History of Latvia: a Brief Survey
History of Latvia: a Brief Survey History of Latvia: a Brief Survey
Article on the front page of the Latviandaily newspaper Brīvā Zeme ('FreeLand') announcing the victory over theBermont-Avalov’s troops, 11 November1919.A unit of Latvian independence fightersin mid-1919.Unfortunately, the end of the war did not bring long-awaited peace for Latvia. At the endof 1918 the existence of the newly established government of independent Latvia wasthreatened with attack by the Russian Red Army, which also included conscripted LatvianRiflemen. Within a short span of time, the Bolsheviks succeeded in conquering almost theentire territory of Latvia, thereby leaving only a small area around Liepāja under the control ofthe Ulmanis government. The Bolsheviks, under the leadership of Pēteris Stučka (1865-1932),declared Soviet rule in the occupied territory of Latvia.The government, headed by Ulmanis, rushed to form a national army in order to recapturethe lost territory. Meanwhile, the position held by the Latvian government in Liepājawas threatened by remaining German militarists and the local Baltic Germans, who hadestablished their own armed formation (Landeswehr in German). They deposed the Ulmanisgovernment, which they considered anti-German, and created a cabinet under the leadershipof the pastor Andrievs Niedra (1872-1942). Headed by local Germans and volunteers fromthe German army, this government recaptured Rīga from the Bolsheviks on 22 May 1919.After capturing Rīga, the German military and political leadership saw an opportunity toestablish a more German-oriented political regime in Latvia, and they turned their weaponsagainst the Latvian national armed forces. Nevertheless, Estonian national armed forcestogether with Latvians gained victory over the Germans on 23 June 1919, near by Cēsis,and the Latvian-founded Ulmanis government was able to return to Rīga. However, Germanambitions in the Baltics did not diminish. In the autumn, volunteers from the German armyunited under the leadership of the Russian adventurer Pavel Bermont-Avalov, whose intentwas to renew the Russian Empire. Independent Latvia was their first object of attack. In early26A fragment of the Freedom Monumentin Rīga, which depicts IndependenceWar in Latvia (1918-1920). The FreedomMonument, or Brīvības piemineklis, inthe capital city Rīga has become anundisputed symbol of independence.It was built from 1931 until 1935 fromdonated funds.
The Independence Battles. A unit ofthe Latvian National Army in Rīga’s OldTown, autumn 1919.October 1919 Bermont-Avalov’s troops attacked Rīga. The Latvians thwarted this intrusionon the banks of the Daugava River, and by 11 November the Bermontians were driven out ofRīga. By the end of November they had been expelled from the Latvian territory altogether.At the beginning of 1920, Bolshevik armed forces were forced from the area around Latvia’seastern border. On 11 August 1920, Latvia signed a peace treaty with Soviet Russia, in whichRussia acknowledged Latvia’s sovereignty and willingly gave up claims to the Latvian territoryfor all time. Soviet Russia was the first to recognise Latvia’s independence. However, futureactions proved that these had been empty promises.Peace, for which Latvia had waited so long, had finally arrived, and the work of building anew nation could begin. Deeply disillusioned by the Bolshevik totalitarian regime, Latvianrefugees who had fled to Russia during the First World War continued to return to Latvia until1927. Repatriates included Latvian Riflemen and former opponents of Latvian independence— more than 200,000 people overall.On 26 January 1921, the victors of the First World War (Great Britain, France, Italy and Japan,collectively known as the Allies) officially recognised Latvia’s independence. This was alsoa signal to other countries to recognise Latvia’s sovereignty. On 22 September 1921, Latviaand the other two Baltic countries were admitted to the most prominent internationalorganisation of that time — the League of Nations. In the period between the world warsLatvia endeavoured to pursue a neutral foreign policy which was oriented toward closemutual co-operation between the Baltic countries and the League of Nations.The Lāčplēsis Military Order(established in 1919) is the first andhighest military award in the Republicof Latvia. The military award wasconferred on soldiers of Latvia’s Armyand the former Latvian RiflemenRegiments for merit in military actionas well as on foreigners who hadtaken part in the struggle for theliberation of Latvia or given other typeof contribution to the founding anddevelopment of the state of Latvia. Overnine years (since 1919) 2146 LāčplēsisMilitary Orders of all three classes wereawarded.27
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Article on the front page <strong>of</strong> the <strong>Latvia</strong>ndaily newspaper Brīvā Zeme ('FreeLand') announcing the victory over theBermont-Avalov’s troops, 11 November1919.A unit <strong>of</strong> <strong>Latvia</strong>n independence fightersin mid-1919.Unfortunately, the end <strong>of</strong> the war did not bring long-awaited peace for <strong>Latvia</strong>. At the end<strong>of</strong> 1918 the existence <strong>of</strong> the newly established government <strong>of</strong> independent <strong>Latvia</strong> wasthreatened with attack by the Russian Red Army, which also included conscripted <strong>Latvia</strong>nRiflemen. Within a short span <strong>of</strong> time, the Bolsheviks succeeded in conquering almost theentire territory <strong>of</strong> <strong>Latvia</strong>, thereby leaving only a small area around Liepāja under the control <strong>of</strong>the Ulmanis government. The Bolsheviks, under the leadership <strong>of</strong> Pēteris Stučka (1865-1932),declared Soviet rule in the occupied territory <strong>of</strong> <strong>Latvia</strong>.The government, headed by Ulmanis, rushed to form a national army in order to recapturethe lost territory. Meanwhile, the position held by the <strong>Latvia</strong>n government in Liepājawas threatened by remaining German militarists and the local Baltic Germans, who hadestablished their own armed formation (Landeswehr in German). They deposed the Ulmanisgovernment, which they considered anti-German, and created a cabinet under the leadership<strong>of</strong> the pastor Andrievs Niedra (1872-1942). Headed by local Germans and volunteers fromthe German army, this government recaptured Rīga from the Bolsheviks on 22 May 1919.After capturing Rīga, the German military and political leadership saw an opportunity toestablish a more German-oriented political regime in <strong>Latvia</strong>, and they turned their weaponsagainst the <strong>Latvia</strong>n national armed forces. Nevertheless, Estonian national armed forcestogether with <strong>Latvia</strong>ns gained victory over the Germans on 23 June 1919, near by Cēsis,and the <strong>Latvia</strong>n-founded Ulmanis government was able to return to Rīga. However, Germanambitions in the Baltics did not diminish. In the autumn, volunteers from the German armyunited under the leadership <strong>of</strong> the Russian adventurer Pavel Bermont-Avalov, whose intentwas to renew the Russian Empire. Independent <strong>Latvia</strong> was their first object <strong>of</strong> attack. In early26A fragment <strong>of</strong> the Freedom Monumentin Rīga, which depicts IndependenceWar in <strong>Latvia</strong> (1918-1920). The FreedomMonument, or Brīvības piemineklis, inthe capital city Rīga has become anundisputed symbol <strong>of</strong> independence.It was built from 1931 until 1935 fromdonated funds.
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