History of Latvia: a Brief Survey

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A scene from the film ‘Latvian Wedding in Nīca’ (Latviešu kāzas Nīcā), produced in 1931.The Latvian national currency, a twentylat bill, 1925.Once the situation stabilised and the country was liberated from foreign troops, theConstitutional Assembly (Satversmes Sapulce) convened and on 15 February 1922, adoptedthe Constitution of the Republic of Latvia. From here on the Constitution accorded thehighest power in Latvia to the parliament, the Saeima, which was to elect the presidentand approve the Cabinet of Ministers. Jānis Čakste was elected first President of Latvia. Themost influential political parties in Latvia after the war were the LSDSP and the civic-orientedLatvian Farmers’ Union (Latviešu Zemnieku savienība). National minorities in Latvia (Germans,Jews and Russians) were also actively involved in the political process.28One of the most important tasks now was the revival of the economy, which had sufferedtremendously during the war. The Latvian national monetary unit, the lat, was issuedin 1922. That same year the state began to implement agrarian reform, which calledfor the distribution of state property and land that had once been held by the BalticGerman landed gentry. Agrarian changes averted social tension in the country bymaking land available to former landless peasants and small farmers. This was areturn to historic justice, as now the land belonged to those who actually livedand farmed on it. Latvian agriculture was fully able to supply the country with food, andalso introduced wide possibilities for the export of agricultural products (butter, bacon, flax,etc.) Agriculture was the largest sector of the economy, and it employed about two-thirdsof the work force.
Latvian production in the late 1930s — theVEF Minox photo camera, the smallestphoto camera in the world at that time; aLatvian-produced aeroplanes, cars, and aradio receiver.Latvian industry rapidly revived andwas oriented chiefly towards foodproduction, textile manufacturingand timber processing. Theelectronics sector developed in the1930s. Latvia’s largest electronicsfactory, VEF, manufactured modernradios, photo cameras and evenaeroplanes. In the second half ofthe 1930s Latvia began to produceautomobiles and trucks. With thehelp of foreign investment, Latviabuilt a modern high-voltagehydroelectric power plant.29
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 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 42 and 43: Forced industrialisation — largei
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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