Latvia

On November 19, 1918, during the Russian Revolution, Latvia declared itself an independent republic. However, soon after, the bolsheviks captured Riga and replace the moderate Latvian government with a pro-Russian regime. Allied troops expelled the Russians from Latvia in 1920 during the Russian Civil War. In a peace treaty between Latvia and Russia, Russia agreed to respect Latvia's sovereignty. Latvia's economy became stable during the 1930's. At the beginning of the Second World War, Latvia announced its neutrality. On October 5, 1939, Latvia signed a mutual assistance treaty with the Soveit Union but later signed a reparations convention with Germany.

In June 1949, the USSR accused Lativa and Estonia of forming a secret anti-Soviet military pace. Soviet forces swiftly occuped Latvia. A Communist regime was installed after elections that were supervised by the Soviet Army. On August 5, 1940, Latvia officially became the fifteenth constituent republic of the USSR.

Latvia was occupied by the invading Germans from 1941 to 1944. After the Red Army drove out the Germans, Latvia again became part of the Soviet Union. Despite considerable resistance to Soviet programs such as the collectivization of agriculture, by the year 1950, nearly total Sovietization had occurred. soviet liberalization in the late 1980's resulted in a rise in Latvian nationalism. Communist rule in the USSR collapsed in August 1991 and the Soviet government recognized Latvia's (as well as Estonia's and Lithuania's) independence on September 6, 1991. All three Baltic nations joined the United Nations in late September.

Latvia's first parliamentary elections were held in June 1993. Guntis Ulmanis, an economist was elected president and Valdis Birkavs, Prime Minister. In February 1994, Latvia joined the Partnership for peace. In March Latvia and Russia agreed to the withdrawl of all Russian troops by August 31, 1994. Latvia agreed to allow Russia to operate its early-warning radar base in Skranda until 1998. The last Russian troops left in August 1996.

Latvia's government collapsed in June 1994 after disagreement on reform issues. Birkavs and his cabinet resigned. A new government was formed by the Latvian Way party in September and Maris Guilis was appointed Prime Minister.