History of Latvia - Honorary Consulate General of the Republic of Latvia in Jakarta

Brief History of Latvia

9000 B.C. The arrival of the first inhabitants on Latvian soil after the withdrawal of the glaciers.
Early 2000 B.C. Baltic tribes (forefathers of the modern Latvians) settle in Latvia's territory.
900 A.D. – early 1200 A.D. Individual tribal groups (Couronians, Latgallians, Selonians, Semgallians) start to form specific tribal realms.
In the latter half of the 1100s–1200s, German traders, missionaries and crusaders arrived in Latvia. The city of Rīga was founded in 1201. Territories inhabited by tribal realms fall into the hands of the Germans. Livonia is established.
1500’s Livonian War (1558-1583). Latvian territory under Polish-Lithuanian rule. The dukedoms of Kurzeme and Pārdaugava are formed.
1600s Polish-Swedish War (1600-1629). Vidzeme and Rīga under Swedish rule. Rīga - Sweden's largest city. The dukedom of Kurzeme experienced an economic boom.
1700’s The Great Northern War (1700-1721). Vidzeme and Rīga come under Russian rule. During this century, Latgale and the dukedom of Kurzeme are annexed to Russia.
The 1850s – 1870’s National awakening of the Latvian people. The movement of New Latvians (jaunlatvieši).
November 18, 1918 Proclamation of independence of Latvia.
On August 11, 1920, Soviet Russia (later – the USSR) and the Republic of Latvia signed a Peace Treaty. Russia acknowledges Latvia’s independence and forever withdraws its claims for the territory of Latvia.
August 23, 1939 Non-aggression pact between the USSR and Germany: both totalitarian states divide Eastern Europe between them. According to the secret protocol, Latvia, Estonia and later Lithuania are absorbed into the Soviet sphere of influence.
On October 5, 1939, Threatening armed intervention, the USSR forced Latvia’s government to sign an agreement allowing Soviet army bases on Latvian territory (officially called a "mutual assistance agreement”).
June 16, 1940, Violating all agreements and treaties between the two states and the principles of international law, the USSR delivers an ultimatum to Latvia. It demanded the formation of a new pro-Soviet government and announced the immediate deployment of Soviet armed forces to the country.
June 17, 1940, Latvia was occupied by USSR troops.
July 23, 1940, The USA Foreign Affairs department declares that the occupation of the Baltic countries is illegal and the USA does not recognise their incorporation into the USSR.
On June 14, 1941, 15,424 Latvians were deported from Latvia to Siberia: Latvia's political and business elite was considered 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.
1941 – 1945 Latvia was occupied by the German Third Reich.
In March 1943, Germany began compulsory recruiting Latvian civilians into its occupation army.
1941 – 1944 The German occupation regime exterminates over 90,000 Latvian civilians, mainly Jews.
May 8, 1945 End of the war. The German occupation army capitulates, and the USSR occupation power is re-established in the territory of Latvia.
1945 – 1956 A continuous Latvian national partisan armed struggle against the second Soviet occupation spread throughout the country.
March 25, 1949, More than 43,000 innocent people were labelled enemies of the re-established Soviet regime and were deported to Siberia.
June 14 and August 23, 1987, The first large anti-Soviet and anti-occupation demonstrations in Rīga.
On May 4, 1990, A declaration restoring independence with a transition period was adopted.
August 21, 1991, Complete reinstatement of Latvia's independence.
On August 31, 1994, The last troops of the Russian (former USSR) occupation army left Latvia.
April – May 2004 Latvia becomes a member of NATO and the European Union.