For the next 20 years. this Independent republic thrived. developing a rich national culture. and a prospering economy while living under a written constitution with a bill of rights and free elections. But this liberty was not to last. In flagrant violation of the peace treaty of 1920. the Soviets signed the MolotovRibbentrop Pact. condemning Estonia and its Baltic neighbors. Latvia. and Lithuania. The Soviets forcibly annexed the territory of Estonia in 1940. and subjugated its inhabitants. The Soviet annexation not only terminated Estonias independence. but led to massive executions and deportations. Many more died defending their homeland or fleeing Russian tyranny. And those few who were lucky enough to escape Soviet horrors had to start a new life in other countries with only the clothes on their backs.
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deportations