German–Latvian Non-Aggression Pact
On June 7, 1939, Germany and Latvia signed a non-aggression pact in Berlin, joining a similar agreement with Estonia. The pacts were signed by Latvian Foreign Minister Vilhelms Munters and German Foreign Minister Joachim von Ribbentrop. The next day, Hitler met the Baltic envoys and spoke about keeping trade strong between Germany and the Baltic states. Ratifications were exchanged on July 24, 1939, and the pacts took effect that day; they were registered by the League of Nations on August 24 and were to last ten years.
These treaties were meant to stop Western powers and the Soviet Union from gaining influence in the Baltic states, helping to prevent Germany from being encircled. In March, after Germany pressed Lithuania over the Klaipėda region, a separate non-aggression pact with Lithuania was signed. The Baltic states were seen as a barrier against Soviet intervention if Germany went to war with Poland. Germany had offered non-aggression pacts to Estonia, Latvia, Finland, Denmark, Norway, and Sweden on April 28, 1939; Sweden, Norway, and Finland rejected the offer. The first drafts were prepared in early May, but Latvia asked for clarifications, delaying signing.
This page was last edited on 2 February 2026, at 05:41 (CET).