History of Latvia: a Brief Survey
History of Latvia: a Brief Survey
History of Latvia: a Brief Survey
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1914-1939The Fight forIndependence andthe Republic <strong>of</strong> <strong>Latvia</strong>In the early 20th century and up until the First WorldWar (1914-1918), the conditions were not favourablefor <strong>Latvia</strong>ns to establish their own independentcountry. <strong>Latvia</strong>ns were also not convinced that this waspossible. The territory <strong>of</strong> present-day <strong>Latvia</strong> was dividedinto a number <strong>of</strong> provinces that belonged to the RussianEmpire. The <strong>Latvia</strong>n people lived in the Russian provinces(gubernia in Russian) <strong>of</strong> Kurzeme (Courland), Vidzeme(Livonia) and Vitebsk. The Baltic German aristocracy hadtraditionally made up the political and economic ruling classin this region. <strong>Latvia</strong>n participation in the political process wasrestricted.The First World War caused significant events with far-reachingconsequences in Baltic area. As the First World War spread to the<strong>Latvia</strong>n territory in the spring <strong>of</strong> 1915 and directly affected theentire <strong>Latvia</strong>n population, a powerful pro-autonomy movementdeveloped. The <strong>Latvia</strong>n intelligentsia supported the Russian wareffort, grouping local Baltic Germans with Germany, as enemies <strong>of</strong>the Empire.22
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