Latvian War of Independence

The Latvian War of Independence (Latvian: Latvijas brīvības cīņas, literally, "Struggles for Latvia's freedom,"), sometimes called the Latvian War of Liberation (Latvian: Latvijas atbrīvošanas karš, "War of Latvian Liberation"), was a series of military conflicts in Latvia between 5 December 1918, after the Republic of Latvia proclaimed its independence, and the signing of the Treaty of Riga between the Republic of Latvia and the Russian SFSR on 11 August 1920.

The war involved Latvia (its provisional government supported by Estonia, Poland, and the Western Allies, particularly the United Kingdom) against the Russian SFSR and the Bolsheviks' short-lived Latvian Socialist Soviet Republic. Germany and the Baltic nobility added another level of intrigue, initially being nominally allied to the Nationalist/Allied force, but attempting to jockey for German domination of Latvia. Eventually, tensions flared up after a German coup against the Latvian government, leading to open war.

Following a ceasefire, the Germans developed a ploy, nominally dissolving into the West Russian Volunteer Army led by general Pavel Bermont-Avalov. This West Russian Volunteer Army included Germans and former Russian prisoners of war nominally allied with the White Army in the Russian Civil War, but both Bermondt-Avalov and von der Goltz were more interested in eliminating the nationalists than fighting the Bolsheviks.

Certain episodes of the Latvian Independence War were also part of the Polish-Soviet War, particularly the Battle of Daugavpils.

Timeline

1918

• 11 November: The German Empire and Allies of World War I sign the armistice, which marks the end of World War I; Soviet Russia launches attack on German forces. The British Empire recognises de facto independence of Latvia.
• 17 November: The first legislative institution of Latvia, the People' Council (Tautas Padome) and the provisional government are established. Jānis ÄŒakste becomes the chairman of the People’s Council, while Kārlis Ulmanis becomes prime minister.
• 18 November: Republic of Latvia is proclaimed in Riga.
• 28 November: The Regency Council of the United Baltic Duchy dissolved.
• 1 December: The Red Army invades Latvia.
• 17 December: The government of Latvian Socialist Soviet Republic, headed by PÄ"teris Stučka, is formed in Russia.

1919

• 5 January: The first armed unit of Latvia, 1st Latvian Independent Battalion, under command of Oskars Kalpaks is formed. The provisional government retreats from Jelgava to Liepāja.
• 31 January: Most of Latvia is under the control of the Red Army, the Latvian government and German forces control the neighbourhood of Liepāja.
• 18 February: Agreement is signed between Estonia and Latvia, starting formation of North Latvian Brigade led by JorÄ£is Zemitāns on Estonian territory.
• 3 March: United German and Latvian forces commence counterattack against the forces of Soviet Latvia.
• 6 March: Oskars Kalpaks, commander of all Latvian forces subordinated to German Headquarters falls from German friendly fire. He is replaced by Jānis Balodis.
• 10 March: Saldus comes under Latvian control.
• 21 March: 1st Latvian Independent Battalion is reformed into the Latvian Independent Brigade.
• 16 April: The puppet Latvian Government established by the Baltic nobility organises a coup d'etat in Liepāja, the provisional national government of Latvia takes refuge aboard steamship Saratow.
• 16 May: Estonian Army starts major offensive against Soviets in North-Latvia.
• 22 May: The Baltische Landeswehr captures Riga.
• 23 May: The Latvian Independent Brigade marches into Riga.
• 3 June: The Baltische Landeswehr reaches CÄ"sis.
• 6 June: The Landeswehr's North Latvian campaign begins, commanded by Major Alfred Fletcher and opposed by the Estonian 3rd Division commanded by General Ernst Põdder including the 2nd Latvian CÄ"sis regiment of North Latvian Brigade.
• 23 June: The Estonian force defeats the Landeswehr.
• 3 July: Estonia, Latvia and the pro-German Provisional Government of Latvia sign the Ceasefire of Strazdumuiža.
• 6 July: The North Latvian Brigade enters Riga.
• 5 October: The German mission secretly leaves Riga for Jelgava, where an attack is prepared by the German-established West Russian Volunteer Army on Riga.
• 8 October: The West Russian Volunteer Army attacks Riga, taking the Pārdaugava district.
• 3 November: The Latvian Army supported by the Estonian armoured trains and the Royal Navy launches its counterattack.
• 11 November: The Latvian Army supported by the Estonian armoured trains and the Royal Navy defeats the West Russian Volunteer Army in Riga.
• 22 November: The Lithuanian Army defeats the remnants of West Russian Volunteer Army in Lithuania near RadviliÅ¡kis.

1920

• 3 January: United forces of Latvia and Poland launch attack on Bolsheviks in Latgale and take Daugavpils.
• 13 January: Government of the Latvian SSR resigns.
• 1 February: Latvia signs ceasefire with Russia.
• 17â€"18 April: Election of Constitutional Assembly of Latvia.
• 1 May: First session of Constitutional Assembly.
• 15 July: Latvia signs ceasefire with Germany.
• 11 August: Latvian-Soviet Riga Peace Treaty is signed.

See also

• Aftermath of World War I
• Freikorps in the Baltic
• Estonian War of Independence
• Lithuanian Wars of Independence
• United Baltic Duchy
• Ober Ost
• British campaign in the Baltic (1918â€"1919)

References

1. ^ "Generalkommando VI Reservekorps". Axis History. 
2. ^ Latvijas AtbrÄ«voÅ¡anas kaÅ—a vÄ"sture (Latvian)
3. ^ ^{a b} "Iseseisvuse aeg 1941â€"44". Eesti. Ãœld. 11. Eesti entsüklopeedia. 2002. pp. 296â€"311. 
4. ^ ^{a b} Colonel Jaan Maide (1933). Ãœlevaade Eesti Vabadussõjast (1918â€"1920) (Overview on Estonian War of Independence) (in Estonian). 
5. ^ Mangulis, Visvaldis. Latvia in the Wars of the 20th Century. Princeton Junction: Cognition Books, 1983, xxi, 207p.
6. ^ "Latvia 1919" (PDF). pygmy-wars.50megs.com. 
7. ^ Latvijas Brīvības cīņas, page 15 (Latvian)
8. ^ Eesti Vabadussõda Estonica.org (Estonian)
9. ^ Hans von Rimscha, Hellmuth Weiss (1977). Von den baltischen Provinzen zu den baltischen Staaten 1918-1920. J. G. Herder-Institut. p. 61. 
10. ^ Kaevats, Ülo: Eesti Entsüklopeedia 5, page 396. Valgus, 1990, ISBN 5-89900-009-0
11. ^ (Latvian)Freibergs J. (1998, 2001) Jaunāko laiku vÄ"sture 20. gadsimts Zvaigzne ABC ISBN 9984-17-049-7
12. ^ LtCol Andrew Parrott. "The Baltic States from 1914 to 1923: The First World War and the Wars of Independence" (PDF). Baltic Defence Review. 2/2002. 

Bibliography

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