Shortly after the start of the German–Soviet War in 1941, the territory of Latvia was occupied and governed as a part of Reichskommissariat Ostland along Lithuania and Estonia. Tens of thousands of Latvian Jews were killed in the Holocaust, along with other local opponents of the regime. Among the underground resistance movement, the Latvian Central Council led the efforts of the resistance movement which strived to restore an independent and democratic Republic of Latvia.
After World War II thousands of resistance fighters (including former members of the pre-World War II Aizsargi and 19th Latvian Waffen SS division) participated in unsuccessful guerrilla warfare against the Soviet regime after the reoccupation of Latvia in 1944–1945. Most of the armed resistance was suppressed by 1952.
"Perestroika" enabled Latvians to pursue a bolder nationalistic program, particularly through such general issues as environmental protection.
On June 14, 1987, the group Helsinki-86 organised a ceremony of placing flowers at the Freedom Monument in Riga. This event demonstrated the rebirth of national courage and self-confidence in Latvia.
On July 28, 1989, the Supreme Soviet of the Latvian SSR adopted a "Declaration of Sovereignty" and amended the Constitution to assert the supremacy of its laws over those of the U.S.S.R. Pro-independence Latvian Popular Front candidates gained a two-thirds majority in the Supreme Council in the March 18, 1990 democratic elections. On May 4, the Council declared its intention to restore full Latvian independence after a "transitional" period; 3 days later, Ivars Godmanis was chosen Council of Ministers Chairman, or Prime Minister.
In January 1991, Soviet political and military forces tried unsuccessfully to overthrow the legitimate Latvian authorities by occupying the central publishing house in Riga and establishing a "Committee of National Salvation" to usurp governmental functions. On January 20, 1991, Riga OMON attacked Latvia's Interior Ministry, killing six people.[1] – see January 1991 events in Latvia. Seven OMON members were subsequently found guilty by the Riga District Court and received suspended sentences.
Seventy-three percent of all Latvian residents confirmed their strong support for independence March 3 in an advisory referendum. A large number of ethnic Russians also voted for the proposition.
Latvia claimed de facto independence on August 21, 1991, in the aftermath of the failed Soviet coup attempt. International recognition of renewed independence, including the U.S.S.R. (on September 6), followed. The United States, which had never recognized Latvia's forcible annexation by the U.S.S.R., resumed full diplomatic relations with Latvia on September 5 and recognized Latvian independence on September 6.
Referencesedit
^"Latvia profile - Timeline". BBC News. 29 March 2019.
External linksedit
Latvia in the 20th century
April 08, 2024
latvian, independence, movement, this, article, needs, additional, citations, verification, please, help, improve, this, article, adding, citations, reliable, sources, unsourced, material, challenged, removed, find, sources, news, newspapers, books, scholar, j. This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Latvian independence movement news newspapers books scholar JSTOR February 2009 Learn how and when to remove this template message The modern Latvian independence movement was the resistance movement to foreign occupation of the Republic of Latvia during Soviet and Nazi German occupation 1940 1991 Contents 1 First year 1940 1941 of occupation 2 Nazi German occupation 1940 1944 1945 3 Anti Soviet guerrilla warfare 1945 1960 4 The Latvian Third Awakening 1986 1991 5 References 6 External linksFirst year 1940 1941 of occupation editMain article Soviet occupation of Latvia in 1940 The effects of the Molotov Ribbentrop Pact of August 23 1939 assigned Latvia to the Soviet sphere of influence On August 5 1940 the Soviet Union forcibly annexed Latvia On June 14 1941 15 000 Latvian citizens were forcibly deported to Gulag camps and a large number of army officers shot Nazi German occupation 1940 1944 1945 editMain article German occupation of the Baltic states during World War II Shortly after the start of the German Soviet War in 1941 the territory of Latvia was occupied and governed as a part of Reichskommissariat Ostland along Lithuania and Estonia Tens of thousands of Latvian Jews were killed in the Holocaust along with other local opponents of the regime Among the underground resistance movement the Latvian Central Council led the efforts of the resistance movement which strived to restore an independent and democratic Republic of Latvia Anti Soviet guerrilla warfare 1945 1960 editMain article Latvian partisans After World War II thousands of resistance fighters including former members of the pre World War II Aizsargi and 19th Latvian Waffen SS division participated in unsuccessful guerrilla warfare against the Soviet regime after the reoccupation of Latvia in 1944 1945 Most of the armed resistance was suppressed by 1952 The Latvian Third Awakening 1986 1991 editMain article Singing Revolution Perestroika enabled Latvians to pursue a bolder nationalistic program particularly through such general issues as environmental protection On June 14 1987 the group Helsinki 86 organised a ceremony of placing flowers at the Freedom Monument in Riga This event demonstrated the rebirth of national courage and self confidence in Latvia On July 28 1989 the Supreme Soviet of the Latvian SSR adopted a Declaration of Sovereignty and amended the Constitution to assert the supremacy of its laws over those of the U S S R Pro independence Latvian Popular Front candidates gained a two thirds majority in the Supreme Council in the March 18 1990 democratic elections On May 4 the Council declared its intention to restore full Latvian independence after a transitional period 3 days later Ivars Godmanis was chosen Council of Ministers Chairman or Prime Minister In January 1991 Soviet political and military forces tried unsuccessfully to overthrow the legitimate Latvian authorities by occupying the central publishing house in Riga and establishing a Committee of National Salvation to usurp governmental functions On January 20 1991 Riga OMON attacked Latvia s Interior Ministry killing six people 1 see January 1991 events in Latvia Seven OMON members were subsequently found guilty by the Riga District Court and received suspended sentences Seventy three percent of all Latvian residents confirmed their strong support for independence March 3 in an advisory referendum A large number of ethnic Russians also voted for the proposition Latvia claimed de facto independence on August 21 1991 in the aftermath of the failed Soviet coup attempt International recognition of renewed independence including the U S S R on September 6 followed The United States which had never recognized Latvia s forcible annexation by the U S S R resumed full diplomatic relations with Latvia on September 5 and recognized Latvian independence on September 6 References edit Latvia profile Timeline BBC News 29 March 2019 External links editLatvia in the 20th century Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Latvian independence movement amp oldid 1067160903, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
