Independent Baltic. 1920-1940 Addition to "Were there colonies in Russia?"
For the modern Baltic elites, the 1920-1940 period. - This is the “golden time of independence” and “the heyday of”, when the economy developed rapidly, the population of the Baltic peoples expanded and grew, and the identity of the peoples of Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia reached a new level, allowing them to create the most democratic governments in Eastern Europe. And then came the beast-like USSR led by the paranoid tyrant Stalin and destroyed the entire “Baltic Eden” ... And for half a century the Baltic fell under the “Soviet yoke” ...
If you have not yet begun to cry over the “lost paradise”, you did it right, because When examining the situation closely, with a close study of the facts, this benevolently sorrowful picture very quickly loses its appeal.
POPULATION
Unfortunately, more or less reliable data on the population are available only for Lithuania and Estonia, while in Latvia there is a large temporary gap between population censuses - 1935 and 1959, which makes it difficult to accurately assess the situation. True, Kolpakidi with reference to A.N. Fedotov (Economy of Latvia (1920-1940)) and M.I. Kozina (Essays on Economic stories Of Latvia. 1860-1900), writes that in the period from 1913-1920's. The population of Latvia fell from 2,5 million to 1,6 million as a result of wars and emigration, and up to 1940 was below the pre-war number by 20%. I could not find these books in the public domain, so I cannot deny or confirm this data.
As for Lithuania, here we see the following picture: in the territory of Lithuania censuses were conducted in 1897, 1923, 1959 and later years (we will touch on them in terms of finding the Baltic states as part of the USSR). Based on these data, as well as data from the Statistics Department of Lithuania (for 1913, 1939, etc.), we can show the dynamics of the Lithuanian population in a table and draw the appropriate conclusions. The table was taken by me from an article by A. Stanaytis, S. Stanaytis and R. Subotkevicienne (in the article, in general, the dynamics of the rural population are studied, but there are also data on aggregate population):
The years we are interested in I specifically singled out. However, there is no 1923 data in the table. A reasonable question - why? In my opinion, the whole point is that the 1923 numbers spoil the big picture a bit and do not show the true price of Lithuanian independence. After all, according to this table, how is it? That the population grew both with RI and after it, nothing changed, i.e. Lithuania is sovereign, sovereign, and Russia, as it were, was and is not particularly needed. But what will happen if at the same time and consider the data 1923 g .:
What follows from the above data? Over 10 years, the population decreased by almost 800 thousand people - at the expense of those killed in wars (PMA, war for independence) and emigration, and could overcome the pre-war number only after 16 years. Actually, these data can be assessed in two ways: on the one hand, there is indeed progress: the population has increased, and Lithuania was able to overcome the “demographic hole”; on the other hand, most of the victims and immigrants fell precisely during the period of the struggle for independence, which, in general, gives reason to think - was it worth it?
Estonia also fully “tasted” the fruits of independence. The table below provides information on mortality and fertility rates from 1914 to 1939.
Actually, as expected, the maximum fertility rate and the corresponding difference fall at the pre-war time. During the war, predictable mortality went up. With 1921, the birth rate again exceeded mortality, but from this point on, this indicator, albeit remaining in “+”, begins to decline steadily, right up to the 1935 year: it began to grow again, but the level of 14-15 and even 16 did not reach . The difference between mortality and fertility, starting with 1930, is characterized by a tendency to decrease, against the background of which single “bursts” (1932 and 1938) cannot change the negative picture. Thus, it is not surprising that in the period from 1922 to 1934, the population of Estonia increased very insignificantly - from 1 million 107 thousand people to 1 million 126 thousand people, that is, the increase in 12 years amounted to 19 thousand 354 person (this in aggregate, if we take exclusively Estonians, then 22544 person; frankly, not a lot). The data is presented below.
In between 1939 and 1940 an outflow from the Baltic states began, and from Estonia in particular, Baltic Germans, as a result of which the population of the Estonian Republic decreased by more than 5% (according to 40 of the year, 1 million 54 thousand people lived in Estonia).
ECONOMY
In fact, the development of the economy of the Baltic countries in the period of independence can be characterized in just two words - agratization and resource extraction.
The main reasons for this phenomenon are two:
1) During the years of the WWI, many industrial productions were evacuated from the Baltic States (in Latvia alone, after the equipment was dismantled, about 400 enterprises ceased to operate, and 90% of the total machine park and power equipment were removed from Riga), however, Latvia and Estonia had significant potential for the development of industry (this will be discussed below).
2) As a result of the separation, the established economic ties between these countries and Russia were broken. In the end, this led to the following consequences:
- The Baltic States lost many sources of raw materials, which, as is clear, mainly came from Russia;
- The Baltics was cut off from the domestic market of Russia, which accounted for the lion's share of the total exports of these territories (the same Latvia, as already mentioned, sold almost 67% in all its products in 1913 in the territory of the Empire).
Due to the isolation from the market of Russia (USSR), the Balts had to urgently reorient themselves to the markets of Western countries. But under capitalism, as we know, the strongest survive: unsupported by the resources and finances of the "center", the industry of the Baltic republics was not able to with the industrial power of the West - their industrial output was uncompetitive on the world market and not needed by anyone. As a result, almost all Baltic exports began to consist of food, light and fuel industry products.
In confirmation of this, it is sufficient to compare the industrial structure of the Baltic countries in 1912-1913. and 1936-1940 Here she is.
Nevertheless, from the point of view of the official historiography of the Baltic republics, the period we are considering is considered to be the time of economic growth, the main reason for which is precisely the achievement of “own statehood”. And the submission of relevant information is carried out both in publicly available sources (such as the same Wikipedia) and in the school curricula of these countries. At the same time, Baltic historiography does not hesitate to distort facts or present them in a favorable light to it. As an example, I will cite some excerpts from the article “Estonian Economy in the 1920-30-s” (this article was timed to the 90 anniversary of the Republic of Estonia, in full here; By the way, the Wikipedia article “The History of the Economy of Estonia” is partially based on this material):
Exposure first
83% are steamboats, and what about the remaining 17%? And these are sailing ships. Their share in the total tonnage fleet it only decreased in 5 to 1939%. In the mid-20s, the ratio of sailing ships and steamboats was 50 to 50. Despite the fact that before the WWI, Estonia had a powerful shipbuilding industry, which then accounted for about 10% of all industrial production in Estonia . But it sounds beautiful - "The seventh indicator in the world" ...
Exposure two
Actually, here we have the classic recipe of Dr. Goebbels: take a little truth, mix it with a lie - and get what looks presentable enough and what will be believed. The truth here is that - yes, Estonia was ahead of Lithuania, yes, it was behind the developed countries of the West. I cannot vouch for Spain, Portugal and the Balkans, unfortunately I did not find information on them. But here in Poland and Finland - I have something to say.
First, we have the calculations of Mr. Colin Clark, the creator of the economic concept of gross national product (GNP), which in 1940 compared the economic performance of 53 countries of the world (from 1925 to 1934), including - in terms of average real per capita income per employed resident. The rating compiled by him is presented below. Draw your own conclusions.
Yes, a very interesting point is connected with this rating. In the process of searching for information, I twice stumbled upon it, and both times the following disclaimer was present - that, they say, during this period, the Great Depression struck painfully in the Baltic States. So I want to ask - and what, unless on other countries VD did not affect?
Secondly, there is a table “National income of the Baltic states and individual countries” - a more specific Clark rating, but compiled by our scientists. And there is Finland. Here he is.
And thirdly, there are calculations of J. Valge, an economist from Tartu (Dorpat, Yuryev). He determined the index of the change in Estonian GDP per capita relative to the level of Finland, in comparison with a number of European countries. And since GNI (gross national income) is calculated as GDP + “the balance of primary income received from abroad or transferred abroad,” the difference in GDP of countries is essential.
Comments, in my opinion, are superfluous.
Third exposure
The increase in farms and the increase in the amount of cultivated land is really a big plus, no one is going to argue with that. But at the same time, the authors somehow forget to highlight the situation with the technical equipment of Estonian agriculture. And the situation was, to put it mildly, disgusting. What the table says below.
Actually, comparing the data with the number of Estonian farms (140 thousand), you can quite imagine how much and for whom equipment accounted for. From here, in my opinion, the “legs” of increasing the area of cultivated land “grow” —the low efficiency of the treatment forced it to be compensated by the amount of land used.
Fourth exposure
About the slates, I will say all the same below, but for now I will note:
1) during the economic boom, the factories are not closed, especially since such a serious enterprise as Nobessner (a shipbuilding plant that was producing submarines and electrical equipment for them) and
2) Estonian brothers did not hesitate to “rob” Latvian brothers Russo-Balt after all settled down in Riga.
Exposure of the fifth and last
The main trading partners were the UK and Germany. The share of the USSR in foreign trade turnover by the end of 1930-x significantly decreased. Estonia exported meat products, oil, fish, eggs, textiles, paper, cellulose, plywood, shale oil and gasoline, cement and glass; imported industrial products and raw materials.
What can I say? First, the slates. More precisely, oil shale. A mineral that “during dry distillation produces a significant amount of resin (similar in composition to petroleum)”. That is, in essence, an oil substitute, from which oil, gasoline, etc. were driven. That is, we have a typical oil needle, which gives the lion’s share of profit to the budget.
Secondly, it is a completely logical question: if so many different types of equipment were produced in Estonia, why did almost only raw materials go for export? But industrial products just imported? Strange, is not it? One contradicts the other.
Thirdly, about the dominance of foreign capital - this is an understatement. By 1938 in Estonia there were 150 large private companies, of which 77 had foreign owners. And, as it is not difficult to guess, the overwhelming number of such firms was employed in the shale industry. And this situation was everywhere in the Baltics. In Lithuania, almost 100% of electricity production capacity belonged to Belgium, the paper industry and printing industry for 80-90% belonged to Sweden (the rest was from England and Holland), the textile industry and banking monopolized America. And in Latvia to 1935, 72% of all industrial enterprises belonged to Germans and Jews, who to one degree or another lived in Latvia (I don’t have data on how many of them are foreigners and how many are not).
You have already understood what exactly the Baltic countries of the 20-30-s resemble? That's right, African pseudo-states of the era of developed colonialism: ephemeral statehood, critical dependence on the export of resources, and industry, more than half of which (and this is still the least) are concessions of the Western powers. What is lacking is only authoritarian kings, and then the resemblance becomes simply stunning. And what is most interesting - the kings were.
"DEMOCRACY" AND "LAW"
Indeed, after gaining independence, the Baltic countries enthusiastically began building democracy: they adopted constitutions, created parliaments, and gave free rein to political parties (in one Latvia, 109 (!) Pieces were registered). But then it somehow went wrong. The wave of the global crisis that covered the Baltic states aggravated the already difficult situation of the economies of the Baltic countries, intensified protest moods in the society and exacerbated the interclass contradictions. The result of all this was chaos in the higher authorities - in the same Latvia, before 1934, the 18 (!) Of the cabinet ministers changed. And the most intelligent and decisive people - from the right-wing parties and the military - realized that it was time to “tie up” with democracy.
As a result, in the Baltic republics, almost simultaneously, there were coups that led to the regimes, which are now called authoritarian and reprimand in every way.
In the night from 15 to 16 in May 1934, Prime Minister Karl Ulmanis with the assistance of the Minister of War, gene. Balodis made a coup d'état: military and police units with the support of the Latvian nat. the guards (the so-called “aizsargs”) occupied all the government buildings in Riga, and Ulmanis, by his order, suspended the constitution and dismissed the Saeima (Latvian parliament) - “until the reform of the constitution”. Which, naturally, he didn’t intend to conduct - until the entry of Latvia into the USSR neither the Seimas nor the constitution functioned.
Further Ulmanis acted as decisively:
- all political parties were banned;
- All opposition newspapers quickly shut down;
- martial law was introduced for up to 6 months (which was extended up to 1938);
- a ban was imposed on all political meetings and demonstrations;
- almost all the leaders of the Social Democratic Labor Party (Latvian Social Democratic Labor Party), as well as some other political activists were arrested - in total, about 2000 people.
We must pay tribute to Ulmanis - he gave President A. Kviesis the opportunity to finalize his term (until April 1936). And after that he himself appointed himself president and prime minister.
In Estonia, a coup occurred almost against a carbon copy from Latvian: in the same 1934, and the Prime Minister also made it - only now Konstantin Päts.
Just like Ulmanis, he introduced a state of emergency, closed the parliament and repealed the constitution. And then he consistently suppressed all the hints of opposition: he closed down all independent newspapers, dissolved all political parties, banned demonstrations and strikes. And in 1938, Päts was elected president (before that, he assumed the position of Estonian State Protector - no more, no less).
In fact, even the reasons for the two coups were almost the same - adjusted for the specifics of each country. What Ulmanis, what Patsa to the coup made the threat come from the right, frankly fascist parties (now it looks something completely surrealistic - against the background of how the governments of the modern Baltic states are carrying out an openly fascist policy). Only if Ulmanis himself was right and acted on the principle “If I don’t do this today, tomorrow someone else will do it, but I won’t get the power”, then Päts adhered to neutral, and sometimes you can even say, pro-Soviet views. And he was completely unhappy with the coming to power of the Vapsov party, a veteran organization whose members (Liberation War veterans) held the views of Mussolini and Hitler and wanted to create from Estonia something similar to Italy and Germany. Therefore, in contrast to Ulmanis, who persecuted the left, Päts directed all reprisals against the Vapses and their supporters. And even partially adopted their methods - for example, the leader of Vapsov, lawyer A. Sirk, in August 1937 was thrown out of the window of a house in Luxembourg, where he was hiding after escaping prison in 1935.
As for Lithuania, there was a coup even earlier: on the night from 16 to 17 in December 1926, military units subordinate to General P. Plekhavicius took control of all government buildings in Kaunas, President K. Grinius was deposed and arrested, the center-left ministers The government of M. Slavevicius was also arrested. The state of emergency was reinstated (it had previously operated from 1919 to 1922, and in Kaunas it was maintained even after 1922, it was finally canceled only when a coalition government was formed of Lithuanian communists and representatives of the Peasant People’s Union). President was elected one of the organizers of the coup - Antanas Smetona.
As in the case of Latvia, left-wing politicians were repressed: the leadership of the Lithuanian Communist Party was arrested, four of the leaders of the communists - K. Pozela, J. Greifenberberis, R. Charnas and K. Gedris - were shot. In April, Smetona 1927 dissolved the Sejm, declared himself “the leader of the state” and, together with his party, the Lithuanian National Union finally established itself in power - until 1940, when the USSR took up the Baltics seriously ...
SUMMING UP
1. Over the 20 years of independence, the Baltic republics have successfully carried out the degradation of their own industry and the agratization of their economies, becoming suppliers of resources for Western countries.
2. Democracy has once again demonstrated its inconsistency as a form of government in the context of economic and political instability, resulting in the establishment of authoritarian regimes in the Baltic countries.
Thus, the idea of the period of independence 1920-1940's. in the form in which it is vigorously introduced into the minds of people by the modern politicians of the Baltics, it has nothing to do with reality and is a myth. A myth by which one can justify one's own mistakes and inconsistency.
Sources:
1) http://en.wikipedia.org/
2) http://www.runivers.ru/doc/d2.php?SECTION_ID=6766&PORTAL_ID=6763
3) http://istorik.org/2008/01/%D1%8D%D0%BA%D0%BE%D0%BD%D0%BE%D0%BC%D0%B8%D0%BA%D0%B0-%D1%8D%D1%81%D1%82%D0%BE%D0%BD%D0%B8%D0%B8-%D0%B2-1920-30-%D1%85-%D0%B3%D0%BE%D0%B4%D0%B0%D1%85%D1%82%D0%BE%D1%80%D0%B3%D0%BE%D0%B2%D0%BB%D1%8F/
4) http://cyberleninka.ru/article/n/dinamika-selskogo-naseleniya-litvy-v-hh-veke
5) Baltic and Central Asia as part of the Russian empire and the USSR: the myths of modern textbooks of post-Soviet countries and the reality of socio-economic calculations / A.I. Kolpakidi, A.P. Myakshev, I.V. Nikiforov, V.V. Simindey, A.Yu. Shadrin.
6) J. Valge. Eesti Vabariigi koguprodukt aastatel 1923-39, Käsikiri. Arvutusalus: A.Maddison, Monitoring the World Economy, Paris, OECD 1995, lk. 189-199; C. Clark. Internationaler Vergleich der Volkseinkommen. - Weltwirtschaftliches Archiv, Jaanuar 1938, lk. 51-76.
- pRofF
- Did Russia have colonies? Part I. Baltic States as part of the Republic of Ingushetia
Did Russia have colonies? Belated preface
Information