Misplaced Pages

#843156

106-708: Latvia had gained its independence from Russia at the end of World War I, but in June 1940 the country was occupied by the Red Army and in August 1940 it was forcibly incorporated into the Soviet Union . In June 1941, Nazi Germany invaded the Soviet Union and by July of that year it had overrun Latvia and incorporated the country into Germany’s eastern empire. Latvians resisted both Soviet and German occupation and sought to restore their independence. The Latvian Central Council

212-638: A NKVD officer and military convoy. Packed into barred cattle cars, with holes in the floor for sanitation, the deportees were taken to Siberia. Many died before even reaching their final destination because of harsh conditions. Many more perished during their first winter. A number of Latvians who managed to avoid deportations decided to hide in the forests, where anti-Soviet units were organized. When Nazi Germany attacked Soviet Union, those rebels immediately went into collaboration with Nazi Germany. The Soviet-German war cut short this first year of Soviet occupation. The Nazi offensive, launched 22 June 1941, just over

318-492: A Scandinavian settlement was established near the town of Grobiņa , most likely by people from Gotland . This colony which numbered a few hundred people existed from a date between 650 and 850 AD. Many chronicles mention that Curonians paid a tribute to Swedish kings. During the Late Iron Age (800–1200 AD) the three-field system was introduced, rye cultivation began, and the quality of local craftsmanship improved with

424-509: A constituent republic of the USSR. History of Latvia The history of Latvia began around 9000 BC with the end of the last glacial period in northern Europe . Ancient Baltic peoples arrived in the area during the second millennium BC, and four distinct tribal realms in Latvia 's territory were identifiable towards the end of the first millennium AD. Latvia's principal river Daugava ,

530-719: A frequent focal point for conflict and conquest between at least four major powers: the State of the Teutonic Order , the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth , Sweden and the Russian Empire . The last period of external hegemony began in 1710, when control over Riga and parts of modern-day Latvia switched from Sweden to Russia during the Great Northern War . Under Russian control, Latvia was in

636-520: A law was passed which forbade peasants to leave their land, virtually enslaving them. The Reformation reached Livonia in 1521 with Luther's follower Andreas Knöpken. During the Protestant riot of 1524 Catholic churches were attacked and in 1525 freedom of religion was allowed. First Latvian parishes were established and services were held in Latvian. Protestants gained support in the cities, and by

742-644: A massive Latvian emigration. The Ice Age in the territory of present-day Latvia ended 14,000–12,000 years ago. The first human settlers arrived here during the Paleolithic Age 11,000–12,000 years ago. They were hunters, who following the reindeer herds camped along the rivers and shore of the Baltic Ice Lake . As the geology of the Baltic Sea indicates, the coastline then reached further inland. The earliest tools found near Salaspils date to

848-427: A month, cooking appliances, clothing). The families would then be taken to the railway station. That was when they discovered that the men were to be separated from the women and children: "In view of the fact that a large number of deportees must be arrested and distributed in special camps and that their families must proceed to special settlements in distant regions, it is essential that the operation of removal of both

954-554: A mutual non-aggression pact with Germany. The German–Estonian and German–Latvian Non-aggression pacts were signed in Berlin on 7 June 1939 by Latvian foreign minister Vilhelms Munters and Joachim von Ribbentrop . On the next day Adolf Hitler received the Estonian and Latvian envoys, and in course of these interviews stressed maintaining and strengthening commercial links between Germany and Baltic states. Ratifications of

1060-712: A path towards independence, eventually succeeding in August 1991 to be recognised by Russia the following month. Since then, under restored independence, Latvia has become a member of the United Nations , entered NATO and joined the European Union . Latvia's economy suffered greatly during the Great Recession which caused the 2008 Latvian financial crisis . Worsening economic conditions and better job opportunities in Western Europe have caused

1166-572: A result of Counter-Reformation. During the first Partition of Poland in 1772, when it was annexed by Catherine the Great 's Russian Empire and title "Grand Duke of Livonia" was added to the grand title of Russian Emperors . During the Polish–Swedish War (1600–1629) Riga and the largest part of Duchy of Livonia came under Swedish rule in 1621. During the Swedish rule, this region was known as

SECTION 10

#1732775786844

1272-544: A vast manorial network of estates in Latvia . The titled landowners wielded economic and political power; they had a duty to care for the peasants dependent on them, however in practice the latter were forced into serfdom . By 16th century sockage had increased to 4 – 6 days per week and various taxes to 25%. Peasants increasingly tried to escape to freedom, either by moving to Riga (they could gain freedom if they lived there for one year and one day) or another manor. In 1494

1378-654: A week after the mass deportations were executed, entered Riga on 1 July 1941. This disrupted documented NKVD plans to deport several hundred thousand more from the Baltic states on 27-28 July 1941. With memories of the mass deportations of a week before still fresh, the German troops were widely greeted at their arrival by the Latvians as liberators. The Latvian national anthem played on the radio, and, as Chris Bellamy wrote: "the [anti-Soviet] rebellion broke out immediately after

1484-489: Is described in the Livonian Chronicle of Henry . While Riga had been a trading port since ancient times, Albert is credited with its founding in 1201 when he established it as his seat of power. Riga gradually became the largest city in the southern part of the Baltic Sea. A state known as Terra Mariana , later Livonian Confederation , was established in 1207. It consisted of various territories that belonged to

1590-705: The Archbishopric of Riga and his coadjutor Christoph von Mecklenburg . On June 10, 1570 Duke Magnus of Holstein arrived in Moscow, where he was crowned King of Livonia. Magnus took an oath of allegiance to Ivan the Terrible as his overlord and received from him the corresponding charter for the vassal kingdom of Livonia in what Ivan termed his patrimony. The armies of Ivan the Terrible were initially successful, taking Polotsk in 1563 and Pärnu in 1575 and overrunning much of Grand Duchy of Lithuania almost up to

1696-515: The Belarusians and Ukrainians in the territory of Poland, which Soviets argued "ceased to exist" in the wake of German successes. Stalin then suggested a "trade" to Hitler to solve the "Baltic problem". On 28 September 1939, Germany and the Soviet Union having partitioned Poland signed a border agreement , including a second secret protocol, handing Lithuania to Stalin in exchange for two Polish provinces. Shortly thereafter, on 3 October 1939,

1802-712: The Curonians , Latgalians , Selonians , Semigallians ( Latvian : kurši, latgaļi, sēļi, zemgaļi ) and the Finnic Livonians , who united under their local chiefs. The largest tribe was the Latgalians who also were the most advanced in their socio-political development. The main Latgalian principality, Jersika , was ruled by Orthodox Christian princes from the Latgalian- Polotsk branch of

1908-613: The European Court of Human Rights , the Government of Latvia , the United States Department of State , and the European Union . In 1989, the USSR also condemned the 1939 secret protocol between Nazi Germany and herself that had led to the invasion and occupation of the three Baltic countries , including Latvia. In July 1989, the country began the process of restoring their independence , and after

2014-684: The Latvian Defence Forces . On 8 July the Germans announced that wearing of non-German uniforms was banned. Also, rebel units were ordered to disarm. Jewish fears of the Nazis—which had led some to look upon the Soviet occupation as a measure of security— were to prove tragically well founded . By 10 July 1941, German armed forces had occupied all of Latvia's territory. Latvia became a part of Nazi Germany's Reichskommissariat Ostland –

2120-631: The Latvian War of Independence , Latvia finally won sovereign independence , as recognised by Soviet Russia in 1920 and by the international community in 1921. The Constitution of Latvia was adopted in 1922. Political instability and effects of the Great Depression led to the May 15, 1934 coup d'état by Prime Minister Kārlis Ulmanis . Latvia's independence was interrupted in June–July 1940, when

2226-624: The NKVD orchestrated a series of strikes in Riga and Liepāja. When those failed to develop into a general strike, the Soviets blamed that failure on the "irresponsible element which spoils the good neighbourly relations". Fearing Soviet action, on 17 May 1940, the Latvian government secretly issued emergency powers to the Latvian minister in London, Kārlis Reinholds Zariņš , designating Alfreds Bilmanis ,

SECTION 20

#1732775786844

2332-699: The Republic of Latvia and USSR had both signed and ratified following treaties: The German–Latvian non-aggression pact was signed in Berlin on 7 June 1939. In light of the German advance in the east, the Soviet government demanded an Anglo–French guarantee of the independence of the Baltic states , during their negotiations for an alliance with the Western Powers. The Latvian and Estonian governments, ever suspicious of Soviet intentions, decided to accept

2438-522: The Rurik dynasty. The last ruler of Jersika, mentioned in the Chronicle of Henry of Livonia (a document that describes events of the late 12th and early 13th centuries) was King Visvaldis ( Vissewalde, rex de Gercike ). When he divided his realm in 1211, part of the country was called "Lettia" ( terra, quae Lettia dicitur ), probably the first time this name is mentioned in written sources. In contrast,

2544-538: The Satversme is the fundamental law of the restored Republic of Latvia, and provided for establishment of a Cabinet of Ministers that would organise the restoration of the State of Latvia. Some of the most prominent LCC accomplishments are related to its military branch – the group led by General Jānis Kurelis  [ lv ] (the so-called “Kurelieši”) with Lieutenant Roberts Rubenis' battalion which carried out

2650-872: The Teutonic Order as the Livonian Order . In 1260, the Battle of Durbe destroyed Teuton hopes for a wide land bridge between their territories in Prussia and Courland. By the end of the 13th century, the Curonians and Semigallians were subjugated (in 1290 the majority of Semigallians left German-conquered areas and moved to Lithuania), and the development of the separate tribal realms of the ancient Latvians came to an end as Germans introduced direct rule over subjected peoples. In 1282, Riga (and later Cēsis , Limbaži , Koknese and Valmiera ) were included in

2756-580: The sovereignty of Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth (not ratified by the Sejm of Poland-Lithuania, or recognized by Denmark). In 1578 Magnus retired to The Bishopric of Courland where he lived in Piltene Castle and accepted Polish pension. After he died in 1583, Poland annexed his territories to the Duchy of Courland and Semigallia and Frederick II decided to sell his rights of inheritance . Except for

2862-537: The uniformity policy was applied in Swedish Livonia under Karl XI of Sweden: serfdom was abolished in the estates owned by the Swedish crown, peasants were offered education and military, administrative or ecclesiastical careers, and nobles had to transfer domains to the king in the Great Reduction . These reforms were subsequently reversed by Peter I of Russia when he conquered Livonia. In 1632

2968-621: The "Swedish Bread Basket" because it supplied the larger part of the Swedish Kingdom with wheat. Riga was the second largest city in the Swedish Empire at the time. Together with other Baltic Sea dominions, Livonia served to secure the Swedish Dominium maris baltici . In contrast to Swedish Estonia, which had submitted to Swedish rule voluntarily in 1561 and where traditional local laws remained largely untouched,

3074-548: The 15th–16th centuries, the hereditary landed class of Baltic nobility gradually evolved from the German vassals of the Order and bishops. In time, their descendants came to own vast estates over which they exercised absolute rights. At the end of the Middle Ages this Baltic German minority had established themselves as the governing elite, partly as an urban trading population in the cities, and partly as rural landowners, via

3180-525: The 1939 secret protocol by the Soviet government, the Soviet position on the events of 1939–1940 is summarised as follows: the Government of the Soviet Union suggested to the Government of the Republic of Latvia that they conclude a treaty of mutual assistance between the two countries. Pressure from the Latvian working peoples forced the Latvian government to accept this offer. A Pact of Mutual Assistance

3286-467: The Baltic States, stating, "... the execution of the pacts progressed satisfactorily and created conditions favourable for a further improvement of the relations between Soviet Russia and these States". Improvement of the relations being a euphemism for Soviet takeover. In March and April 1940, immediately after Molotov's speech, the Soviet press commenced attacks on the Latvian government. Next,

Latvian Central Council - Misplaced Pages Continue

3392-561: The Baltics. On 24 September 1939, warships of the Red Navy appeared off Latvia's northern neighbour, Estonian ports, Soviet bombers began a threatening patrol over Tallinn and the nearby countryside. USSR then violated the air space of all three Baltic states, flying massive intelligence gathering operations on 25 September. Moscow demanded that Baltic countries allow the USSR to establish military bases and station troops on their soil for

3498-753: The Church and Order in what is now Latvia and Estonia and was under the direct authority of the Pope of Rome. In 1228 the Livonian Confederation was established. The Order of the Livonian Brothers of the Sword was founded in 1202 to subjugate the local population. The Livonians were conquered by 1207 and most of the Latgalians by 1214. When Brothers of the Sword were decimated at the Battle of Saule in 1236, they asked for incorporation into

3604-505: The Curonians, whose territories extended into today's Lithuania and Curonian Spit , maintained a lifestyle of sea invasions that included looting and pillaging. On the west coast of the Baltic Sea they became known as the "Baltic Vikings." Selonians and Semgallians, closely related to Aukštaitians and Samogitians , were known as prosperous farmers and resisted Germans the longest under such chiefs as Viestards . Livonians lived along

3710-603: The Daugava, to Kievan Rus' . Among them were German traders who came with Christian preachers who attempted to convert the pagan Baltic and Finnic nations to the Christian faith . In early 1180s Saint Meinhard began his mission among Daugava Livonians . They did not willingly convert to the new beliefs and practices, they particularly opposed the ritual of baptism . News of this reached Pope Celestine III in Rome, and it

3816-611: The Finns accepted peace terms on 12 March 1940 with the signing of the Moscow Peace Treaty . Fighting ended the following day. The Finns had retained their independence, but ceded 9% of Finnish territory to the Soviet Union. In June 1941, hostilities between Finland and USSR resumed in the Continuation War . Apparent escape from Finland's fate may have led to a false sense of security for Latvia. Four months before

3922-583: The French populace. It was determined to do nothing , so as to not provoke a transfer of German forces to the western front. Chamberlain declared on 12 September "There is no hurry as time is on our side". The abandonment of Poland was complete. Stalin then moved forward with his part of the Pact, ordering the Red Army on 17 September to cross the Soviet-Polish frontier under the claimed necessity to protect

4028-506: The German ambassador to the Soviet Union, Friedrich Werner von der Schulenburg , had also suggested to Molotov that various changes in the borders of the Lithuanian territory wait until the "Soviet Union incorporates Lithuania, an idea on which, I believe, the arrangement concerning Lithuania was originally based". Subsequently, the Soviet Union further agreed to compensate Nazi Germany 7,500,000 gold dollars (or 31,500,000 Reichsmarks) for

4134-406: The German invasion of Soviet territory brought a halt to this. A Lithuanian government official claims to have seen a document envisaging the removal of 700,000 from Lithuania. The Soviet authorities, having gained control over Latvia, immediately imposed a regime of terror. Hundreds of men were arrested, including many leaders of the Republic of Latvia. Tribunals were set up to punish "traitors to

4240-676: The German occupation government. On 8 September 1944 in Riga , the leadership of the Latvian Central Council adopted a Declaration on the Restoration of the Republic of Latvia. The adoption of the Declaration was an attempt to restore de facto independence of the Republic of Latvia, in hopes of international support and by taking advantage of the interval between changes of occupying powers. The Declaration prescribed that

4346-412: The German-Latvian pact were exchanged in Berlin on 24 July 1939 and it became effective on the same day. It was registered in League of Nations Treaty Series on 24 August 1939. The Molotov–Ribbentrop Pact , signed 23 August 1939 contained secret protocols to split up territories between Germany and the Soviet Union. According to these protocols, Finland, Estonia , Latvia and Bessarabia were within

Latvian Central Council - Misplaced Pages Continue

4452-522: The Germans withdraw. Following French-British indecision, Britain acted alone moving forward with a two-hour ultimatum at 9:00 a.m. on 3 September, which France was then forced to follow, issuing its own ultimatum. Nevertheless, despite declarations that a state of war now existed with Germany, the inter-Allied military conferences of 4-6 September determined there was no possibility of supporting an eastern front in Poland. France subsequently requested Britain not bomb Germany, fearing military retaliation against

4558-408: The Latvian Communist Party, received the vast majority of the votes. The Parliament adopted the declaration of the restoration of Soviet power in Latvia and proclaimed the Latvian Soviet Socialist Republic . The parliament then declared Latvia's wish to freely and willingly join the USSR, adopting a resolution to that effect. That request was approved by the Supreme Soviet of the USSR and Latvia became

4664-436: The Latvian government. On 21 August 1991, Latvia claimed de facto independence. International recognition, including that of the USSR, followed. The United States, which had never recognized Latvia's forcible annexation by the USSR, resumed full diplomatic relations with Latvia on 2 September 1991. In February 1992, Russia agreed to start withdrawing its troops from Latvia. In August 1994 the last Russian troops withdrew from

4770-507: The Latvian minister in Washington, as his substitute. On 28 May 1940, the Lithuanian Minister in Moscow received a note from Molotov which dealt with the alleged kidnapping of two Soviet soldiers in Vilna. The Lithuanian government sought to clear up this matter by a Soviet-Lithuanian commission under the terms of the mutual assistance pact. Moscow rejected this proposal and cut off further discussion, soon showing and rapidly playing their hand: Soviet orchestration of events continued following

4876-467: The Latvian workers who demanded the resignation of the bourgeoisie Latvian government and its fascist leader, Kārlis Ulmanis. That same June, under the leadership of the Latvian Communist Party , the Latvian workers held demonstrations, and on that day, the fascist government was overthrown, and a People's Government formed. Elections for the Latvian Parliament were held shortly thereafter in July 1940. The "Working People's Union", created by an initiative of

4982-425: The Northern German Trading Organisation, better known as the Hanseatic League (Hansa). From this time, Riga became an important point in west–east trading, and it formed closer cultural contacts with Western Europe . Between 1297 and 1330 the Livonian Civil War raged, which started as a conflict between the Bishop of Riga and the Livonian Order. Native people initially retained much of their personal freedoms as

5088-437: The Order Gotthard Kettler became the first Duke of Courland and converted to Lutheranism. In 1560 Johannes IV von Münchhausen, the prince-bishop of Ösel-Wiek and Courland , sold his lands to king Frederick II of Denmark for 30,000 thalers . To avoid the partition of his lands, King Frederick II gave these territories to his younger brother Magnus, Duke of Holstein on condition that he renounce his rights to succession in

5194-484: The Pact reads as follows: "The carrying into effect of the present pact must in no way affect the sovereign rights of the contracting parties, in particular their political structure, their economic and social system, and their military measures. The areas set aside for the bases and airfields remain the territory of the Latvian Republic." With Baltic Sovietization imminent, Hitler issued a "call home" to ethnic Germans . Latvia entered into agreement with Nazi Germany on

5300-636: The Province General of Latvia ( Generalbezirk Lettland ). Anyone who was disobedient to the German occupation regime as well as those who had co-operated with the Soviet regime were killed or sent to concentration camps. In 1939 Generalplan Ost was drawn up by Nazi Germany covering eastern countries. As regards Latvia, it was determined that the population of around 2,000,000 should be reduced by 50%, those remaining being considered worthy of "Germanisation". Accordingly, Jews , Romani people , communists, army officers, politicians, and other intellectuals all found themselves being rounded up. Further reductions in

5406-402: The Reich renouncing its "claims" on the Lithuanian territory it was to originally possess based on the September 28th agreement. The Soviet Union now occupied just over half of all Polish territory, and the Allied powers had demonstrated themselves incapable of military intervention on the Eastern front. There were no impediments remaining to Stalin, in concert with Hitler, achieving his aims in

SECTION 50

#1732775786844

5512-413: The Republic of Latvia and create a Latvian government. The memorandum was a call to resist the reoccupation of Latvia by the Soviet Union following the defeat of Germany, which by that time was widely expected. The memorandum was drawn up in several original copies and photographically reproduced with the aim of taking it out of Latvia and getting it into the hands of the governments of the Western allies and

5618-417: The Republic of Latvia. Russia officially ended its military presence in Latvia in August 1998 following the decommissioning of the Skrunda-1 radar station, which was the last active Russian military radar in the Baltics. The last Russian troops withdrew from the station the following year. Up to the reassessment of Soviet history that began during the Perestroika, which led to the official condemnation of

5724-473: The Soviet Union), the two countries signed a peace treaty on 11 August 1920. In its Article 2 Soviet Russia "unreservedly recognises the independence and sovereignty of the Latvian State and voluntarily and forever renounces all sovereign rights (...) to the Latvian people and territory". The independence of Latvia was diplomatically recognised by the Allied Supreme Council (France, Great Britain, Italy, Japan, Belgium) on January 26, 1921. Other states followed

5830-425: The Soviet mobilization plan. Among other battles with retreating Soviet units, Bellamy mentions Limbaži (4 July), Olaine (5 July), and Alūksne (9 July). All these locations were captured by Latvian rebels before the first Wehrmacht units appeared in the area. Nazi Germany, however, had no plan or desire to restore autonomy to Latvia, even though they ordered Colonel Alexander Plesners to oversee formation of

5936-550: The Soviet sphere of interest, and Poland and Lithuania fell into the German sphere of interest. The Soviet Union did not officially admit the existence of these protocols until, under pressure from the Baltic SSRs, on 24 December 1989, the Congress of the USSR People's Deputies officially recognized the secret deals and condemned them as illegal and invalid from their inception. Nazi Germany invaded Poland on 1 September 1939. France and Britain, which were obligated by treaty to protect Poland, responded with notes of protest requesting

6042-399: The Soviets put an end to their Finnish Democratic Republic puppet government and recognized the government in Helsinki as the legal government of Finland, informing it that they were willing to negotiate peace. The Soviets reorganized their forces and launched a new offensive along the Karelian Isthmus in February 1940. As fighting in Viipuri raged and the hope of foreign intervention faded,

6148-434: The Terrible destroyed the last few hundred soldiers of the Livonian Order and the Archbishop of Riga at the Battle of Ērģeme . In 1561 the weakened Livonian Order was dissolved by the Treaty of Vilnius . Very much following the earlier model of Prussian Homage its lands were secularised as the Duchy of Livonia (Lithuanian vassal) and the Duchy of Courland and Semigallia (Polish vassal) were created. The last Master of

6254-459: The Western world (mostly Australia and North America ). Approximately 150,000 Latvians ended up in exile in the West. According to approximate estimates, as a result of World War II the population of Latvia decreased by half a million (25% less than in 1939). In comparison with 1939 the Latvian population had diminished by about 300,000. The war also inflicted heavy losses on the economy – many historic cities were destroyed, as well as industry and

6360-434: The armed resistance against Waffen SS forces. Moreover, LCC helped Latvians escape to Sweden by boat in 1943-45 from Courland in Western Latvia, thereby rescuing thousands including Jews. On 3 October 1945 the Latvian Central Council in Lustenau (Austria) held its first meeting . After the death of Dr. Pauls Kalniņš on 27 August 1945, the chairing of the LCC was undertaken by Bishop Jāzeps Rancāns  [ lv ] ,

6466-458: The arrival of Soviet troops in Latvia, Vilhelms Munters , addressing an audience at the University of Latvia on 12 February 1940, stated, "We have every reason to describe the relations existing between Latvia and the Soviet Union as very satisfactory. There are people who will say that these favourable conditions are of a temporary nature only, and that sooner or later we shall have to reckon with internal-political and foreign-political pressure on

SECTION 60

#1732775786844

6572-433: The beginning of the fruition of long-standing Soviet desires to gain control of the Baltics. Similar demands were forwarded to Finland. The Soviets demanded that Finland cede or lease parts of its territory, as well as the destruction of Finnish defenses along the Karelian Isthmus. After the Finns rejected these demands, the Soviets responded with military force. The USSR launched the Winter War on 30 November 1939, with

6678-615: The civilian population would be achieved through the creation of food shortages, resulting in mass starvation. The Riga Offensive was part of the larger Baltic Offensive on the Eastern Front during World War II . It took place late in 1944, and drove German forces from the city of Riga . Latvia was again occupied by the Soviet Union from 1944 to 1991. Under the Soviet occupation thousands of Latvians were deported to Siberian camps, executed or forced into exile. Many Latvians fled in fishermen's boats and ships to Sweden and Germany, from where until 1951 they drifted to various parts of

6784-472: The country was occupied and incorporated into the Soviet Union . In 1941 it was invaded and occupied by Nazi Germany , then reconquered by the Soviets in 1944–45. From the mid-1940s the Latvian Soviet Socialist Republic was subject to Soviet economic control and saw considerable Russification of its peoples. However, Latvian culture and infrastructures survived and, during the period of Soviet liberalisation under Mikhail Gorbachev , Latvia once again took

6890-403: The current era, the territory known today as Latvia became famous as a trading crossroads. The renowned trade route from the Varangians to the Greeks mentioned in ancient chronicles stretched from Scandinavia through Latvian territory via Daugava to the ancient Kievan Rus' and Byzantine Empire . The ancient Balts actively participated in this trading network. Across Europe, Latvia's coast

6996-458: The dissolution of the Soviet Union, Latvia's sovereignty was fully restored in 1991. On 22 August 1996, the Latvian parliament adopted a declaration which stated that the Soviet occupation of Latvia in 1940 was a military occupation and an illegal incorporation. In the aftermath of the October Revolution of 1917, Latvia declared its independence on 18 November 1918. After a prolonged War of Independence against Soviet Russia (the predecessor of

7102-461: The duchies of Schleswig and Holstein . Magnus was recognised as sovereign by the Bishop of Ösel-Wiek and Courland and as the prospective ruler of his lands by the authorities of The Bishopric of Dorpat . The Bishopric of Reval with the Harrien - Wierland gentry took his side. Gotthard Kettler , the last Master of the Livonian Order, gave Magnus the portions of Livonia he had taken possession of, along with Archbishop Wilhelm von Brandenburg of

7208-536: The duration of the European war. During talks in Moscow, on 2 October 1939, Stalin told Vilhelms Munters , the Latvian foreign minister: "I tell you frankly, a division of spheres of interest has already taken place. As far as Germany is concerned we could occupy you." The Baltics took this threat seriously. The government of Estonia accepted the ultimatum signing the corresponding agreement on 28 September 1939; Latvia following on 5 October 1939; and Lithuania shortly thereafter, on 10 October 1939. In Latvia's case it

7314-420: The eastern borders of Vilnius voivodeship . In the next phase of the conflict, in 1577 Ivan IV took the opportunity of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth's internal strife (called the war against Gdańsk in Polish historiography), and during the reign of Stefan Batory invaded Livonia, quickly taking almost the entire territory, with the exception of Riga and Revel . In 1578 Magnus of Livonia recognized

7420-519: The fight against the occupation regime in the Baltic States. This Latvian history –related article is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . Soviet occupation of Latvia in 1940 The Soviet occupation of Latvia in 1940 refers to the military occupation of the Republic of Latvia by the Soviet Union under the provisions of the 1939 Molotov–Ribbentrop Pact with Nazi Germany and its Secret Additional Protocol signed in August 1939. The occupation took place according to

7526-436: The first Soviet occupation. Stalin's deportations also included thousands of Latvian Jews (the mass deportation totalled 131,500 across the Baltics). According to the Serov Instructions , the deportations were swift and efficient and came in the middle of the night. Deportees were given an hour or less to get ready to leave. They were allowed to take with them their belongings not exceeding 100 kg in weight (money, food for

7632-448: The first Soviet occupation. This has also been referred to, in Latvian, as "Baigais Gads" (Year of Terror) (this term was also used in anti-Soviet propaganda of the period—these two uses should not be confused or allied in purpose. Baigais Gads is also a title of an openly antisemitic, false account of the events of the year penned by Pauls Kovalevskis, a Nazi sympathiser, in 1942). Further mass deportations and killing were planned, however

7738-906: The former Deputy Speaker of the Latvian Parliament . The CC Latvia comprised the officials of the Presidium of the Parliament and the largest parties of the pre-war Latvia, its headquarters were located in Esslingen . The LCC prepared several petitions and memorandums on the policies of the Bolshevik and Nazi occupation powers in Latvia and submitted them to the governments of the important western powers. Bishop J. Rancāns and other LCC members repeatedly visited American and British occupation authorities in Germany to achieve improvement of

7844-580: The goal of annexing Finland. Simultaneously, a puppet regime , called the Finnish Democratic Republic , was created by the Soviets to govern Finland after Soviet conquest. Because the Soviet attack was judged as illegal, the Soviet Union was expelled from the League of Nations on 14 December. The initial period of the war proved disastrous for the Soviet military, taking severe losses while making little headway. On 29 January 1940,

7950-613: The government or who had fled abroad—which act made them a traitor to the state. On 22 June 1940, all three Baltic parliaments passed initial resolutions on the nationalization of land, followed in Latvia by a Bill of Land Reform a week later. Initially, a maximum of 30 hectares of land could be used by a family, reduced during the second Soviet occupation to 15–20 hectares. The June deportation took place on 13-14 June 1941, estimated at 15,600 men, women, and children, and including 20% of Latvia's last legal government. Approximately 35,000 total (1.8% of Latvia's population) were deported during

8056-610: The infrastructure. In July 1989, following the dramatic events in East Germany , the Latvian Supreme Soviet adopted a "Declaration of Sovereignty" and amended the Constitution to assert the supremacy of its laws over those of the USSR. On 23 August 1989 political demonstration Baltic Way took place. Approximately two million people joined their hands to form an over 600 kilometre long human chain across

8162-458: The introduction of the potter's wheel and better metal working techniques. Arab, Western European and Anglo-Saxon coins dating from this era have been found. A network of wooden hill-forts was built, which provided control and security over the land. In the 10th century, the various ancient Baltic tribal chiefdoms started forming early realms. Regional tribal cultures developed in the territory of modern-day Latvia and northern Lithuania, including

8268-409: The invasion, complete with protestors, who had arrived with the Red Army troops, organizing mass marches and meetings in order to create the impression of popular unrest: Accurate numbers for the losses the Soviets inflicted on Latvia are not available. They have been estimated at 35,000 dead from military action, executions, or deportation. Many more found refuge abroad. These losses all began during

8374-745: The island of Œsel , Denmark was out of the Baltic by 1585. Jan Hieronimowicz Chodkiewicz became the first Governor of the Duchy (1566–1578) with the seat in Sigulda Castle . It was a province of Grand Duchy of Lithuania until 1569. After the Union of Lublin in 1569, it became a joint domain of the Polish Crown and the Grand Duchy. Muscovy recognized Polish–Lithuanian control of Ducatus Ultradunensis in 1582. In 1598 Duchy of Livonia

8480-560: The last Archbishop of Riga, William of Brandenburg , Riga became a Free Imperial City and the rest of the territory was divided into Polish-Lithuanian vassal states - Duchy of Courland and Semigallia (Polish vassal) and the Duchy of Livonia (Lithuanian vassal). The Livonian war put an end to the Livonian Confederacy. Despite the very real threat of Muscovite rule over the whole Livonia, Western Christian countries managed to establish their control over this area for

8586-618: The late Paleolithic age, circa 12,000 years ago, and belong to the Swiderian culture . During the Mesolithic Age (9000–5400 BC) permanent settlements of hunter-gatherers were established. They hunted and fished, establishing camps near rivers and lakes; 25 settlements have been found near Lake Lubāns . These people from the Kunda culture made weapons and tools from flint, antler, bone and wood. The early Neolithic (5400–4100 BC)

8692-418: The members of the deportee's family and its head shall be carried out simultaneously, without notifying them of the separation confronting them ... The convoy of the entire family to the station shall be affected in one vehicle and only at the station of departure shall the head of the family be placed separately from his family in a car specially intended for heads of families". The trains were escorted by

8798-534: The middle of the 16th century, the majority of the population had converted to Lutheranism . The Livonian Confederation ceased to exist during the long Livonian War of 1558–82. The Livonian Order was dissolved by the Treaty of Vilnius in 1561. The following year, the Livonian Landtag decided to ask protection from King Sigismund II of Poland and Grand Duchy of Lithuania . With the end of government by

8904-601: The mouth of the Daugava, became a strategic base in a papally-sanctioned conquest of the area by the Livonian Brothers of the Sword . It was to be the first major city of the southern Baltic and, after 1282, a principal trading centre in the Hanseatic League . By the 16th century, Baltic German dominance in Terra Mariana was increasingly challenged by other powers. Because of Latvia's strategic location and prosperous trading city of Riga, its territories were

9010-612: The news of Barbarossa". The majority of ethnic Latvians who had been forced to serve in the Red Army deserted from their units, and soon afterwards attacked the NKVD. On 2 July 1941, a unit of Latvian deserters captured the town of Sigulda , and three days later, Latvian rebels took control over another town, Smiltene , also blocking the strategic road to Pskov . Latvians did not only desert en masse from regular Red Army units, they also escaped from military training camps, which were part of

9116-655: The next 150 – 200 years. In September 1557 the Livonian Confederation and the Polish–Lithuanian union signed the Treaty of Pozvol , which created a mutual defensive and offensive alliance. Tsar Ivan the Terrible of Muscovy regarded this as a provocation, and in January 1558 he reacted with the invasion of Livonia that began the Livonian War of 1558–83. On August 2, 1560, the forces of Ivan

9222-409: The number of Germans was too small to implement a total control beyond the requirements to follow Christian rites, pay the required taxes and participate as soldier in wars. In case of Curonian Kings the former tribal nobility retained a privileged status until the proclamation of independent Latvia. During the 14th century peasants had to pay 10% to the Church and work 4 days of socage per year. In

9328-469: The part of the Soviet Union. The foundation on which they base these prophesies is a secret of the prophets themselves. The experience of our Government certainly does not justify such forebodings." With Soviet failure in Finland sealed for the moment, it was little more than a month after Munters' positive expressions that Molotov, speaking on 25 March 1940, essentially announced Soviet intentions to annex

9434-402: The people". Under arrest and liable to prompt liquidation were Latvia's President Kārlis Ulmanis and Foreign Minister Vilhelms Munters . Immediate confiscation of property and execution within 24 hours was decreed for diplomats abroad who refused to recognize the new regimes and return to Latvia. Later orders expanded the list of repressions, including anyone related to someone in hiding from

9540-539: The repatriation of citizens of German nationality on 30 October 1939. In spring 1940, 51,000 left Latvia for resettlement in Poland. A second call a year later brought out another 10,500. Publicly, on 31 October 1939, the Soviet Supreme Council called fears of Baltic Sovietization "all nonsense". Privately, this stationing of Soviet troops in Latvia under the terms of the mutual assistance pact marked

9646-685: The shores of the Gulf of Riga and were fishers and traders, and they gave the first German name to this territory – Livland . Before the German invasions started in the late 12th century, Latvia was inhabited by about 135,000 Baltic people and 20,000 Livonians. Campaign against the Latvians Campaign against the Lithuanians By the end of the 12th century, Latvia was increasingly often visited by traders from Western Europe who set out on trading journeys along Latvia's longest river,

9752-475: The situation of former Latvian soldiers and refugees. Authorised by the LCC, they arrived at international conferences where the arrangement of the post-war Europe was decided, to unofficially inform the representatives of western powers on issues related to the Latvian state and its citizens. The Latvian Central Council established contacts with Lithuanian and Estonian political organisations to apply common efforts in

9858-466: The suit. On 22 September 1921 Latvia was admitted to membership in the League of Nations and remained a member until the formal dissolution of the League in 1946. On 5 February 1932, a Non-Aggression Treaty with the Soviet Union was signed, based on the 11 August 1920 treaty whose basic agreements inalterably and for all time form the firm basis of the relationship of the two states. Before World War II,

9964-640: The three Baltic states (Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania).This demonstration was organized to draw the world's attention to the common historical fate which these three countries suffered. In March 1990 candidates from the pro-independence party Latvian Popular Front gained a two-thirds majority in the Supreme Council in democratic elections. On 4 May 1990, the Latvian Council declared its intention to restore full Latvian independence. Soviet political and military forces tried unsuccessfully to overthrow

10070-469: The vanguard of industrialisation and the abolition of serfdom , so that by the end of the 19th century, it had become one of the most developed parts of the Russian Empire . The increasing social problems and rising discontent that this brought meant that Riga also played a leading role in the 1905 Russian Revolution . The First Latvian National Awakening began in the 1850s and continued to bear fruit after World War I when, after two years of struggle in

10176-583: Was at the head of an important trade route from the Baltic region through Russia into southern Europe and the Middle East that was used by the Vikings and later Nordic and German traders. In the early medieval period, the region's peoples resisted Christianisation and became subject to attack through the Livonian Crusade . Latvia's capital city Riga , founded in 1201 by Germans at

10282-402: Was decided in 1195 that Livonian Crusade would be undertaken to convert pagans by force. Meinhard was followed by Berthold of Hanover , who was killed in 1198 near the present-day Riga by Livonians. Berthold's successor, Bishop Albert of Riga , who spent almost 30 years conquering local rulers, established the German hegemony which lasted until 20th century independence. Much of Albert's rule

10388-620: Was divided onto: The larger part of the Duchy was conquered by Swedish Kingdom during the Polish–Swedish War (1626–29) , and was recognized as Swedish territory in the Truce of Altmark . The Commonwealth retained southeastern parts of the Wenden Voivodeship , renamed to Inflanty Voivodeship with the capital in Daugavpils ( Dyneburg ). Catholicism became the dominant religion in this territory, known as Inflanty or Latgale , as

10494-473: Was elected as the chairman with deputies Pauls Kalniņš and Ludvigs Sēja  [ lv ] as general secretary. Seven commissions were made for most important sectors like defense, foreign affairs and finances. On March 17, 1944, 189 Latvian political leaders and public figures signed the Memorandum of the Latvian Central Council , which declared the urgent need to restore the de facto sovereignty of

10600-592: Was founded on August 13, 1943 by members of the four biggest Latvian political parties- the Latvian Social Democratic Workers' Party , Democratic Centre , Latvian Farmers Union and the Latgalian Christian Farmers party . These men survived the Soviet terror and now strove to restore the democratic Republic of Latvia. Konstantīns Čakste  [ lv ] , the son of the 1st President of Latvia, Jānis Čakste ,

10706-641: Was known as a place for obtaining amber and Latvia sometimes is still called Dzintarzeme (Amberland). Up to and into the Middle Ages , amber was more valuable than gold in many places. Latvian amber was known in places as far away as Ancient Greece and the Roman Empire , and the Amber Road was intensively used for the transport of amber to the south of Europe. During the Vendel Period

10812-591: Was marked by the beginnings of pottery-making, animal husbandry and agriculture. During the Middle Neolithic (4100–2900 BC) the Narva culture developed in the region. The inhabitants at this time were Finnic , forefathers of Livonians , who were closely related to Estonians and Finns and belonged to Pit–Comb Ware culture . At the beginning of the Late Neolithic (2900–1800 BC), present-day Latvia

10918-477: Was settled by Balts belonging to the Corded Ware culture . They were forefathers of the Latvians, and these have inhabited most of Latvian territory since the third millennium BCE. With the introduction of iron tools during the early Iron Age (500 BC – 1st cent. BC), agriculture was greatly improved and became the dominant economic activity. Bronze, traded from foreigners since Latvia has no copper or tin,

11024-443: Was signed allowing the USSR to station a limited number of Red Army units in Latvia. Economic difficulties, dissatisfaction with the Latvian government policies " that had sabotaged fulfillment of the Pact and the Latvian government " and political orientation towards Nazi Germany led to a revolutionary situation culminating in June 1940. To guarantee fulfillment of the Pact, additional Soviet military units entered Latvia, welcomed by

11130-497: Was signed by Latvian Minister of Foreign Affairs Vilhelms Munters and Soviet Commissar of Foreign Affairs Vyacheslav Molotov . Ratifications were exchanged in Riga on 11 October 1939, and the treaty became effective on the same day. It was registered in League of Nations Treaty Series on 6 November 1939. Articles of the treaty were: As Latvian National Foundation says the agreement called for Latvia to: At face value, this pact did not impinge upon Latvian sovereignty. Section 5 of

11236-522: Was used for making a wide variety of decorative ornaments. Starting from the Middle Iron Age (400–800 AD) the local inhabitants began to form distinct ethnic and regional identities. Baltic peoples eventually became the Curonians , Semigallians , Latgalians and Selonians , while Finnic peoples became the Livonians , Estonians and Vends ; local chiefdoms emerged. At the beginning of

#843156