In the history of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania the period of Stalinist rule marked the time of loss of independence, Sovietization and enormous political, social and cultural change. Large segments of the population fell victim to repression or forced deportation. Some Balts fought in a partisan war against the Soviets, others fled in 1944. Until today, those events are present in Baltic societies. The volume assembles thirteen historians from eight countries discussing in their contributions different aspects of Stalinist rule in the annexed Baltic states. The authors make extensive use of recently opened archives.

Olaf Mertelsmann is Associate Professor of Contemporary History at the University of Tartu, Estonia.