Latvian History: Independence Struggle (1918-20)



Figure 1.--The Bolsheviks with the Assistance of the Red Latvian Riflemen seized controil of much of Latvia. They declared the formation of the Latvian SSR (Decenber 17). The Bolsheviks forcefully collectivized Latvian agriculture and nationalized industries and property. They also proceeded with the same brutality that they had exhibited thrioughout Russia. Here is a drawing by Danish astist Edward Saltoft. He expolsains, "When the Reds held Riga they took the wives of some of the proiminent citizens and held themas hoidstages for the good behavior of the town. Afterwards the Whites got control of the town, but the Bolsheviks held on to the hostages just the same. My picture here shows them in June 1919 passing into the Novopiepovskaja prison in Moscow."

Latvia obtained its independence in the turmoil resulting from World War I (1914-18) and the Russian Revolution (1918). The Latvians formed a national council after the Bolshevik Revolution and the radicialization of the Revolution (November 1917). The Latvians were unable to declare independence or create a national army as the Germans had occupied the country. The Germans did not want an independent Latvian republic. Rather they attempted to set up a Baltic duchy continued. With the German Army in Latvia, the Bolsheviks made no effort to invade. The Bolsheviks under the terms of the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk (1918) were required to agree to the loss of Latvia. After the German defeat on the Western Front and the armistace, the Germans began to withdraw from Latvia (November 11). TheLatvians formed a people's council with moved to establish a republic led by Prime Minister Karlis Ulmanis. As its first important act, the council proclaimed Latvia's independence (November 18). The Bolsheviks moved against Latvia, captured Riga and installed a Soviet Government. Fighting between Allied forces, the Bolshevicks, Lettish nationalist forces, and Balts (Baltic Germans continued for nearly 2 years. Here a young British officer, Harold Alexander, played an important role leading the Landeswehr (essentially a small German force) in Latvia. Foreign troops evacuated (early 1920) and the Latvians signed a peace treaty with the Soviet Union recognizing Latvian indeoendence (August 11, 1920).

Russian Revolution

The Revolution of 1905 following the disastrous Russo-Japanese War had shaken the Tsarist Empire to the core. Tsar Nicholas had been forced to grant a constitution. This created a duma or parliament. The Tsar was back in control (1907). The Tsarist state was irevocably weakened. The shooting of striking gold miners at the Lena field in Siberia resulted in a new wave of unrest (1912). Thus Tsarist Russia was in no condition to enter a general European war (1914). The War was a disaster for Russia. The country was unprepared and the result was huge casualties. Russia suffered more casualties than any other country. Dusruptions in the economy and the advance of German forces resulted in shortages including severe shortages and bread lines in the major cities. As a result, the Tsarist Government collapsed with relatively little resistance when riots broke out in St. Persburg. Army revolts forced the Tsar to abdicate. Nicholas II abdicated on March 2, 1917, in favor of his brother Michael. No fool, Michael renounced his claim the next day. The abdication of the Tsar left the Duma in control of Russia. The Duma was dominated by liberal politicans. Defense Minister Alexander Kerensky formnmed a provisional government. The Provisional Government, however, was hampered by thev Petrograd Council (Soviet) of Soldiers and Workers's Deputies. And here radical elements including the Bolshevils had considerable influence. The Provisional Government also honored commitments to the Allies. Kerensky tried to keep Russia in the War. He gave Brusilov command of another offensive against the German Southern Army in Galicia. This time Brusilov made little progress. He drove through mutinous Austrian units, but was stopped at great cost by German units commanded by Hoffman and Hutier. The Germans after stopping the Russians, launched a major offensive. This was the stroke that shattered the Russian Army. It's collapse paved the way for the Bolsheviks to seize power. The first Communist state was of course the Soviet Union. The Revolution was a reaction to the huge losses, government incompetence, and privations of World War I (1914-18), in which the Russian people, suffered greviously. The Bolsheviks emerged victorious against a democratic Provisional Government (1917). The Russian Revolution is often described as a result of social forces that had been developing for centuries. A strong case can be made for the Revolution as a coupd'état that may have never occurred without the leadership of Lenin. [Pipes] The Germans allowed Lenin who was in Switzerland to cross their territory in a sealed railway car. Hecarrived in Petrograd (April 1917). His demands for "peace, land, and bread" resonated with the Russian people, especially the Petrigrad Soviet with was not faorably disposed toward the liberal duma and Kerensky Government. Lenin and his allies demanded "all power to the Soviets". As the situation in Petrograd deteriorated, General Kornilov attempted to seize power. This backfired when his troops mutinied. The Bolsheviks then moved on the Provisional Government (November 7). They arrested members if the Provisional Government theu could find and seized power in the name of the Soviets.

National Council/German Baltic Duchy

Latvia obtained its independence in the turmoil resulting from World War I (1914-18) and the Russian Revolution (1918). It did not, however, occur immedistely. The Latvians formed a national council after the Bolshevik Revolution and the radicialization of the Revolution (November 1917). The Latvians were unable to formaly declare independence or create a national army as the Germans had occupied the country. The Germans did not want an independent Latvian republic. Rather they attempted to set up a Baltic duchy continued. With the German Army in Latvia, the Bolsheviks made no effort to invade.

Treary of Brest Litovsk (March 1918)

The Bolsheviks under the terms of the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk(1918) were required to agree to the loss of Latvia. The Germans were anxious for peace in the East so they could throw the greatest possible force at the the Allies on the Western Front in a final war-winning offendsiuve to crack gthe Sestern Front wide open. The problem for the Germans is that the existence of a Soviet state meant that they had to keep size able foirces in the East and their ruinous policies meant that a subdstantial American Army was now deploying along the Western Front to aid the Allies. br>

World War I Armistice (November 1918)

After the German defeat on the Western Front and the armistace, the Germans were required from the Eastern areas they had occupied during the War (November 11). Here the Baltics were an exception. The Götterdämmerung begun as the Allies began to crack open the vaunted Hindenburg Line. Allied offensives on the Western Front cracked the German front forcing them back toward Germany. The German Navy mutined. Riots broke out in Germany cities. A German Government was hastily formed and asked for an armistice based on President Wilson's 14 Points. After determining that the request came from a civilian German Government and not the Kaiser or German military, the Allies accepted the German offer. The gun fell silent after 4 years of vicious fighting at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month (November 11, 1918). There had been over 8.5 million soldiers killed and 21.2 million wounded. The General staff informed the Kaiser that they could no longer guarantee his saftey. He abdicated and fled to the neutral Netherlands (November 28).

Declaration of Independence (November 1918)

The Latvians formed a people's council with moved to establish a republic led by Prime Minister Karlis Ulmanis. As its first important act, the council proclaimed Latvia's independence (November 18).

Fighting (1918-20)

The Bolsheviks moved against Latvia, captured Riga and installed a Soviet Government. Fighting between Allied forces, the Bolshevicks, Lettish nationalist forces, and Balts (Baltic Germans) continued for nearly 2 years. The fighting in Latvia and the othrr Baltic states seeking indepependence was confused because of the vsriuous contending forces. The Latvian army as it began forming faced two basic foes. First was rogue elements of the retreating German army. They also had to face the Soviet Red Army, no longer constrained by the Gerrman Army and Brest Litivsk Treaty. The Bolsheviks were intent on hoolding the entire Tsarist Empire. The principal Bolshevik force was fhe Latvian Riflemen. The Latvian Riflemen were organized as a military formation of the Imperial Russian Army (1915). The Tsarist Army avoided nsruinal foirmmstuins. The Latvisn Riflemen were an exceotion resulting from the World War I emergency abnd the rapid advance of he Germans into tghe Bsltics. They were at first volunteeers, but conscriptisn began (1916). Initially the battalions were formed by volunteers, and from 1916 by conscription among the Latvian population. Some 40,000 Latvians were drafted. They were so poorly led by the Tsarist officers that with the Revolution they supported the Bolsheviks as the Red Latvian Rifflemen. The Bolsheviks managed to seize much of Latvia and declared the formation of the Latvian SSR (Decenber 17). The Bolsheviks forcefully collectivized Latvian agriculture and nationalized industries and property. An army composed of many Germans drove the Bolsheviks out or Riga, devestating the city (May 22, 1919). The Baltic Landwehr or Baltische Landeswehr (Baltic Territorial Army) was the unified armed forces of the Couronian and Livonian nobility (December 1918 - July 1919). The Inter-Allied Commission of Control ordered German troops to remain in the Baltic countries to prevent the region from occupied by the Bolshrvik Red Army. When Red Army began to move toward the Baltics, the Latvian Provisional Government signed an agreement organising defensive forces (December 7). Another agreement offered Latvian citzenship to foiteigners fighting with the Latvian forces (December 29). Arms and equipoment were supplied by the Germabs. Food and supplies were priovided by the Latvians. A young British officer, Harold Alexander, played an important role leading the Landeswehr. The Latvian Army aided by the White Latvian Riflemen, a small griup organized by officers, along with the Landeswehr managed to defeat the Bolsheviks. They then achieved another victory on the eastern Latgale front. The Latvian victories led to the dissolution of the Soviet Latvian government (January 13, 1920).

Soviet Recognition (August 1920)

Foreign troops evacuated (early 1920) and the Latvians signed a peace treaty with the Soviet Union recognizing Latvian independence (August 11, 1920).








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Created: 7:21 PM 5/29/2018
Last updated: 7:21 PM 5/29/2018