LATVIA

1. LATVIA a captive of superpowers in the 20th century

2. Latvia – an independent state • 18 November, 1918Latvia declares its independence. • 11 August, 1920Soviet Russia (later – the USSR) and the Republic of Latvia sign a Peace Treaty. Russia acknowledges Latvia’s independence and for ever withdraws its claims for the territory of Latvia. • 5 February, 1932The USSR and Latvia sign a non-aggression pact. Russia and Latvia signing Peace Treaty on 11 August, 1920.

3. Agreement between Moscow and Berlinon interest spheres in the Baltics 23 August, 1939Non-aggression pact between the USSR and Germany: both totalitarian states divide Eastern Europe between them. According to the secret protocol, Latvia together with Estonia and later also Lithuania, are absorbed within the Soviet sphere of influence. Signing non-aggression pact between the USSR and Germany in Moscow, 1939. Minister of Foreign Affairs of Germany J.fon Ribbentrop, the leader of the USSR J.Stalin and Soviet Commissar for Foreign Affairs V.Molotov.

4. The USSR occupies the Baltic States • June 16, 1940Violating all agreements and treaties between the two states, as well as the principles of international law, the USSR delivers an ultimatum to Latvia. It demands the formation of a new pro-Soviet government and announces the immediate deployment of Soviet armed forces to the country. • June 17, 1940The USSR army occupy whole territory of Latvia and take control over the state. The USSR army entering Riga on 17 June, 1940.

5. Forced incorporation of Latvia into the USSR • 21 July, 1940After compulsory elections organised by the USSR, power is passed to the Latvian pro-Moscow faction, which proclaims Latvia a Soviet Republic. • 23 July, 1940The USA Foreign Affairs department declares that the occupation of the Baltic countries is illegal and their incorporation into the USSR is not recognised by the USA. • 5 August, 1940Latvia is annexed to the USSR against the peoples’ will. Certification by Department of State of the USA of non-recognition of the incorporation of Latvia by the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, 29 May, 1957.

6. Moscow subjects Latvia to the first repressions • 22 July, 1940USSR security forces arrest the State President of the formerly independent Republic of Latvia, Kārlis Ulmanis, and deport him to the USSR, where he dies in imprisonment on 20 September, 1942. • 14 June, 194115 424 Latvians are deported from Latvia to Siberia: the political and business elite of Latvia is considered to be hostile towards the occupation regime. Among the deported are almost 100 infants under the age of 1 and more than 3000 children under the age of 16. Kārlis Ulmanis, Latvian State president. Arrested after the occupation of Latvia, died in imprisonment in the USSR in 1942.

7. Latvia under German occupation • June – July 1941Latvia’s territory is occupied by the German „Third Reich”. • March 1943Germany begins compulsory recruitment of Latvian civilians into its occupation army. • 1941 – 1944The German occupation regime exterminates over 90 000 Latvian civilians, mainly Jews. A draft order into German „Latvian SS legion” issued to a Latvian civilian, 1943.

8. 1940, Red Armytanks enter Riga... ...and in 1941 troops of Nazi Germany in the same city.

9. German occupation • 1941 -- Germany invades USSR and occupies Latvia in July. German soldiers are welcomed as "liberators" but independence does not come. Germany sets up Salaspils concentration camp and a new terror begins. 90% of the Latvian Jewish population is murdered. Hospitals of invalids and mentally ill are also "liquidated". Homes and property seized for the German war effort. Latvian men are conscripted into the German army. Entrance gate to the Riga ghetto. This photograph was taken from outside the ghetto fence. Riga, Latvia, 1941-1943.

10. The end of the World War II and repeated Soviet occupation • November – December 1943 and February 1945Tehran and Yalta conferences. The leaders of the USSR, the USA and Great Britain come to terms on the after war order– the USA and Great Britain do not object to Moscow’s control over the Baltic countries. • 8 May, 1945End of the war. The German occupation army capitulates and the USSR occupation power is re-established in the territory of Latvia. Yalta (Crimea) conferenceon 4-11 February, 1945. The Prime Minister of Great Britain,W.Churchill and the President of the USAF.D. Roosevelt accept Stalin’s demands that the USSR retain controlof the Baltic countries after the war.

11. Moscow organises a second round of repressions in Latvia • 1945 – 1956A continuous Latvian national partisan armed struggle against the second Soviet occupation spread throughout the country. • 25 March, 1949More than 43 000 innocent people are labelled as enemies of the re-established Soviet regime and are deported to Siberia. During the Soviet repressions of 1949 entire families,including children and elderly, were loaded into in railroad boxcars and deported to Siberia. (a secretly taken photograph)

12. Restoring Latvia’s independence • 14 June and 23 August, 1987The first large anti-Soviet and anti-occupation demonstrations in Riga. • 1988 -- Latvian flag rehabilitated and flown from Riga castle. The Latvian political party, "Popular Front" is formed. • 21 August, 1991Latvia restores its independence and the Constitution (Satversme) of 1922. • 31 August, 1994The last troops of Russian (former USSR) occupation army leave Latvia. A demonstration in Riga on 18 November, 1989 gathers about half a million people who demand an immediate end to the Soviet occupation.

13. The Baltic Way • 1989 -- Over 2 million Estonians, Latvians and Lithuanians join hands across the three Baltic countries in an unbroken human chain linking the capitals of Tallinn, Riga, and Vilnius to protest the secret pact of 1939 between Hitler and Stalin.

14. 1991 • January 13Barricades are erected around the parliament and "citizen soldiers" stand guard.

15. 1991 • January 20 -- Soviet OMON troops attack the Interior Ministry building, killing five and injuring ten others. • March 3 -- In a referendum, 74% of the people voted in favor of independence. • April 27 -- The Popular Front adopts a plan for transition to independence by Spring 1992. • August 19-20 -- Soviet troops block roads and seize Interior Ministry building. • August 21 -- Latvian Parliament votes to end the transitional period thus fully returning Latvia to independence. • September 2 -- USA recognizes Latvian independence. • September 6 -- USSR recognizes Latvian independence. • September 17 -- Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia admitted into the United Nations.

16. "Saiema" reinstated by first free elections since before WWII. "Satversme" (pre-war Latvian constitution) reinstated. Saeima elects Guntis Ulmanis of the Farmers Union Party as president of Latvia. National currency, the "Lat" replaces the Latvian Ruble. 1993

17. 1994, 1995, 1996, 1998 • 1994 -- Final Russian troops withdraw from the Baltic's on August 31. • 1995 -- Latvia becomes member of the Council of Europe. • 1996 -- Second free elections elect the 6th Saeima. • 1998 -- Guntis Ulmanis expresses regret and apologizes to Israel for the Latvians who collaborated with the Nazi's during the Holocaust. Third free elections elect 7th Saiema.

18. 1999 • 1999 -- Vaira Vīķe-Freiberga elected President of State by 7th Saeima. Freiberga is the first woman of the former Soviet republics to be elected president of State, she is independent of any party and is fluent in five languages (Latvian, English, French, German, Spanish).

19. Riga - 800 Rīga celebrates 800 years since it's founding in 1201 by bishop Albert.

20. 2004 On May 1st Latvia became an official member state of the European Union.