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The end of the war with the Bolsheviks meant the beginning of Latvia's independence. A peace treary was signed with the Soviet (August 11, 1920). The League of Natins admitted Latvia (1921). Ethnic Latvians were an absolute majority in the new independent Republic. The Government headed was headed by Prime Minister Ulmanis and was established as a democratic, parliamentary republic. It recognized Latvian as the official language, but granted cultural autonomy to the country's sizeable minorities. A constitution was adopted (1922). The new government instituted sweeping economic reform. The country faced huge problems. The War had devastated Latvian agriculture. The Russians had evacuated most important factories. The Depression brought more problems leading to political turmoil (1930s). Prime Minister took the unprecedented step of dismissed parliament (May 15, 1934). He banned strident and left-wing political parties supported by the Soviets. He moved to tightened authoritarian state control over Latvian social life and the economy. Thriughout the tutmoil Latvia maintained a neurtral stance as an independent republic.
Latvia at the time of World War I was a part of the Russian Empire. The initial fighting was in East Prussia and Poland, but after Hindenberg and Ludendorf snashed Russian armies at Tannenburg and other battles (1914), the Germans moved into Poland and the Baltics (1915). Terrible Russian losses caused theRussian Army to mutiny and the Tsar to abdicate. This was followed by the Nolshecick Revolution (October 1917). Latvian nationalists were anti-Communist abd formed the Latvian National Ccouncil (LNC) (October 29, 1917). German occupation forces did not allow the KNC to organize an independent government or recruit an army. The Germans were intentent on organising Latvia as a Baltic duchy. The Soviets and Germans finally signed the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk (March 3, 1918). The Treaty obliged the Bolsheviks to accept the loss of Latvia and the other Baltic states. The Allied offensive in the West broke the German Army and an Armistice was signed ending the War (November 11, 1918). The German defeat in the West changed the situation in the East. The Germans were required to abrogated the Treaty of Brest-Litosk. This meant that the status of the Baltic states was unclear. The Latvians established a People's Council which proclaimed an independent republic. Karlis Ulmanis was the first prime minister (November 17). The next day The Council declared Latvian independence. The Latvians, however, had to fight the Bolshevicks to secure their independence.
Russian Civil War (1917-21)
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.
The Germans made a final effort to follow up their victory on the Eastern Front with victory on the Western Front. They launched a massive summer offensive. It came very close to suceeding. The American AEF whoch had been rushed to France and trained there was for the first time committed in force. The Allies struck nect. It was largely an Anglo-American offensive (August-November). The 100 Days Campaign cracked the Hindenberg Line and broke the German Army. Fiekd Marsjal Hindenberg informed the Kaiser that the rmy could no longer protect him. He dled to the Netherlands and the Germans asked for terms. The Allies red=fused to deal with the German Army, but only representatives of the newly proclaimed German Republic. One of the terms of the Armistice was the revoltion of the Brest-Litosk Treaty. This had various consequences. It meant Latvia and the other Baltic Republics could move toward indeoendence. It alsi ment tht the Germany Army no longer constrained the Blosheviks.
Latvia obtained its independence in the turmoil resulting form World War I and the Russian Revolution (1918). The Latvians formed a national council after the Bolshevik Revolution (November 1917). After the German defeat on the Western Front and the armistace, the Germans began to withdraw from Latvia (November 11). 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).
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).
The end of the war with the Bolsheviks mean the beginning of Latvia's independence.
The ndependent Latvia that emerged from Russian control was a parlimentary democracy. A peace treary was signed with the Soviet (August 11, 1920). The League of Nations admitted Latvia (1921). Ethnic Latvians were an absolute majority in the new independent Republic. The Government headed was headed by Prime Minister Ulmanis and was established as a democratic, parliamentary republic. It recognized Latvian as the official language, but granted cultural autonomy to the country's sizeable minorities. A constitution was adopted (1922).
The new government instituted sweeping economic reform. The country faced huge problems. The War had devastated Latvian agriculture. The Russians had evacuated most important factories.
One historian reports that both Latvians and Jewsremember the independence era as the 'good years'. Latvians for the first time contolled their coyntry and governed well. Under the Latvian Constitution, and Jews and other minorities were guaranteed basic civil rights and these rights were generally respected. [Gordon]
The Depression brought more problems leading to political turmoil (1930s).
Latvian democracy was unvle to survive the strains of the Great Depression. Prime Minister Karlis Ulmanis seized control of the country a year after Hitler's rize to power in Germany. He dismissed the Saeima (parliament) (May 15, 1934).
He ruled as a dictator through decrees. Ulmanis proclaimed himself "Tautas Vadonis" (Leader of the Nation).
He pursued a populist program and despite seizing power remained popular. His policies maintained his populsrity in rural areas.
There were political arrestts, including both Communists and Fascists. He banned left-wing political parties supported by the Soviets. Ulmanis was not, however, a fasist or NAZI sympthizer. He supressed the Baltischer Brudebund, a political group that achieved some influence among ethnic Germans in Latvia. This was a NAZI-affliated organization which demanded that Latvia be incorpated into the Reich.
Two Fascist organizations began to openly preach anti-Semitism, the National Club and Perkonkrusts (Thundercross) had been operating semi-legally.
Ulmanis after the Coup declared the Fascist groups illegal. He imposed real penalties for srident anti-Semitic propaganda. During the authoritarian regime the police actively pursued illegal groups, such as the communists and Perkonkrusts.
Ulmanis censorsed the press. One consequence of this was that many Latvians were poorly informed of the growing danger from both the Soviets and Germans. Economic policies included Latvianization, meaning largely the break up of large German-owned estates. Ulmanis became president (1936).
He persued economic policies that brought the country out of the Depression.
He moved to tightened authoritarian state control over Latvian social life and the economy. Ulmanis did not, however, give any major attention to military modernizaion leaving the country virtually undefended. Ulmanis and other Latvian leaders were unable to decided on whether it was the NAZIs or Soviet Union that most threatened Latvian indendence making it difficult to persue a coherent defense strategy. [Lumans] There were also Communists in Latvia. Peteris Kuzeris lead a batallion of volunteers fighting with he Republic in Spain (1936). Stalin honored his service with the Order of Lenin (1937). Only a few months later the NKVD arrested him in Moscow durng the Great Terror. He was tried as a spy, sentenced, and shot. As Europe moved toward war, Latvia desired nothing more than to be "left alone to follow its own destiny'. [Lumans] Throughout the tutmoil Latvia maintained a neurtral stance as an independent republic. Wedged between Germany and the Soviet Union, however, Latvia as an accident of geography was caught in the middle of the most destructive war in history. The people of Latvia would pay a heavy price for this accident of history.
After the outbreak of World War II (September 1939) Latvia was in an impossible position. The NAZI defeat of Poland destroyed the only buffer in the region. Unbeknownst at the time, the NAZI-Soviet Non-Aggression Pact had assigned Latvia and the other Baltic Republics to the Soviets. After two decades of independence, Lativia was invaded first by the Soviet Union. The Soviets immediatelt began making demands on the Latvian Government. Latvia was forced to sign a 10-year mutual assistance treaty leasing Latvian bases to the Soviet Union (October 5, 1939). The treaty allowed the Soviets to garison Latvia with 30,000 troops. After Hitler called the Baltic Germans home to the Reich, Latvia also signed a repatriation treaty with the NAZIs covering the return of 60,000 Baltic Germans. The collapse of France in the West precipitated the final Soviet move against the Baltics. The Soviets accused the Latvians of colluding with the Estonians to form an anti-Soviet alliance. The Soviets demanded the establishment of a pro-Soviet Givernment and permission to garrison additional Soviet military forces in the country. Before the Latvian Government could react, the Soviet Union occupied the country (June 17). The Soviets then staged a closely supervised election which resulted in a Cimmunist Government. The new Goverment proceeded to Sovitize the Latvian Government and military. The newly elected parliament petition the Soviet Goverment for admitance to the Soviet Union (July 21) which was granted (August 5). Latvia was subsequently invaded by NAZI Germany (June 1941). The Germand reached Riga (July 1). Relatively little fighting occurred as the German Panzers pressed east. The Soviets had disbanded the Latvian Army. Latvians would, however, fight on both sides of the sr=truggle on the Eastern Front. The Red Army reentered Latvia (1944). Fierce fighting occured in Latvia. Hitler refused to withdraw and the Red Army cut iff aubstabtial German firce in Kurland pocket. They did not surender until the end of the War (May 19845).
Gordon, Frank.
Lumans, Valdis O. Latvia in World War II.
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