The demonstration called The Baltic Way marked the 50th anniversary of the Molotov–Ribbentrop Pact between the Soviet Union and Nazi Germany (which divided Eastern Europe into spheres of influence and led to the occupation of the Baltic states in 1940). The chain connected the three Baltic capitals – Vilnius, Riga, and Tallinn. Video footage taken from airplanes and helicopters showed an almost continuous line of people across the countryside. Few months later all three republics declared independence.