Global InformationLatvian Soviet Socialist Republic information
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Latvian Soviet Socialist Republic
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| 1940–1990/91 1941–1944: German occupation | |||||||||
 Flag
(1953–1990)  State emblem
(1940–1990) | |||||||||
| Motto: Visu zemju proletārieši, savienojieties! (Latvian) "Workers of the world, unite!" | |||||||||
| Anthem: Anthem of the Latvian Soviet Socialist Republic | |||||||||
 Location of Latvia (red) within the Soviet Union (cream) | |||||||||
| Status | Internationally unrecognized territory occupied by the Soviet Union (1940–1941, 1944–1990) | ||||||||
| Capital | Riga | ||||||||
| Common languages | Latvian · Russian | ||||||||
| Ethnic groups (1989) | 52% Latvians 42% East Slavs 2% Poles 1% Lithuanians 1% Jews 2% Others | ||||||||
| Religion | Secular state (de jure) State atheism (de facto) | ||||||||
| Demonym(s) | Latvian Soviet | ||||||||
| Government | Unitary Marxist-Leninist one-party soviet socialist republic (1940–1989) Unitary multi-party parliamentary republic (1989–1991) | ||||||||
| First Secretary | |||||||||
• 1940–1959 | Jānis Kalnbērziņš | ||||||||
• 1959–1966 | Arvīds Pelše | ||||||||
• 1966–1984 | Augusts Voss | ||||||||
• 1984–1988 | Boriss Pugo | ||||||||
• 1988–1990 | Jānis Vagris | ||||||||
| Head of state | |||||||||
• 1940–1952 (first) | Augusts Kirhenšteins | ||||||||
• 1988–1990 (last) | Anatolijs Gorbunovs | ||||||||
| Head of government | |||||||||
• 1940–1959 (first) | Vilis Lācis | ||||||||
• 1988–1990 (last) | Vilnis Edvīns Bresis | ||||||||
| Legislature | Supreme Soviet | ||||||||
| Historical era | World War II · Cold War | ||||||||
• Soviet occupation | 17 June 1940 | ||||||||
• SSR established | 21 July 1940 | ||||||||
• Illegally annexed by USSR, Latvia continued de jure | 5 August 1940 | ||||||||
• Nazi occupation | 1941–1945 | ||||||||
• Soviet re-occupation SSR re-established | 1944/1945 | ||||||||
• Declaration of state sovereignty | 28 July 1989 | ||||||||
• Independence restored | 4 May 1990 | ||||||||
• Independence recognized by the State Council of the Soviet Union | 6 September 1991 | ||||||||
| Currency | Soviet rouble (Rbl) (SUR) | ||||||||
| Calling code | +7 013 | ||||||||
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| Today part of | Latvia | ||||||||
The Latvian Soviet Socialist Republic (Latvian SSR), also known as Soviet Latvia or simply Latvia, was de facto one of the constituent republics of the Soviet Union between 1940–1941 and 1944–1990.
The Soviet occupation and annexation of Latvia took place in June and August 1939, according to the agreed terms of the Molotov–Ribbentrop Pact's secret protocol. In 1939, Latvia was forced to grant military bases on its soil to the Soviet Union, and in 1940 the Red Army moved into Latvia, effectively annexing it into the Soviet Union.[1]
The territory changed hands during World War II with Nazi Germany occupying a large portion of Latvian territory from 1941 to 1944/1945, before the Soviet Union re-occupied it in 1944 and 1945. The Soviet occupation of the Baltic states from 1939 to 1940 and 1944–1991 is widely considered illegal by the international community and human rights organizations.[2][3][4][5][6][7][8]
Soviet instability in the 1980s and the dissolution of the Soviet Union provided an opportunity for Latvia to restore its independence.
- ^ "History of Latvia: A brief synopsis". www2.mfa.gov.lv. Retrieved 2022-11-01.
- ^ Archived 2007-11-23 at the Wayback Machine at Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Latvia
- ^ "22 September 1944 from one occupation to another". Estonian Embassy in Washington. 2008-09-22. Archived from the original on 30 June 2018. Retrieved 2009-05-01.
For Estonia, World War II did not end, de facto, until 31 August 1994, with the final withdrawal of former Soviet troops from Estonian soil.
- ^ Feldbrugge, Ferdinand; Gerard Pieter van den Berg; William B. Simons (1985). Encyclopedia of Soviet law. Brill. p. 461. ISBN 9024730759. Archived from the original on 10 February 2023. Retrieved 9 September 2020.
On 26 March 1949, the US Department of State issued a circular letter stating that the Baltic countries were still independent nations with their diplomatic representatives and consuls.
- ^ Fried, Daniel (June 14, 2007). "U.S.-Baltic Relations: Celebrating 85 Years of Friendship" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on August 19, 2012. Retrieved 2009-04-29.
From Sumner Wells' declaration of 23 July 1940, that we would not recognize the occupation. We housed the exiled Baltic diplomatic delegations. We accredited their diplomats. We flew their flags in the State Department's Hall of Flags. We never recognized in deed or word or symbol the illegal occupation of their lands.
- ^ Lauterpacht, E.; C. J. Greenwood (1967). International Law Reports. Cambridge University Press. pp. 62–63. ISBN 0521463807. Archived from the original on 10 February 2023. Retrieved 9 September 2020.
The Court said: (256 N.Y.S.2d 196) "The Government of the United States has never recognized the forceful occupation of Estonia and Latvia by the Soviet Union of Socialist Republics nor does it recognize the absorption and incorporation of Latvia and Estonia into the Union of Soviet Socialist republics. The legality of the acts, laws and decrees of the puppet regimes set up in those countries by the USSR is not recognized by the United States, diplomatic or consular officers are not maintained in either Estonia or Latvia and full recognition is given to the Legations of Estonia and Latvia established and maintained here by the Governments in exile of those countries
- ^ Motion for a resolution on the Situation in Estonia Archived 29 September 2018 at the Wayback Machine by the European Parliament, B6-0215/2007, 21.5.2007; passed 24.5.2007. Retrieved 1 January 2010.
- ^ Dehousse, Renaud (1993). "The International Practice of the European Communities: Current Survey". European Journal of International Law. 4 (1): 141. doi:10.1093/oxfordjournals.ejil.a035821. Archived from the original on 2007-09-27. Retrieved 2006-12-09.