Summer of Slow Travel

The Balkans had some independent identity back in the 1300-1500, with Lithuania actually being big for a while. Then in the late 1500’s Poland swept up Lithuania (giving it a Catholic identity) and Russia and Sweden stared fighting over Latvia and Estonia. Peter the Great eventually won in 1710.

At the end of WWI President Wilson really felt like it was time for people to grab their independence..and since Russia was occupied with its own Civil War, all 3 Baltic States became independent. By all accounts though there were some things they had to learn, they really flourished.

Until…Stalin and Hitler signed a non-aggression pact that secretly gave the Baltic States to Russia. So Russia invaded in 1940..and took aggressive control. Including sending thousands to Siberia (interesting side note..some were Jewish, and they actually survived WW2).

So in 1941 when Germany invaded there was hope for a minute. But then in the first 6 months of the German Occupation they murdered 80% of the Jewish population and most of the military.

As we know, Russia came back in 1945. And this was when Stalin was in control, and he treated the Baltic states just like Russia. People were deported to Siberia work camps for no reason. Or because they were land owners, or educated, or read the wrong books. People were executed with no trials. There were known and secret KGB agents everywhere.

Russians immigrated and took over land and factory jobs. Children were taught school in Russian.

Then slowly in 1989 people started seeing hope that they could regain independence. They organized a day where people joined hands across ALL 3 Baltic States– unbroken for 419 miles. 2,000,000 people. Before The internet.

And then in 1990 they declared their independence. No one knew what would happen, remember just 40 years before people were being killed and their bodies would lie out on the streets so the KGB could identify their families, by who cried when they saw the bodies.

Yet, they were brave and amassed in crowds too large for the Soviets to kill. Every state had some who died and some who were very very brave, but all risked their lives.

People stood in front of this tank.

It is inspirational to me, how many could believe in freedom and make their dreams come true.

I’m glad we came here while this history is still part of people’s lives.

Pretty pics later tonight. Love