History of Latvia: a Brief Survey

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Forced industrialisation — largeindustrial complexes in Soviet Latvia.Due to its advantageous geographical location, Latvia became Russia’s military centre in theBaltic region. The USSR positioned the headquarters of the Baltic War District here: land, seaand aviation bases. In the late 1950s and early 1960s ballistic nuclear missiles were housedon Latvian soil. In turn, Soviet military figures gained a large influence in Latvian political lifeat the time.Latvia was forced to adopt Soviet farming practices while the economic infrastructurethat had been developed in the 1920s and 1930s was purposefully destroyed. Rural areaswere forced into collectivisation. Since Latvia still had a well-developed infrastructure andeducated specialists, Moscow decided to base some of the Soviet Union’s most advancedmanufacturing facilities in Latvia. To supply the large labour force needed to run thesefactories, Soviet workers from Russia and other Soviet republics were flooded into the country,dramatically decreasing the proportion of Latvian nationals. In 1935 Latvians made up 75.5%of the population, but according to official Soviet statistics, in 1959 Latvians comprised only62% of the population, and the proportion of Russians in the population had increasedradically. At this time, the total population of Latvia was a little more than two million (forcomparison, in 1914 the population was more than 2.5 million, and in 2006 — just short of2.3 million).Propaganda poster of soviet buildingindustry. Text in Russian: 'We buildexcellent!'.40The economy in Latvia did nevertheless develop during the Soviet occupation, and acomprehensive system of education and health care existed. All health care, and educationfrom primary school to university level was free of charge. Important achievements wereattained in science. Fifteen institutes of scientific research, operating under the Academyof Science, constituted a significant research centre. Research was conducted in physics,astronomy, composite mechanics, information technology, chemistry, aquatic biology, thestudy of viruses and molecular biology (most of these research fields are being continuedtoday). A quarter of all medicines that were invented in the USSR were developed in Latvia.During the Soviet period, 30 000 people (1.2%) were employed in the field of science inLatvia, which was a very high indicator on a world scale.
Moscow issued orders for the construction of large-scale industrial plantsin Latvia. Manufacturing in the chemical and electronics industries waswidely developed. The necessary labour force for these enterprises wasimported from Russia. Many factories manufactured material for theneeds of Russia’s armed forces.During the 1980s the inability of the Soviet planned economy tocompete with the free market economy of the democratic worldbecame progressively apparent. Thus, increasingly larger circles of thesocial and political elite agreed that it was necessary to convert to aWestern-style economy.Opposition to the occupation regime persisted throughout the entirepost-war occupation period. There existed various outlawed groups of people who heldsimilar views, read prohibited anti-communist literature, disseminated tracts and displayedthe forbidden red-white-red Latvian national flag.Latvian culture became a form of collective opposition. Cultureand intellectuals in Latvia were apportioned unprecedentedsignificance during the era of Soviet occupation. Officialnational offices were founded — creative unions — whichwere responsible for Latvian cultural issues. During the time ofoccupation, Latvian cultural traditions manifested themselvesmost strongly in the tradition of the Song Festival, whichallowed people to feel a sense of national unity and identity.However, this tradition was also subjected to Soviet ideology.An enormous strategic surveillanceradio telescope that was built for theneeds of the Soviet occupation armyin Irbene (near Ventspils). Followingthe renewal of Latvia’s independence,the radio telescope was donated toLatvian science for the detection of radiofrequencies in distant galaxies.Propaganda poster of soviet armed forces. Text in Russian:'Long live the armed forces of the Soviet Union!'.The Soviet era in Latvia. The annual Soviet military powerdemonstration in Rīga (held 1945-90). Soviet forces leftLatvia on 31 August 1994.During the Soviet occupationschoolchildren were submitted toideological training. Most students weremade to join the ‘Pioneer’ movement,which was identifiable by red kerchiefsand school uniforms.41
Page 6: In the AD 900s, the ancient Balts b
Page 10 and 11: 12th century-1914The Age ofGerman,
Page 12 and 13: Walter von Plettenberg (c.1450-1535
Page 14 and 15: Luther’s Small Catechism (Enchiri
Page 16 and 17: Rīga in 1612.However, during this
Page 18 and 19: Dome Cathedral in Rīga, 1780s.In 1
Page 20 and 21: Krišjānis Valdemārs (1825-1891),
Page 22 and 23: New political undercurrents penetra
Page 24 and 25: 1914-1939The Fight forIndependence
Page 26 and 27: German army in Rīga, autumn 1917.I
Page 28 and 29: Article on the front page of the La
Page 30 and 31: A scene from the film ‘Latvian We
Page 32 and 33: In the 1930s Latvia achieved one of
Page 34 and 35: 1939-1980sThe Loss of Independence,
Page 36 and 37: Occupation of Latvia by the Soviet
Page 38 and 39: The first 1000 Latvian men conscrip
Page 40 and 41: Propaganda poster of Stalin’stota
Page 44 and 45: From the 1980sReinstatingIndependen
Page 46 and 47: On 23 August 1989, fifty years had
Page 48 and 49: A twenty lat bill. The Latvian nati
Page 50 and 51: Main Historical Events9000 BC Arriv
Page 52: The Latvian Institute promotes know

History of Latvia: a Brief Survey

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