The Balts or Baltic people are an Indo-European ethno-linguistic group who speak the Baltic languages, a branch of the Indo-European language family, which was originally spoken by tribes living in area east of Jutland peninsula in the west and Moscow, Oka and Volga rivers basins in the east. One of the features of Baltic languages is the number of conservative or archaic features retained. Among the Baltic peoples are modern Lithuanians, Latvians (including Latgalians) — all Eastern Balts — as well as the Old Prussians, Yotvingians and Galindians — the Western Balts — whose languages and cultures are now extinct.
As a consequence of its location on the Baltic Sea, among other factors, Estonia is categorized as one of the "Baltic states" along with Latvia and Lithuania. Estonians are not Balts, but are descended from Finno-Ugric speakers. However, given Estonia's status as a Baltic State, Estonians have been colloquially, if incorrectly, called Balts at times.
Balts in The Hot War[]
At the time of the outbreak of World War III, a substantial number of Balts were still unhappy with the annexation of Latvia and Lithuania the previous decade.[1] When Joseph Stalin was killed in Omsk in June, 1952, those two Baltic countries launched uprisings.[2]
By the terms of the Treaty of Versailles which ended the war in July 1952, the United States agreed not to aid the rebels of any Soviet satellite, including the Baltic countries, so long as the Soviets did not use atomics.[3] The Batls continued their fight, often effectively.[4] By September, 1952, Soviet forces, in both Lithuania and Latvia, confined themselves to cities, leaving rebels to hold the countryside.[5]
Balts in War World[]
Balts were natives of the three Baltic States of Lithuania, Estonia, and Latvia on the eastern shore of the Baltic Sea. They were forcibly annexed into the Soviet Union but continued to struggle for independence. With the formation of the CoDominium and the establishment of the Bureau of Relocation, those who were too vocal were made involuntary transportees to planets such as Haven.
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