Soviet annexation of Estonia

Estonian Soviet Socialist Republic
Эстонская Советская Социалистическая Республика Eesti Nõukogude Sotsialistlik Vabariik
Unrecognized Soviet Socialist Republic (1940–1941, 1944–1990/91) De facto sovereign entity (1988–1990/91)
1940–1941 1944–1990/1991
Flag State emblem
Anthem Anthem of the Estonian Soviet Socialist Republic
Location of the Estonian SSR (red) within the Soviet Union.
Capital		Tallinn
Languages		Estonian Russian
Government		Soviet Socialist Republic
First Secretary		Karl Säre (first)
		Vaino Väljas(last)
Historical era		World War II · Cold War
•	Soviet occupation	June 16, 1940
•	SSR established	July 21, 1940
•	Annexed by USSR, Estonia continued de jure	August 9, 1940
•	Nazi occupation	1941
•	Soviet re-occupation SSR re-established	1944
•	Estonian Sovereignty Declaration	November 16, 1988
•	Singing Revolution	1988
•	Renamed to Republic of Estonia	May 8, 1990
•	Disestablished	August 20, 1991
•	Independence recognized by the State Council of the Soviet Union	September 6, 1991
Area
•	1989	45,227 km2 (17,462 sq mi)
Population
•	1989 est.	1,565,662
Density		35/km2 (90/sq mi)
Calling code		+7 014
Today part of		Estonia

The Estonian Soviet Socialist Republic (Estonian SSR or ESSR; Estonian: Eesti Nõukogude Sotsialistlik Vabariik ENSV; Russian: Эстонская Советская Социалистическая Республика ЭССР, Estonskaya Sovetskaya Sotsialisticheskaya Respublika ESSR), also known as Soviet Estonia or Estonia was a republic of the Soviet Union, administered by a subordinate of the Government of the Soviet Union. The ESSR was initially established on the territory of the Republic of Estonia on July 21, 1940, following the invasion of Soviet troops on June 17, 1940, and the installation of a puppet government backed by the Soviet Union, which declared Estonia a Soviet state. The Estonian SSR was subsequently incorporated into the USSR on August 9, 1940. The territory was occupied by Nazi Germany from 1941 to 1944.

Most countriesdid not recognise the incorporation of Estonia de jure and only recognised its Soviet government de facto or not at all. A number of these countries continued to recognize Estonian diplomats and consuls who still functioned in the name of their former government. This policy of non-recognition gave rise to the principle of legal continuity, which held that de jure, Estonia remained an independent state under occupation throughout the period 1940–91.

On 16 November 1988, the Estonian SSR became the first republic within the Soviet sphere of influence to declare state sovereignty from Moscow. On 30 March 1990, the Estonian SSR declared that Estonia had been occupied since 1940 and declared a transitional period for the country's full independence. The Estonian Soviet Socialist Republic was renamed as the Republic of Estonia on May 8, 1990. The independence of the Republic of Estonia was re-established on August 20 during the 1991 Soviet coup d'état attempt the following year and the Soviet Union itself recognized the independence of Estonia on September 6, 1991.