Baltic–Soviet relations military measures." In mid-June 1940, when international attention was focused on the German invasion of France, Soviet NKVD troops raided border posts in Lithuania, Estonia and Latvia. State administrations were liquidated and replaced by Soviet cadres, Elections were held with single pro-Soviet candidates listed for many positions, with resulting peoples assemblies immediately requested admission into the USSR, which was granted by the Soviet Union. Germany invaded and occupied the territories of Baltic states in 1941 during "Operation Barbarossa". At the beginning the Lithuanians, Latvians and Estonians hoped that the Germans would reestablish Baltic independence. Such political hopes soon evaporated and
State continuity of the Baltic states In the Russian Federation rulings of the court caused negative reaction among politicians and were characterized as "politicized." In the Baltic states the court rulings were accepted within the general lines of the Western non-recognition policy (see Stimson Doctrine). Notably, the Estonian Internal Security Service emphasized the importance of the decisions in its 2006 yearbook. William Hough, New York Law School Journal of International and Comparative Law, Volume 6, Number 2, 1986, "The Annexation of the Baltic States and its Effect in the Development of Law Prohibiting Forcible Seizure of Territory" State continuity of the Baltic states State continuity of