August 23, 1939: Ribbentrop/Molotov non-aggression agreement signed between Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union.

September 1, 1939: Nazi Germany invaded Poland, thus beginning World War II

September 3, 1939: Britain, France, India, Australia and New Zealand declare war on Nazi Germany

September 17, 1939: The Soviets annex Poland as part of the Ribbentrop/Molotov agreement

June 15, 1940: The Soviet Union annexes Lithuania, which until then was an independent state. This was part of the Ribbentrop/Molotov agreement

July, 1940: All foreign representatives in Kovno, are instructed to close their legations, on orders of the new Soviet authorities, endangering the escape of many Jewish refugees who had already fled from Nazi occupied Poland to Lithuania and were planning to leave for other European or Asian destinations

June 22, 1941: Nazi Germany invades the Soviet Union

June 24, 1941: Kovno occupied by Nazi forces