History of Latvia: a Brief Survey
History of Latvia: a Brief Survey
History of Latvia: a Brief Survey
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Moscow issued orders for the construction <strong>of</strong> large-scale industrial plantsin <strong>Latvia</strong>. 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 <strong>of</strong> Russia’s armed forces.During the 1980s the inability <strong>of</strong> the Soviet planned economy tocompete with the free market economy <strong>of</strong> the democratic worldbecame progressively apparent. Thus, increasingly larger circles <strong>of</strong> 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 <strong>of</strong> people who heldsimilar views, read prohibited anti-communist literature, disseminated tracts and displayedthe forbidden red-white-red <strong>Latvia</strong>n national flag.<strong>Latvia</strong>n culture became a form <strong>of</strong> collective opposition. Cultureand intellectuals in <strong>Latvia</strong> were apportioned unprecedentedsignificance during the era <strong>of</strong> Soviet occupation. Officialnational <strong>of</strong>fices were founded — creative unions — whichwere responsible for <strong>Latvia</strong>n cultural issues. During the time <strong>of</strong>occupation, <strong>Latvia</strong>n cultural traditions manifested themselvesmost strongly in the tradition <strong>of</strong> the Song Festival, whichallowed people to feel a sense <strong>of</strong> national unity and identity.However, this tradition was also subjected to Soviet ideology.An enormous strategic surveillanceradio telescope that was built for theneeds <strong>of</strong> the Soviet occupation armyin Irbene (near Ventspils). Followingthe renewal <strong>of</strong> <strong>Latvia</strong>’s independence,the radio telescope was donated to<strong>Latvia</strong>n science for the detection <strong>of</strong> radi<strong>of</strong>requencies in distant galaxies.Propaganda poster <strong>of</strong> soviet armed forces. Text in Russian:'Long live the armed forces <strong>of</strong> the Soviet Union!'.The Soviet era in <strong>Latvia</strong>. The annual Soviet military powerdemonstration in Rīga (held 1945-90). Soviet forces left<strong>Latvia</strong> 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