History of Latvia: a Brief Survey

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The first 1000 Latvian men conscripted for military service in the German army (Latvian Legion) on29 March 1943.Latvia’s population perished not only on the battlefield. During the years of Nazi occupation,special campaigns exterminated approximately 70 000 Jews, 18 000 Latvians and 2 000 Roma— in total about 90 000 people. In the case of the Latvians, these were mostly civilians whosepolitical convictions were unacceptable to the German occupation force. Jewish and Romacivilians were eliminated as a result of the inhuman Nazi theory of racial purity. A majorityof Latvian Jewry had been murdered by late 1941, when it is estimated that there were onlyaround 6000 Jews remaining in Latvia.A draft order into the so-called ‘LatvianSS Volunteer Legion’, summer of 1943.Many Latvians were actively involved in a resistance movement against the persecutions ofthe German occupation regime. For instance, Žanis Lipke (1900-1987) risked his life to savemore than 50 Jews. Civic circles in Latvia were also dissatisfied with the German occupationregime and secretly plotted to reinstate a democracy. In order to carry out the plan forindependence, an underground organisation was established, the Latvian Central Council,which published the outlawed publication Brīvā Latvija (‘Free Latvia’). This notably democraticperiodical propagated the idea of renewing democracy in Latvia after the war.36Žanis Lipke (1900-1987)Nazi Germany began to suffer regular defeats on the eastern front and was pushed backto the west. In mid-July 1944, the Soviet Army once again crossed Latvia’s pre-war easternborder, and by 13 October had already invaded Rīga. In mid-October the German army, whichpartly also included former soldiers from the Latvian Legion, was besieged in Kurzeme. Atthat time, Kurzeme was flooded with refugees from eastern Latvia who were fleeing Sovietrule, the Red Army and persecution. With no other reprieve in sight, many fled in fishermen’sboats and ships to Sweden and Germany, from where they drifted to various parts of theWestern world (mainly North America and Australia). Approximately 150 000 Latvians endedup in exile in the West.
According to estimates, the population of Latvia decreased byhalf a million (25% less than in 1939) as a result of the war. Thewar also inflicted heavy losses on the economy — many historiccities were destroyed, as well as industry and infrastructure.As of 1940, most of the democratic countries around the worlddid not recognise the incorporation of Latvia and the otherBaltic States into the Soviet Union. The exception was Sweden,which surrendered to Moscow the members of the Latvian Legion who had ended up inSweden at the end of the war, and handed over to the Soviets the diplomatic representativeoffices of the Baltic countries in Stockholm. In contrast, after the war, the United States ofAmerica became the most consistent defender of the Baltic people’s aspirations for renewedindependence. Throughout the entire period of occupation, the diplomatic mission ofindependent Latvia continued to function in Washington, DC.Soviet occupation forces re-enteringJelgava and Rīga, 1944.After the war, Latvian exiles founded several organisations, including the World Federationof Free Latvians in 1955 and represented the Latvian people to foreign governments andinternational organisations. During the following period of Soviet occupation, the WorldFederation of Free Latvians seized every opportunity to remind the world of the need to endLatvia’s occupation.37
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
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Page 20 and 21: Krišjānis Valdemārs (1825-1891),
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Page 24 and 25: 1914-1939The Fight forIndependence
Page 26 and 27: German army in Rīga, autumn 1917.I
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Page 30 and 31: A scene from the film ‘Latvian We
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Page 34 and 35: 1939-1980sThe Loss of Independence,
Page 36 and 37: Occupation of Latvia by the Soviet
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History of Latvia: a Brief Survey

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