(c) The Latvian Institute 1 LATVIA a captive of superpowers in the 20th century.

(c) The Latvian Institute(c) The Latvian Institute 11

LATVIALATVIA

a captive of a captive of superpowers in the superpowers in the

20th century20th century

(c) The Latvian Institute 2

Latvia – an independent stateLatvia – an independent state

► 18 November, 191818 November, 1918Latvia declares its Latvia declares its independence.independence.

► 11 August, 192011 August, 1920Soviet Russia (later – the Soviet Russia (later – the USSR) and the Republic of USSR) and the Republic of Latvia sign a Peace Treaty. Latvia sign a Peace Treaty. Russia acknowledges Latvia’s Russia acknowledges Latvia’s independence and for ever independence and for ever withdraws its claims for the withdraws its claims for the territory of Latvia.territory of Latvia.

► 7 April, 19237 April, 1923 The USSR and Latvia sign a The USSR and Latvia sign a Border Treaty; Latvia’s Eastern Border Treaty; Latvia’s Eastern border with Russia defined.border with Russia defined.

► 5 February, 19325 February, 1932The USSR and Latvia sign a The USSR and Latvia sign a non-aggression pact.non-aggression pact.

Russia and Latvia signing Peace Treaty on 11 August, 1920.

(c) The Latvian Institute 3

Agreement between Moscow Agreement between Moscow and Berlinand Berlin

on interest spheres in the on interest spheres in the BalticsBaltics ► 23 August, 193923 August, 1939

Non-aggression pact between Non-aggression pact between the USSR and Germany: both the USSR and Germany: both totalitarian states divide totalitarian states divide Eastern Europe between Eastern Europe between them. According to the secret them. According to the secret protocol, Latvia together with protocol, Latvia together with Estonia and later also Estonia and later also Lithuania, are absorbed within Lithuania, are absorbed within the Soviet sphere of influencethe Soviet sphere of influence..

► 5 October, 19395 October, 1939Threatening armed Threatening armed intervention, the USSR forces intervention, the USSR forces Latvia’s government to sign Latvia’s government to sign an agreement allowing Soviet an agreement allowing Soviet army bases on Latvian army bases on Latvian territory. (officially called a territory. (officially called a „mutual assistance „mutual assistance agreement”)agreement”)..

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.

(c) The Latvian Institute 4

The USSR occupies the Baltic The USSR occupies the Baltic StatesStates

► June 16, 1940June 16, 1940Violating all agreements Violating all agreements and treaties between the and treaties between the two states, as well as the two states, as well as the principles of international principles of international law, the USSR delivers an law, the USSR delivers an ultimatum to Latvia. It ultimatum to Latvia. It demands the formation of a demands the formation of a new pro-Soviet government new pro-Soviet government and announces the and announces the immediate deployment of immediate deployment of Soviet armed forces to the Soviet armed forces to the countrycountry. .

► June 17, 1940June 17, 1940The USSR army occupy The USSR army occupy whole territory of Latvia and whole territory of Latvia and take control over the state. take control over the state.

The USSR army entering Riga on 17 June, 1940.

(c) The Latvian Institute 5

Forced incorporation Forced incorporation of Latvia into the USSRof Latvia into the USSR

► 21 July, 194021 July, 1940After compulsory elections After compulsory elections organised by the USSR, power organised by the USSR, power is passed to the Latvian pro-is passed to the Latvian pro-Moscow faction, which Moscow faction, which proclaims Latvia a Soviet proclaims Latvia a Soviet RepublicRepublic. .

► 23 July, 194023 July, 1940The USA Foreign Affairs The USA Foreign Affairs department declares that the department declares that the occupation of the Baltic occupation of the Baltic countries is illegal and their countries is illegal and their incorporation into the USSR is incorporation into the USSR is not recognised by the USAnot recognised by the USA..

► 5 August, 19405 August, 1940Latvia is annexed to the USSR Latvia is annexed to the USSR against the peoples’ willagainst 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.

(c) The Latvian Institute 6

Moscow subjects Latvia to the Moscow subjects Latvia to the first repressionsfirst repressions

► 22 July, 194022 July, 1940USSR security forces arrest the USSR security forces arrest the State President of the formerly State President of the formerly independent Republic of independent Republic of Latvia, Kārlis Ulmanis, and Latvia, Kārlis Ulmanis, and deport him to the USSR, where deport him to the USSR, where he dies in imprisonment on 20 he dies in imprisonment on 20 September, 1942September, 1942. .

► 14 June, 194114 June, 194115 424 Latvians are deported 15 424 Latvians are deported from Latvia to Siberia: the from Latvia to Siberia: the political and business elite of political and business elite of Latvia is considered to be Latvia is considered to be hostile towards the occupation hostile towards the occupation regime. Among the deported regime. Among the deported are almost 100 infants under are almost 100 infants under the age of 1 and more than the age of 1 and more than 3000 children under the age of 3000 children under the age of 1616..

Kārlis Ulmanis, Latvian State president.Arrested after the occupation of Latvia,

died in imprisonment in the USSR in 1942.

(c) The Latvian Institute 7

Latvia under German Latvia under German occupationoccupation

► June – July 1941June – July 1941Latvia’s territory is occupied Latvia’s territory is occupied by the German „Third by the German „Third Reich”Reich”. .

► March 1943March 1943Germany begins compulsory Germany begins compulsory recruitment of Latvian recruitment of Latvian civilians into its occupation civilians into its occupation armyarmy..

► 1941 – 19441941 – 1944The German occupation The German occupation regime exterminates over regime exterminates over 90 000 Latvian civilians, 90 000 Latvian civilians, mainly Jewsmainly Jews. . A draft order into German „Latvian SS legion”

issued to a Latvian civilian, 1943.

(c) The Latvian Institute 8

The end of the World War II and The end of the World War II and repeated Soviet occupationrepeated Soviet occupation

► November – December November – December 1943 and February 19451943 and February 1945Tehran and Yalta Tehran and Yalta conferences. The leaders of conferences. The leaders of the USSR, the USA and the USSR, the USA and Great Britain come to terms Great Britain come to terms on the after war orderon the after war order – the – the USA and Great Britain do USA and Great Britain do not object to Moscow’s not object to Moscow’s control over the Baltic control over the Baltic countriescountries. .

► 8 May, 19458 May, 1945End of the war. The German End of the war. The German occupation army capitulates occupation army capitulates and the USSR occupation and the USSR occupation power is re-established in power is re-established in the territory of Latviathe territory of Latvia. .

Yalta (Crimea) conference on 4-11 February, 1945. The Prime Minister of Great Britain, W.Churchill and the President

of the USA F.D. Roosevelt accept Stalin’s demands that the USSR retain control of

the Baltic countries after the war.

(c) The Latvian Institute 9

Moscow organises a second Moscow organises a second round of repressions in Latviaround of repressions in Latvia

► 1945 – 19561945 – 1956A continuous A continuous Latvian national Latvian national partisan armed struggle partisan armed struggle against the second Soviet against the second Soviet occupation spread throughout occupation spread throughout the countrythe country. .

► 25 March, 194925 March, 1949More than 43 000 innocent More than 43 000 innocent people are labelled as people are labelled as enemies of the re-established enemies of the re-established Soviet regime and are Soviet regime and are deported to Siberiadeported to Siberia. .

During the Soviet repressions of 1949entire families, including children and elderly,

were loaded into in railroad boxcars anddeported to Siberia.

(a secretly taken photograph)

(c) The Latvian Institute 10

Restoring Latvia’s Restoring Latvia’s independenceindependence

► 14 June and 23 August, 14 June and 23 August, 19871987 The first large anti-Soviet The first large anti-Soviet and anti-occupation and anti-occupation demonstrations in Rigademonstrations in Riga. .

► 21 August, 199121 August, 1991Latvia restores its Latvia restores its independence and the independence and the Constitution (Constitution (SatversmeSatversme) ) of 1922of 1922. .

► 31 August, 199431 August, 1994The last troops of Russian The last troops of Russian (former USSR) occupation (former USSR) occupation army leave Latviaarmy leave Latvia. .

A demonstration in Riga on 18 November, 1989gathers about half a million people who

demand an immediate end to the Soviet occupation.

(c) The Latvian Institute 11

Recognising the consequences Recognising the consequences of the Balticof the Baltic Occupation by Occupation by

RussiaRussia► 8, 9 May, 20058, 9 May, 2005

The 60th anniversary of the end of German occupation and The 60th anniversary of the end of German occupation and second occupation of the Baltic countries by the USSRsecond occupation of the Baltic countries by the USSR..

To this day, Russia, the legal successor of the USSR, has To this day, Russia, the legal successor of the USSR, has never acknowledged the armed occupation and illegal never acknowledged the armed occupation and illegal annexation of the Baltic countries to the USSRannexation of the Baltic countries to the USSR. .

► By condemning this criminal act, Russia would:By condemning this criminal act, Russia would:demonstrate good will to the people of the Baltic countriesdemonstrate good will to the people of the Baltic countries; ; join the international community in an honest assessment of thejoin the international community in an honest assessment of the

history of the 20th century and the crimes against humanity history of the 20th century and the crimes against humanity carried out by two totalitarian states – carried out by two totalitarian states – tthe USSR and German he USSR and German „Third Reich”„Third Reich”;;

diminish Russia’s image as an external threat among the people diminish Russia’s image as an external threat among the people the Baltic countriesthe Baltic countries; ;

pave the way for a constructive, forward-looking relationship pave the way for a constructive, forward-looking relationship with the European Union and NATOwith the European Union and NATO. .