1a. Directive of the Peoples’ Commissar for Defence of the U.S.S.R.

9 June 1940

Strictly classified

DIRECTIVE OF THE PEOPLES’ COMMISSAR FOR DEFENCE
OF THE U.S.S.R.
No-02622, 9 June 1940.

To the Commander of the Red Banner Baltic Fleet, Vice-Admiral V. Tributs

Cc: Peoples’ Commissar of Navy, Admiral N. Kuznetsov
Army Commander of the Leningrad Military District Army Commander
K. Meretskov

I DIRECT:

1. To transfer at 05.00 of 10 June of the current year the Red Banner Baltic Fleet into operative subordination of the Commander of the Leningrad military district, and from 12 June it be ready to perform combat tasks under his directives,
A. To secure full alert of the naval bases and vessels of the Red Banner Baltic Fleet, situated at ports of Tallinn, Paldiski and Liepaja.
B. To capture, under the command of the Commander of the Leningrad military district, all vessels of the Estonian and Latvian naval forces.
C. To capture mercantile marine and vessels.
D. To prepare and organise the landing of troops in Paldiski and Tallinn, to seize ports and batteries of Tallinn.
E. To block the Gulf of Riga.
F. To organise a permanent and secure patrol service: on the Gulf of Finland – from the direction of Finland, and on the Baltic Sea – from the direction of Sweden and from the south.
G. To assist, in close collaboration with armed forces, the troops of the Leningrad military district in their advance towards Rakvere.
H. To prevent, by using air force, the air fleet of Estonia and Latvia from flying ti Finland and Sweden.
2. The Commander of the Leningrad military district shall establish the exact time of the commencement of military actions.
3. The combat plan of the Red Banner Baltic Fleet is to be elaborated and submitted by 11 June of the current year for approval.

PEOPLES COMMISSAR FOR DEFENCE
Marshal of the U.S.S.R
S. Timoshenko

CHIEF OF THE GENERAL STAFF
B. Shaposhnikov
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Central Archieves of the Naval Forces of the U.S.S.R., C. R-92, r. 2c, F. 671, s. 1-2