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Name: Latvian War of Independence

Type: Event

Start: 1918 AD

End: 1920 AD

Parent: Aftermath of World War I

All Statistics: All Statistics

Icon Latvian War of Independence

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Was a series of military conflicts in Latvia between 5 December 1918, after the newly proclaimed Republic of Latvia was invaded by Soviet Russia.

Chronology

Interactive Chronologies with maps are available in the section Changes Navigation

1. Soviet offensive (Latvian War of Independence)

Soviet offensive in Latvia, a territory of the Russian Empire that had been occupied by Germany and had then declared independency.

  • December 1918: Pļaviņas conquered by RSFSR.
  • December 1918: The town of Alūksne was captured by the Red Army on 7 December.
  • January 1919: By the end of January the Latvian Provisional Government and remaining German units had retreated all the way to Liepāja, but then the Red offensive stalled along the Venta river.
  • January 1919: Riga was captured by the Red Army.
  • December 1918: Cēsis conquered by RSFSR.
  • December 1918: In the south Daugavpils was taken by the Bolsheviks on 9 December.
  • December 1918: Valka conquered by RSFSR.

    • 2. Latvian and German counteroffensive

    German and Latvian counterattack against Bolshevik forces during the Latvian War of Independence.

  • March 1919: Jelgava conquered by Republic of Latvia.
  • June 1919: The Estonian Army, including the North Latvian Brigade loyal to the Ulmanis government, started a major offensive against the Soviets in north Latvia. By the middle of June the Soviet rule was reduced to the area surrounding Latgale.
  • March 1919: On 3 March, the German and Latvian forces commenced a counterattack against the Red Latvian Riflemen. Tukums was recaptured from the Bolsheviks on 15 March.
  • May 1919: Riga was recaptured by the German-Latvian Freikorps and an organised persecution of suspected Bolshevik supporters began.

    • 3. German Coup

    On 16 April, the Baltic nobility organised a coup d'etat in Liepāja and a puppet government headed by Andrievs Niedra was established in Latvia.

  • April 1919: The Baltic nobility organised a coup d'etat in Liepāja, Latvia, and a puppet government headed by Andrievs Niedra was established.

    • 4. Battles between Estonia and Latvia

    Were battles between Latvia and Estonia during the Independence wars of these two countries.

    4.1.Battle of Cēsis

    The Battle of Cēsis (alos Battle of Wenden) was a decisive battle in the Estonian War of Independence and the Latvian War of Independence were the Estonian and Latvian forces defeated the Baltic German forces.

    4.2.Return of latvian government

    Withdraw of remaining German troops from Latvia.

    5. Bermontian attack

    An offensive by the Bermontians, a pro-German military formation in Latvia and Lithuania.

  • October 1919: The German mission secretly leaves Riga for Jelgava, where an attack is prepared by the German-established West Russian Volunteer Army on Riga. The West Russian Volunteer Army attacks Riga, taking the Pārdaugava district.
  • November 1919: The Latvian Army, supported by Estonian armored trains, the Royal Navy and the French Navy, defeated the West Russian Volunteer Army in Riga.
  • November 1919: The Latvian Army liberates Jelgava from the West Russian Volunteer Army.

    • 6. Latvian-Soviet Peace Treaty

    The Latvian-Soviet Peace Treaty, also known as the Treaty of Riga, was signed on 11 August 1920 by representatives of the Republic of Latvia and Soviet Russia. It officially ended the Latvian War of Independence. In Article II of the treaty, Soviet Russia recognised the independence of Latvia as inviolable "for all future time".

  • August 1920: The Latvian-Soviet Peace Treaty, also known as the Treaty of Riga, was signed on 11 August 1920 by representatives of the Republic of Latvia and Soviet Russia. It officially ended the Latvian War of Independence. In Article II of the treaty, Soviet Russia recognised the independence of Latvia as inviolable "for all future time".

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