to the advancing Soviet troops, observe all the rules of politeness and express friendly relations in the same way as it was expressed towards previously introduced troops.” On June 16, 1940, the demand for the entry of additional Soviet troops was made to Latvia and Estonia, and in both cases with Soviet side It is stated that this measure is temporary. The Latvian government agrees to the entry of additional Soviet troops into Latvia on the same day. On the evening of the 16th, Estonia agreed to the entry of Soviet troops. Thus, Soviet troops entered the territories of the Baltic states with the full consent of their governments and without firing a single shot. The “people's governments” created after the arrival of the Red Army were initially headed by the old leaders of Latvia and Estonia, and the “continuity of power” was fully respected. How the Red Army entered the Baltic countries can be illustrated using the example of traditionally the most “unfriendly” Latvia: “The authorities of the city of Jakobstadt (Jekabpils) ordered the population not to welcome the Red Army, to consider it a conqueror. But the population greeted the Red Army from windows and courtyards, handed it flowers... In the cities of Lidzi (Ludza) and Rezhitsa (Rezekne)... residents stood like a wall on the sides of the road, shouts continuously rang out: “Long live the Red Army!”, “ Long live Stalin!”, “Long live freedom!” 16. But apparently, until mid-July 1940, the Soviet leadership still did not have complete clarity on exactly how to control the Baltic states - by turning its states into “satellites” or by including them in the USSR. It can be assumed that the final decision on the incorporation of the Baltic states is made by the USSR by July 10, when the order of the People's Commissar of Defense S.K. Timoshenko is issued on the formation of the Baltic military district, the center of which was Riga.

In early July, the election campaign begins in all three republics, during which the highest officials are re-elected. legislatures the authorities of these countries - Seimas in Lithuania and Latvia and State Duma in Estonia. Holding elections is uncharacteristic for the occupiers. Hitler's Germany, which really acted as an occupier and enslaver for many European states, did not hold elections in any of them. The occupiers simply do not need any kind of democratic recognition of their power. In the Baltic countries, elections took place, and new ones were completely legally elected higher authorities state power proclaim their countries Soviet socialist republics and ask to join the Soviet Union. The fate of the armies of Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia is very interesting. By order of People's Commissar of Defense Timoshenko dated August 17, 1940, “The existing armies in the Estonian, Latvian and Lithuanian SSR are to be preserved... for a period of 1 year... by transforming each army into a rifle territorial corps. The corps will be given the name: Estonian Corps - 22nd rifle corps, to the Latvian Corps - the 24th Rifle Corps, to the Lithuanian Corps - the 29th Rifle Corps" 17. The strength of each corps “according to the current states of the Red Army” was supposed to be more than 15 thousand people. This order completely erases any talk about “occupation”, so fashionable in the modern Baltic states - in the history of the 20th century. There was no case when the occupiers not only retained the full strength of the armies of the countries they occupied, but also included these armies in their own armed forces. On September 7, 1940, all citizens of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania are recognized as citizens of the USSR, which completely contradicts the logic of the occupation. Hitler's Germany never proclaimed all subjects of the states it destroyed as its citizens.

The question may arise: where did the territorial problems between Russia, on the one hand, and Estonia and Latvia, on the other, come from? After all, in 1940 the borders were not redrawn; the Baltic republics were accepted into the USSR “as is.”

The borders were changed in 1944, and changed in a very interesting way. Parts of the territory of Latvia (Abrene district with the main city of Abrene, the current city of Pytalovo in the Pskov region) and Estonia (Petsersky district, the main city of Petseri, the modern city of Pechory in the Pskov region) were included in the RSFSR by Decree of the Presidium Supreme Council USSR dated August 23, 1944 “On the formation of the Pskov region.” The actual transfer of these areas to the Pskov region was completed only by 1945. Part of the territory of Estonia east of the Narva (Narova) River was transferred to the Leningrad region simultaneously with part of the territories of the then existing Karelo-Finnish SSR (north of the Karelian Isthmus) in November 1944 The transfer of these territories was also carried out by Decrees of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR. In exactly the same way, the Crimean region was transferred to Ukraine in 1954. Soviet administrative legislation was not simple and logical, but based on practice, it can be argued that until the end of the 50s, issues of establishing borders between union republics were under the jurisdiction of the USSR. Thus, both the transfer of territories from Estonia and Latvia to the RSFSR, and the transfer of territories from the RSFSR to other union republics should be recognized as legal and in accordance with the legal norms of that time.

The history of relations between our country and the Baltic states indicates that greatest success we achieved when we were together. Geography means that our countries are located next to each other. Alas, “together” and “nearby” do not always go together. Between Russia and the Baltic states stand the shadows of past years. But let's hope that someday these shadows will disappear.

B. Duchesne. Baltic Republics. - Berlin: Russian Universal Publishing House,
1921. - P. 38.

Military reference book. - M.: State Military Publishing House, 1925. - P. 183.

L. Nemanov. From Rapallo to the Berlin Treaty // Russian economic collection.
Vol. VI. - Prague, 1926. - P. 32.

B. Duchesne. Quote cit., p. 60.

V. Popov. Essays political geography Western Europe. - M.: Comm. University named after Y. Sverdlova, 1924. - P. 133.

Data on: L.D. Sinitsky. A short textbook on the geography of the USSR and border states. - M.: Education worker, 1924. - P. 121.

V. Popov. Quote cit., p. 136.

A.M. Kolotievsky, V.R. Purin, A.I. Yaungputnin. Latvian SSR. - M.: State. publishing house geogr. literature, 1955.

E.A. Brandt. Creation economic basis socialism in the Estonian SSR. - Tallinn: Estonian State Publishing House, 1957. - pp. 15-16.

10 Plenipotentiary representatives report. Collection of documents on relations between the USSR and Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia. - M.: International relations, 1990.

11 Report from the commander of the Leningrad Military District K.A. Meretskov to People's Commissar of Defense of the USSR K.E. Voroshilov October 19, 1939 // Plenipotentiary representatives report. Collection of documents on relations between the USSR and Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia. - M.: International relations, 1990.

12 Letter from the First Secretary of the USSR Embassy in Latvia M.S. Vetrov to the head of the department of the Baltic countries of the USSR People's Commissariat for Foreign Affairs A.P. Vasyukov “On the repatriation of Latvian Germans” // Ibid.

13 Order people's commissar Defense of the USSR No. 0162 // Ibid.

14 Letter from the USSR Plenipotentiary Representative in Latvia I.S. Zotov at the People's Commissariat of Foreign Affairs of the USSR on December 4, 1939 // Ibid.

15 From the order of the commander of the Lithuanian army, General V. Vitauskas // Ibid.

16 Telegram from the Deputy Chief of the Political Directorate of the 3rd Army E. Maksimtsev to the Chief of the Political Directorate of the Red Army L.Z. Mehlis // Ibid.

The Baltic (Baltic) countries include three former Soviet republics, not included in the CIS - Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. All of them are unitary republics. In 2004, all three Baltic countries joined NATO and the European Union.
Baltic countries
Table 38

The peculiarity of the geographical location of the Baltic countries is the presence of access to the Baltic Sea and neighboring position with Russian Federation. In the south, the Baltic countries border on Belarus (Latvia and Lithuania) and Poland (Lithuania). The countries of the region have a very important political-geographical position and an advantageous economic-geographical position.
Countries in the region are very poor mineral resources. Among the fuel resources, peat is ubiquitous. The “richest” among the Baltic countries is Estonia, which has reserves of oil shale (Kohtla-Jarve) and phosphorites (Maardu). Latvia (Brocene) stands out for its limestone reserves. Famous springs mineral waters: in Latvia Baldone and Valmiera, in Lithuania - Druskininkai, Birštonas and Pabiře. in Estonia - Häädemeeste. The main wealth of the Baltic states is fishery and recreational resources.
In terms of population, the Baltic countries are among the small countries of Europe (see table 38). The population is distributed relatively evenly, and only on the coast the population density increases slightly.
In all countries of the region, the modern type of reproduction prevails, and everywhere the mortality rate exceeds the birth rate. The natural population decline is especially high in Latvia (-5%o) and Estonia (-4%o).
The gender composition, as in most European countries, is dominated by women. In terms of the age composition of the population, the Baltic countries can be classified as “aging nations”: in Estonia and Latvia, the share of pensioners exceeds the share of children, and only in Lithuania are these indicators equal.
All Baltic countries have a multinational population, and only in Lithuania do Lithuanians make up the absolute majority of the population - 82%, while in Latvia Latvians account for only 55% of the republic's population. In addition to indigenous peoples, there are many so-called Russian-speaking people living in the Baltic states: Russians, Ukrainians, Belarusians, and in Lithuania, Poles. The largest share of Russians is in Latvia (30%) and Estonia (28%), but it is in these countries that the problem of respecting the rights of the Russian-speaking population is most acute.
Estonians and Latvians are Protestants by religion, while Lithuanians and Poles are Catholics. The majority of the believing Russian-speaking population considers themselves Orthodox.
The Baltic states are characterized by a high level of urbanization: from 67% in Lithuania to 72% in Estonia, but there are no millionaire cities. Largest city Each republic has its capital. Among other cities, it should be noted in Estonia - Tartu, in Latvia - Daugavpils, Jurmala and Liepaja, in Lithuania - Kaunas, Klaipeda and Siauliai.
Employment structure of the Baltic countries
Table 39

The Baltic countries are provided with highly qualified labor resources. Most of the population of the countries in the region is employed in the non-productive sector (see table 39).
In all the Baltic countries, emigration of the population predominates: the Russian-speaking population goes to Russia, Estonians to Finland, Latvians and Lithuanians to Germany and the USA.
After the collapse of the USSR, the economic structure and specialization of the Baltic countries changed significantly: the predominance of the manufacturing industry was replaced by the predominance of the service sector, and some branches of precision and transport engineering, light industry, in which the Baltic countries specialized, practically disappeared. At the same time, the importance has increased agriculture and food industry.
Electric power industry is of secondary importance in the region (with 83% of Lithuania’s electricity supplied by the largest in Europe Ignalina
NPP), ferrous metallurgy, represented by the only center of pigment metallurgy in Liepaja (Latvia).
The branches of industrial specialization of the modern Baltic include: Precision engineering, especially the electrical industry - production of radio equipment in Estonia (Tallinn), Latvia (Riga) and Lithuania (Kaunas), televisions (Šiauliai) and refrigerators (Vilnius) in Lithuania; machine tool building in Lithuania (Vilnius) and ship repair in Latvia (Riga) and Lithuania (Klaipeda). Developed in Soviet era in Latvia, transport engineering (production of electric trains and minibuses) has practically ceased to exist; Chemical industry: production mineral fertilizers(Maardu and Kohtla-Jarve in Estonia, Ventspils in Latvia and Jonava in Lithuania), chemical fiber production (Daugavpils in Latvia and Vilnius in Lithuania), perfume industry (Riga in Latvia) and household chemicals (Tallinn in Estonia and Daugavpils in Latvia) ; Forest industry, especially furniture and pulp and paper(Tallinn, Tartu and Narva in Estonia, Riga and Jurmala in Latvia, Vilnius and Klaipeda in Lithuania); Light industry: textile (Tallinn and Narva in Estonia, Riga in Latvia, Kaunas and Panevezys in Lithuania), clothing (Tallinn and Riga), knitwear (Tallinn, Riga, Vilnius) and footwear industry (Vilnius and Siachiuliai in Lithuania); Food industry, in which special role plays dairy and fish (Tallinn, Tartu, Pärnu, Riga, Liepaja, Klaipeda, Vilnius).
The Baltic countries are characterized by the development of intensive agriculture with a predominance of livestock farming, where dairy cattle breeding and pig breeding play a leading role. Almost half of the cultivated area is occupied by fodder crops. Rye, barley, potatoes, vegetables, flax are grown everywhere, and in Latvia and Lithuania - sugar beets. Lithuania stands out among the Baltic countries in terms of agricultural production volume.
The Baltic countries are characterized by a high level of development transport system: where road, rail, pipeline and marine species transport. The largest seaports regions are Tallinn and Pärnu - in Estonia; Riga, Ventspils (oil tanker), Liepaja - in Latvia and Klaipeda - in Lithuania. Estonia has a ferry connection with Finland (Tallinn - Helsinki), and Lithuania with Germany (Klaipeda - Mukran).
Among non-production sectors special meaning has a recreational facility. The main tourist and recreational centers The Baltic states are Tallinn, Tartu and Pärnu - in Estonia;
Riga, Jurmala, Tukums and Baldone - in Latvia; Vilnius, Kaunas, Palanga, Trakai, Druskininkai and Birštonas are in Lithuania.
The main foreign economic partners of the Baltic states are the countries of Western Europe (especially Finland, Sweden and Germany), as well as Russia, and a reorientation of foreign trade towards Western countries is clearly observed.
The Baltic countries export instruments, radio and electrical equipment, communications equipment, perfumes, products household chemicals, forest, light, dairy and fishing industry.
Imports are dominated by fuel (oil, gas, coal), industrial raw materials (ferrous and non-ferrous metals, apatite, cotton), vehicles, and consumer goods.
Questions and assignments Give an economic and geographical description of the Baltic states. Name the factors that determine the specialization of the economy of the Baltic countries. Describe the problems of regional development. Give the economic and geographical characteristics of Estonia. Give the economic and geographical characteristics of Latvia. Give the economic and geographical characteristics of Lithuania.

The article talks about the states that are part of the Baltic countries. The material contains data regarding the geographical location of countries, their economies and ethnic composition. Forms an idea of ​​trade and economic relations between the Baltic states and neighboring countries.

List of Baltic countries

The list of Baltic countries includes:

• Lithuania,
• Latvia,
• Estonia.

Three sovereign states were formed in 1990 after the collapse of the USSR. The countries are quite small in area and population. Almost immediately after the declaration of sovereignty, the Baltic states set a course for integration into the pan-European economic, political and cultural space. Today the countries are members of the EU and NATO.

Geographical location of the Baltics

Geographically, the Baltic countries are located in the southeastern part of the Baltic Sea coast. They are located on the border of the East European Plain and the Polish Lowland. On the western borders, the countries of this region neighbor Poland, in the south - with Belarus, in the east - with Russia.

Rice. 1. Baltic countries on the map.

In general, the geographical position of the Baltic countries is quite favorable. They are provided with access to the Baltic Sea. The Baltic Sea has always played an important role in international relations countries of Europe.

TOP 3 articleswho are reading along with this

The Baltic lands are poor in mineral resources. The only significant reserves of oil shale are located in Estonia. Oil and gas deposits are of local importance.

Rice. 2. Extraction of oil shale in Estonia.

The main neighbors of the Baltic countries are economically developed powers with a stable economy and peaceful policies. Sweden and Finland have already spent quite a long period of time on international arena position of neutrality and mutually beneficial cooperation.

Peoples of the Baltic countries

The demographic situation in these states is quite far from favorable. There is a process of natural outflow of the population. In addition, the mortality rate exceeds the birth rate. The result is a decline in the population of all three countries.

The average population density of the Baltic countries is significantly lower compared to other European countries.

The distribution of the population in all countries is also quite uneven.

The coasts and areas around the capitals are the most densely populated. The level of urbanization is high everywhere, reaching a figure close to 70%.

In terms of population, the Baltic capitals are leading:

• Riga;
• Vilnius;
• Tallinn.

Rice. 3. Old Riga.

In the national composition, the primordial ethnic groups are predominant. In Lithuania, the percentage of the indigenous population is over 80%, in Estonia - almost 70%, in Latvia - more than half (60%).

We study the Baltic countries and their capitals on the map (list) ➤ included in the Baltic region. Below is a map of the Baltic republics + capital, alphabetical list, borders by land and sea, flags and continents, in English and Russian

Full list - which countries are part of the Baltic region + capital:

1. Lithuania, Vilnius
2. Latvia, Riga
3. Estonia, Tallinn

In English:

Baltic countries on the map + capitals

The table is alphabetical, it contains all the Baltic states (Pribaltika), which are united by location and territory, which have common borders. Both land/by land and sea/by sea. The above republican formations geographically located on the coast of the Baltic Sea, in the northern part European continent. Previously part of the former USSR -

The Baltic states joined the USSR

Since 2004, all three powers are and

The Russian city of Kaliningrad (Königsberg until 1946) is the center of the Kaliningrad region of the Russian Federation. Located between Lithuania and Poland on the banks of the Pregolya River (Kaliningrad Bay of the Baltic Sea)

According to the list there are 3 states in the Baltic region and detailed geographical scheme their location in the world for 2019, to clarify, go to the “MAP” or “SATELLITE” view type. Nearest countries with territories around: western, eastern, northern, southern. More details here

What conditions must Moscow fulfill in order for the Baltics not to go around the world?

Konstantin Mochar

If Russia, at this point in history, agrees to help the Baltic limitrophes survive, then they should pay for it in a comparable manner - at the same time, we do not lose sight of more distant prospects

I came across “Russia’s 7 Demands for the Baltic States” just now, I read them, and I thought about a lot of things, and remembered even more...

Yes, it is known that now “representatives of the Baltic countries, one after another, speak out in favor of reviving economic cooperation with Russia. At the same time, they all emphasize that their countries’ policies towards Moscow will remain unchanged. Russia cannot be satisfied with such an approach, and it has not been interested in a strategic partnership with the Baltic states for a long time.”

I also agree that Russia can “abandon the strategy of economic blockade of the Baltic states and agree to relaxation of the transit and food embargo if the Baltic countries fundamentally change their external and domestic policy"(ibid.). And, in principle, I agree to fully subscribe to the list of “what Moscow should demand from the Baltic states in exchange for refusing to curtail trade and economic relations:

1. It is necessary to stop “discrimination against the Russian-speaking population: Latvia and Estonia must give citizenship to all remaining “non-citizens”, the Russian language must receive official status, and the right to study in native language- guaranteed.

2. To ensure the right of Russian citizens to move freely by land from Kaliningrad and to Kaliningrad without any permits or prohibitions from Lithuania, the practice of introducing “cut-off tariffs” by the Lithuanian Railway has been stopped.

3. An end to anti-Russian hysteria and attempts to hinder cooperation between the EU and Russia, economic and otherwise.

4. Revision of the Eastern Partnership - the need for this program, initially anti-Russian, generally causes big question(KM), but cooperation between former republics USSR and EU, and between Eurasian Union and the EU needs to be strengthened. And also - stop interfering in the internal affairs of other countries for the sake of “promoting democracy.”

5. Stop using history as a tool to fight Russia. “Memory wars” and “wars with monuments” must end (everything destroyed must be restored - KM), freedom of speech in the Baltic states must be guaranteed, those arrested in the “January 13 case” must be released.

6. There should be no national radicals in coalitions and governments; figures who proposed subjecting Moscow to international isolation should leave the political scene.”

7. The Baltic countries must withdraw from NATO and declare military-political neutrality."

True, I think that this is not enough. Yes, we Russians are sincere champions of justice and “mercy for the fallen.” However, at the same time, in my subjective opinion, we should not feel sorry for those who just recently boasted of their “European pragmatism” - we must “reward them in the same measure”!

All the same, sooner or later, “...a demographic catastrophe will lead them to a social crisis, the European Union will stop funding, and the last Russian cargo will leave the Baltic ports” (ibid.), and they will have to take into account our national interests.

Therefore, if Russia at this historical period agrees to help the Baltic limitrophes survive, then they must pay for it comparablely.

This means that it is absolutely necessary to deal with the former collaborators and those who supported them in the governments of these countries and the media - the "Wafen SS" marches must be outlawed, and the remnants of the still living traitors must crawl into deep holes and “die” there in fear, in anticipation that tomorrow they will come for them and ask how and with what they helped the Nazis during the Great Patriotic War.

And also - to resolve the issue with the so-called “Suwalki” corridor, to agree that we get it. The “corridor” is not necessarily very wide, but we need at least 4 branches to pass through it railway and 5-6 lanes of a two-way highway to the Kaliningrad region. And for a similar railway and car traffic between Lithuania and Poland, it is possible to equip a wide tunnel under this corridor (we will “attach” the numerous ferries that ran from St. Petersburg to Kaliningrad somewhere).

And - first the corridor (with the impossibility of “replaying” everything back) then everything else, with a warning that at the slightest violation, cooperation will be curtailed again. However, with all this, do not forget that:

After Northern War between Sweden and Russia, according to the Treaty of Nystadt, Estonia was included in the Russian Empire in 1721, later becoming the Estonian province.

In 1710, during the Northern War, the Swedes surrendered Riga to the army of Peter I. With the arrival of the Russians, stability reigned in Latvia for two centuries.

Lithuania is a state in Eastern Europe, on the eastern coast of the Baltic Sea. From the 13th century On the territory of Lithuania there existed the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, which resisted the German knights of the Livonian and Teutonic orders, the Golden Horde, which fought with Russia. Since 1569, together with Poland, it united into the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, the territory of which is late XVIII V. divided between Prussia, Austria and Russia. Almost all of Lithuania became part of Russia.

That is, all these lands are ours!

But, as you know, Russia still has a lot of other problems. And we also harness for a long time, but we remember our own.

And the territory... yes, it will be freed up. Of course, the Poles have been coveting it for a long time, still dreaming of the revival of something imperial, like the “Rzeczpospolita” “from Mozh to Mozh.” But Poland is already experiencing similar demographic problems. If current trends continue, in twenty years Warsaw will definitely not have any extra population or extra money for the annexation and subsequent development of new lands. Not just for mastering, but even for maintenance. Because the Baltic lands are inherently poor in natural resources...

Moreover, unnecessarily, the Baltic territory will be for everyone European countries- none of them suffers from demographic surpluses that require new living space. The only country that will need these lands is Russia. Not so much for the resettlement of its own demographic “surplus”, which, by the way, it does not have, but in view of the need to have a land corridor to the Kaliningrad region (because a wider one is both more reliable and safer, and also because these have long been our lands).

Such is the bitter irony. To leave “Russia”, along the way losing everything acquired over a hundred years, in order to eventually die out and return the territory of the same Russia.

The only path leading the Baltic states to prosperity was its being part of Russia. All other options ultimately end in the complete extinction of the Balts as a nation. And this process has already become irreversible.

Of course, Russians also have problems with demographics. It is known that the natural decline of the Russian population (in the Baltics) is even greater than that of the titular one. And the titular population (too) is rapidly aging. However, in Russia, thanks to the fact that the state began to pay attention to the demographic problem in the country, and, not least, thanks to maternal capital, the situation began to change.

This means that things may change for our people who still live outside our country. Among the rich people of Russia who are involved in charity, there are many patriots who are “hurt” by the fate of the country and Russians around the world. Russia, very urgently, must prompt such patriots that the Baltic Russians need help (and Russia itself, through this help).

In the Baltic countries, as in Russia, especially in big cities, there are a considerable number of single women whose reproductive age is ending. We must finally pay attention to this problem. The state should not just say, it should shout that one of the most unconditional meanings for a woman is to be a mother. And also to offer such an option for possible interaction so that any single woman can rely on our state, as she would rely on a husband who does not yet exist.

Regarding employment, a computer and the Internet are now present in almost every home. And if the Russian state seriously thinks about working for Russian residents of the Baltic states, then, for example, through so-called “freelancing” (home work) - and these are designers, copywriters or programmers - it will be able to significantly help them find employment. Especially if it is developed government program both initial training for those who need it, and for the actual work.

Then, it is necessary to create schools of Russian communities in the Baltic countries, in which Russian children could study and achieve good results in studies. A very clever program of veiled Russian patriotism should be developed, children should have the periodic opportunity to attend historical homeland, with additional studies there.

As a result of all this, the Russian Baltic states will receive national idea- good to live in European country, giving birth to more children, recreating the Russian population. Moreover, with clear, easily calculated prospects - in such and such a year there will be so many of us, in this year - so many... It will be a great idea - to help the distant Motherland return the lost lands. I'm sure if people in the right way give such a goal, they will be able to support it. And the more children, the richer (and happier - this is necessary, this can be convinced!) a person will be.

Russia should select talented (and patriotic) businessmen, helping to increase their welfare with the help of loans. So that they, along with the growth of their wealth (for example, thanks to some secret agreement) help the growth and strengthening of the Russian diaspora. Using the method of successive approximations, make ever larger islands, Russian in spirit, with their own representatives in power, always moderate politicians, so that they cannot be reproached with anything.

And - we will succeed!