Thursday, April 25

Name day: Līksma, Bārbala

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Jānis Šiliņš

Historian

Vēstures doktors, Latvijas Nacionālā arhīva Latvijas Valsts vēstures arhīva vadošais pētnieks, Vidzemes Augstskolas Sociālo, ekonomisko un humanitāro pētījumu institūta pētnieks, Vēstures izpētes un popularizēšanas biedrības valdes loceklis.

 

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Author's articles
Things to know about the only tank battle of Latvia's Independence War
Things to know about the only tank battle of Latvia's Independence War
On September 27, 1919 the Polish army attacked the outskirts of Daugavpils, eastern Latvia, with the goal of overtaking the Grīva bridge fortifications and the city itself should there be the chance. The battle for Daugavpils was among the most bloody during the Latvian War of Independence (1918–1920) and it was the only battle in the war where tanks participated alongside regular units.
How a German general used Russian soldiers to try to get back at Latvia
How a German general used Russian soldiers to try to get back at Latvia
A hundred years ago, on September 21, 1919 the German army general Rüdiger von der Goltz as well as self-styled prince Pavel Bermondt-Avalov, the commander of the West Russian Volunteer Army, concluded a secret pact that foresaw the transfer of German army units to the Russian army. Meanwhile Bermondt agreed to submit to the pro-German military council, or government, of Western Russia that had been set up in Berlin. This marked the start of another episode in von der Goltz's affair undertaken against the Republic of Latvia and its provisional government. 
100 years since Soviet Russia offered peace to Latvia
100 years since Soviet Russia offered peace to Latvia
A hundred years ago, on September 11, 1919 the Latvian government received a telegram from Georgy Chicherin, People's Commissar for Foreign Affairs in the Soviet government, with an offer to conclude a peace treaty. Such offers were sent to the Lithuanian and Finnish governments as well, while Estonia had received such an offer as early as August 31. 
Shooting the Bolsheviks: White terror after freeing Rīga
Shooting the Bolsheviks: White terror after freeing Rīga
After the joint forces of Baltic Germans, Latvians and the Russian White Army freed Rīga from the communist rule on May 22, 1919, many Bolshevik supporters were shot. It is not clear how many exactly, and different sources give different estimates, starting from the 1924 estimate of 174 by the head of Rīga's Gendarmerie to 4,000–5,000 people as attested to by the social democrats and communists. Mass executions in Rīga only stopped in June 1919 after Allied intervention. 
100 years since Rīga was freed from communist rule
100 years since Rīga was freed from communist rule
A hundred years ago on May 22 the joint forces of Baltic Germans, Latvians and the Russian White Army freed Rīga from the communist rule under which the Latvian capital had spent four and a half months. It was one of the most successful military operations of the time, resulting in the collapse of Soviet Latvia and halting the spread of communism in the country for twenty years. Most Red Army soldiers deserted during retreat, whereas most of the communist party members hid their tracks. The Soviet commissaries of Pēteris Stučka's government hastily got on a train to Rēzekne to retreat to Russia.
The republic on the sea: The 1919 coup that exiled the Latvian government to a steamboat
The republic on the sea: The 1919 coup that exiled the Latvian government to a steamboat
On April 16, 1919 a putsch took place in Liepāja, western Latvia, against Kārlis Ulmanis' Provisional Government. Two of the government ministers were arrested, while the rest fled aboard the Saratov steamboat stationed at the port. For two-and-a-half months, the Republic of Latvia would be governed from the ship in an era sometimes referred to as the "The Republic on the Sea". The territory of the fledgling Latvian state had shrunk to the ship and a couple of parishes that the Estonian army had freed at northern Vidzeme, the other end of the country. 
How American food aid helped the Latvian struggle for independence
How American food aid helped the Latvian struggle for independence
On April 9, 1919 at midday the first US ship carrying foodstuffs arrived in the western Latvian port of Liepāja. The Lake Wimico ship carried 1,200 tons of flour from the American Relief Organization, providing immense help for the fledgling Provisional Government. 
How Estonia fought for Latvian independence
How Estonia fought for Latvian independence
On March 31, 1919 the North Latvia Brigade was set up in Tartu. Under colonel Jorģis Zemitāns (the HQ chief was the legendary lieutenant colonel Voldemārs Ozols), the brigade was provisionally controlled by the Estonian Army and played a great role in freeing the Vidzeme cultural region, back then under the control of the Red Army, for the forces of nascent Latvia. 
Things to know about the Latvian request for independence in 1918
Things to know about the Latvian request for independence in 1918
On October 19 the politicians Miķelis Valters and Eduards Traubergs submitted a resolution to the German chancellor, Prince Maximilian of Baden, asking the German government not to impede the establishment of an internationally recognized, independent Latvian state, as per the wish of the people of Latvia.
The foundation of the Baltic Higher Technical School in 1918
The foundation of the Baltic Higher Technical School in 1918
On October 14, 1918 the Baltic Higher Technical School (Baltijas Tehniskā augstskola, German: Baltische Technische Hoschshule) was established, continuing the technical education traditions in Rīga which were interrupted during the First World War. 
The execution of Latvia's most famous army man
The execution of Latvia's most famous army man
On the night to August 29, 1918 the Bolsheviks shot colonel Frīdrihs Briedis, one of the most popular and talented of the Latvian Riflemen. Several plans to set him free failed, and the news over his death shocked his contemporaries. 
How Latvian riflemen lost control of Russia's gold reserves
How Latvian riflemen lost control of Russia's gold reserves
On August 6, 1918 units of the Czechoslovakian legion took Kazan by storm. The Eastern Front of Red Army, commanded by Latvia's Jukums Vācietis, as well as the 5th Regiment of Red Latvian Riflemen was located there. Czechoslovakians were able to quickly take the city and the Russian gold reserves stored in it; they took more than 100 Latvian riflemen hostage, but, miraculously, Jukums Vācietis managed to escape. 
Things to know about the split among the early Latvian leftists
Things to know about the split among the early Latvian leftists
In late May, 1918 the 16th conference of the Latvian Social-Democracy was held in secret from the German occupying powers. The conference resulted with the party splitting into two. The so-called Mensheviks formed the Latvian Social Democratic Workers' Party, while the others kept on under the same name until, a little less than a year later, they renamed themselves the Communist Party of Latvia.   
Things to know about the early Latvian democrats
Things to know about the early Latvian democrats
A hundred years ago, there were a number of quite small Latvian parties apart from Latvian Social Democrats and Latvian Farmers Union. The tiny Democratic Party existed only until 1919, but it had a great role to play in the proclamation of Latvia's independence. 
Things to know about the United Baltic Duchy
Things to know about the United Baltic Duchy
On April 12, 1918 in Riga, a union of local, German-dominated land councils announced independence from Russia and declared a constitutional monarchy. The body (Der Vereinigte Landesrat für Livland, Estland, Ösel und Riga) set up a delegation which pleaded for recognition of the new United Baltic Duchy in Berlin. 
Things to know about the Finnish Civil War
Things to know about the Finnish Civil War
German forces landed on the shores of southern Finland on April 3, 1918 to put an end to the Finnish Civil War that had raged for more than two years, with more than 40,000 perishing on both sides. It involved Rüdiger von der Goltz, a German general, whose wildly differing roles in the history of Latvia and Finland illustrate the complexities of history. 
Things to know about early Latvian conservative politicians
Things to know about early Latvian conservative politicians
The best-remembered Latvian politicians of the early 20th century come from the Bolsheviks (Pēteris Stučka, Jūlijs Daniševskis), the social democrats (Rainis, Fricis Menders, and Pauls Kalniņš), as well as nationalists like Kārlis Ulmanis, Jānis Čakste and Miķelis Valters. The conservatives, however, are less known, but nevertheless they were very much in the public eye in spring 1918, because the rest had gone underground or fled to Russia. 
How the Duchy of Courland was briefly resurrected in 1918
How the Duchy of Courland was briefly resurrected in 1918
On March 8, 1918 the local Baltic German-dominated Kurländischer Landtag (state diet), in Jelgava, proclaimed the reinstatement of the Duchy of Courland and Semigallia. 123 years had passed since it annexed by the Russian Empire. Pro-German forces were trying to reanimate a state-like body closely related to the German Empire.
What to know about the German occupation of Vidzeme in 1918
What to know about the German occupation of Vidzeme in 1918
On February 28, 1918 the German forces took Gulbene, which housed the headquarters of the Russian 1st Army. This meant all of Latvia's territory was occupied by German forces, a state of affairs that would last for the next nine months. 
It's 100 years since Estonia declared independence
It's 100 years since Estonia declared independence
Estonia's independence was declared on February 24, 1918, in Tallinn. The next day Estonia's independence drive was quashed by the invading Germans, who captured the city. Like Latvia and Lithuania, Estonia had to wait a further nine months to become fully independent. 
It's 100 years since Lithuania declared its independence
It's 100 years since Lithuania declared its independence
On February 16, 1918 Lithuania declared its renewed independence, which had been interrupted by Russia in 1795. The event took place in German-occupied Vilnius, and was the second declaration of independence within a few months. In a key difference from the declaration that had been adopted in 1917, which was dictated by the German powers, the February 16 document stipulated that Lithuania is fully independent both from Germany and Russia.
The twilight of democratic Russia in 1918
The twilight of democratic Russia in 1918
On January 18, 1918 the first and final meeting of the All Russian Constituent Assembly was held in Petrograd to march on the Tauride Palace. The very next day, it was dissolved by the Bolsheviks.
Three things to know about Latvians working for the Cheka
Three things to know about Latvians working for the Cheka
On December 20, 1917 the Council of People's Commissars issued a decree creating an organization, The All-Russian Emergency Commission for Combating Counter-Revolution and Sabotage. This was the Bolshevik secret police. Soon after, an initialism, Cheka, was coined for this horrible organization, which carried out mass terror inside Russia. 
Three facts about Latvian Riflemen taking Petrograd in December 1917
Three facts about Latvian Riflemen taking Petrograd in December 1917
On December 8, 1917 the Russian capital Petrograd saw train arrivals from Vidzeme, carrying soldiers from the 6. Tukums Latvian Riflemen Regiment. Latvian Riflemen were to ensure order in Bolshevik-seized Petrograd. The Bolsheviks among them were entrusted with guarding the Soviet government.
The first step towards Latvia's independence 100 years ago
The first step towards Latvia's independence 100 years ago

From November 29 to December 2 the first meeting of the Latvian Provisional National Council took place in Valka, an important step to making an independent Latvia a reality. Delegates made declarations and resolutions and first named Latvia an "autonomous state unit". 

Three facts about the Bolsheviks' rush towards power
Three facts about the Bolsheviks' rush towards power

After the October Revolution, the Bolsheviks on November 9-21, 1917 took over unoccupied Latvia (Vidzeme and Latgale). The bid for power was lead by the Military Revolutionary Committee and carried out by Latvian Riflemen - originally a military formation of the Russian Empire assembled to defend the Baltics. On November 9 they took Cēsis and on November 21 they took Valka, both in what's now northeastern Latvia. 

Three things to know about the October Revolution in Petrograd
Three things to know about the October Revolution in Petrograd

November 7, 1917 is one of the most important dates in 20th century world history. On this day the Bolshevik Revolution (October Revolution) took place in Petrograd, and as a result a Soviet government was set up with Lenin at its helm. For the next 70 years, communist ideas would spread across the globe. 

Latvia at a crossroads: November 1917
Latvia at a crossroads: November 1917

It's 1917, and it's a dramatic year in Latvian and Russian history. It's a time when revolutions and new ideas are born. Societies wearied by war are looking for ways out. Latvia has to choose between submitting to German occupation, marching with the Bolsheviks, or trying to become independent, writes the historian Jānis Šiliņš.