In 1940, a Soviet ultimatum forced Romania to surrender territory without a single shot
In the shadow of World War II, a 1940 Soviet ultimatum forced Romania to hand over vast territories in just four days, fundamentally redrawing the map of Eastern Europe without a battle.
Following the secret protocols of the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact, the Soviet Union issued a high-stakes ultimatum to Romania on June 26, 1940. Facing the threat of a massive invasion they couldn't win, the Romanian government chose to withdraw their troops from Bessarabia and Northern Bukovina.
There's more to this story — open the app to keep reading.
Continue Reading in App
1 more paragraphs · plus a 3-question quiz