Russia had imposed the unwanted restrictions of pacts of mutual assistance upon the falling countries. In the fall of 1940 all pretenses of respect for their declared neutrality were dropped. and Soviet troops invaded their borders. Murders and deportationsattempts to purge the national spirit from these peoplewere accompanied by the transplanting of thousands of loyal Soviets onto Baltic soil. Those who escaped to freedom were the few. the many were denied their cultural heritage and their hardwon liberty and were forced to bend under the iron hand of communism. But deportations will not take the homeland from the hearts of a people. and murders will only stoke the fires of hatred for their oppressors. To those of the Baltic States. who labor far from their homes in misery and fear. we must reaffirm our ties as fellow lovers of liberty. Their spirit and their hope must remain alive so that one day they will again have the independence they once enjoyed.
Keywords matched
deportations deportationsattempts