Republic of Latvia

This article is about the specific polity Republic of Latvia and therefore only includes events related to its territory and not to its possessions or colonies. If you are interested in the possession, this is the link to the article about the nation which includes all possessions as well as all the different incarnations of the nation.

If you are looking for the page with the statistics about this polity you can find it here: All Statistics

Establishment

• November 1918: The Republic of Latvia was established on 18 November 1918 when it broke away from the Russian Empire and declared independence in the aftermath of World War I.
• December 1918: The German Military handed over authority to the Latvian national government headed by Kārlis Ulmanis.
• December 1918: The town of Alūksne was captured by the Red Army on 7 December.
• December 1918: In the south Daugavpils was taken by the Bolsheviks on 9 December.
• December 1918: Pļaviņas conquered by RSFSR.
• December 1918: Valka conquered by RSFSR.
• December 1918: Cēsis conquered by RSFSR.

Chronology

Interactive Chronologies with maps are available in the section Changes Navigation

1. World War I

Was a global conflict between two coalitions, the Allies (primarily France, the United Kingdom, Russia, Italy, Japan, and the United States) and the Central Powers (led by Germany, Austria-Hungary, and the Ottoman Empire). It was mainly caused by the competition of the western countries over domain in Europe and in the rest of the world with their colonial empires. The war ended with the defeat of the Central Powers. The war also caused the Russian Revolution and the ensuing Russian Civil War.

1.1. World War I eastern Front

Was the theatre of war in eastern Europe during World War I.

1.1.1. Consequences of Brest-Litovsk Treaty in Latvia

Was the reorganization of Latvia after the Brest-Litovsk Treaty.

1.2. Aftermath of World War I

Were a series of treaties and military events that can be considered a direct consequence of World War I.

• November 1918: The Republic of Latvia was established on 18 November 1918 when it broke away from the Russian Empire and declared independence in the aftermath of World War I.

1.2.1. Estonian War of Independence

Was the Estonian War of independence from Bolshevik Russia and German troops.

1.2.1.1. Battles between Estonia and Latvia

Were battles between Latvia and Estonia during the Independence wars of these two countries.

1.2.1.1.1. Return of latvian government

Withdraw of remaining German troops from Latvia.

1.2.2. Latvian War of Independence

Was a series of military conflicts in Latvia between 5 December 1918, after the newly proclaimed Republic of Latvia was invaded by Soviet Russia.

1.2.2.1. Soviet offensive (Latvian War of Independence)

Soviet offensive in Latvia, a territory of the Russian Empire that had been occupied by Germany and had then declared independency.

1.2.2.2. Latvian and German counteroffensive

German and Latvian counterattack against Bolshevik forces during the Latvian War of Independence.

1.2.2.3. German Coup

On 16 April, the Baltic nobility organised a coup d'etat in Liepāja and a puppet government headed by Andrievs Niedra was established in Latvia.

1.2.2.4. Bermontian attack

An offensive by the Bermontians, a pro-German military formation in Latvia and Lithuania.

1.2.2.5. Latvian-Soviet Peace Treaty

The Latvian-Soviet Peace Treaty, also known as the Treaty of Riga, was signed on 11 August 1920 by representatives of the Republic of Latvia and Soviet Russia. It officially ended the Latvian War of Independence. In Article II of the treaty, Soviet Russia recognised the independence of Latvia as inviolable "for all future time".

1.2.3. Lithuanian War of Independence

Events that happened shortly after the end of World War I in Lithuania leading to the independence of the country.

1.2.3.1. Lithuanian-Soviet War

Was a war between Lithuania and the Russian SFSR. Russia considerd Lithuania, that had recently declared independence, a secessionist state. At the end of the war Russia recognized the independency of Lithuania.

• January 1921: The Lithuanians claimed the southern shore of Daugava, including Grīva and Daugavpils, despite Latvian protests.

2. Stabilization of the Latvia-Lithuania border after World War I

Refers to several different events that led to the stabilization of the border between Latvia and Lithuania after World War I.

• October 1919: In September 1919, during attack against the Soviets, Lithuanian army occupied much of Ilūkste Municipality.
• April 1921: On March 1921, Lithuania was given the port town Palanga, the village of Šventoji, parts of Rucava Municipality and the railroad junction of Mažeikiai on Rīga - Jelgava- Liepāja railroad line, which meant that Latvia had to build a new railway line. Latvia received the town of Aknīste and some smaller territories in Aknīste Municipality, Ukri parish and Bauska Municipality. Latvia gave up 283,3 square km, while receiving 290 km2.

3. Russian Civil War

Was a Civil War in Russia that involved varios factions but mainly the Bolsheviks and the conservative White Army in the core Russian territories, as well as a multitude of local secessionist states. At the end of war the Bolsheviks were victorious and established the Soviet Union.

3.1. Polish-Soviet War

Was a war between the Second Polish Republic and the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic in the aftermath of World War I and during the Russian Civil War.

• January 1920: The new Latvian government requested Polish help in capturing Dyneburg, and it was, after heavy fighting by the Polish 1st and 3rd Legion Divisions under Rydz-Śmigły. The city was then handed to the Latvians.

4. World War II

Was a global conflict that lasted from 1939 to 1945 (it started sooner in certain regions) between the Axis Powers (mainly Germany, Japan and Italy) and the Allies (mainly the Soviet Union, the U.S.A., the U.K., China and France). It was the war with more fatalities in history. The war in Asia began when Japan invaded China on July 7, 1937. The war in Europe began when Germany invaded Poland on September 1, 1939. The war ended with the complete defeat of the Axis powers, which were occupied by the Allies.

4.1. World War II (Eastern Theatre)

Was the Eastern European theatre of World War II.

4.1.1. Soviet occupation of the Baltic states

Was the Soviet invasion of the Baltic states in the early phase of World War II as agreed by Germany and the USSR in the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact.

• June 1939: The USSR invaded Estonia and Latvia.
• June 1939: On June 19, Stalin's representative for the Anschluss, Andrei Janyanevich Vyshinsky, appeared in Riga. Although Latvia was still an independent state, members of the leading social classes were arrested en masse by Soviet Chekists, deported to Russia or even shot.

5. Dissolution of the Soviet Union

Was the process of internal disintegration within the Soviet Union (USSR) which resulted in the end of the country as a sovereign state, thereby resulting in its constituent republics gaining full independence.

• August 1991: The peaceful Singing Revolution, starting in 1987, called for Baltic emancipation from Soviet rule and condemning the Communist regime's illegal takeover. It ended with the Declaration on the Restoration of Independence of the Republic of Latvia on 4 May 1990 and restoring de facto independence on 21 August 1991.

6. Further events (Unrelated to Any War)

• October 1919: In September 1919, joint Polish and Latvian forces took the southern shore of Daugava, including Grīva.