In 1991, the USSR ceased to exist. However, earlier the B altic republics, including the Latvian SSR, separated from it. Despite various interpretations of the history of its formation and existence within the Soviet Union, one cannot fail to recognize the achievements of that period. And they were, and considerable!
Backstory
The residents of the Soviet Union learned about the admission of another republic to the USSR on August 5, 1940. However, the prehistory of this event began back in 1939 with the signing of a pact between the USSR and Germany, to which secret protocols were attached, where the spheres of their interests in Eastern Europe were clearly delineated. In particular, Latvia, Estonia, Finland were to be controlled by the Soviet Union, and Lithuania - by Germany. As for Poland, its eastern regions were recognized as the sphere of interests of the USSR, and the western ones - of the Third Reich.
After the outbreak of World War II, the B altic countries declared their neutrality. However, afteroccupation of Poland, they were forced to agree to the introduction of Soviet troops. As a result, since the end of October, units of the 16th Rifle Corps, as well as the 31st High-Speed Bomber and 10th Fighter Aviation Regiments and other units with a total strength of 25,000 people have been stationed in Lithuania.
Entry of Soviet troops
In mid-June 1940, the Soviet government issued ultimatums to Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia, in which their state leaders were accused of violating the terms of mutual assistance agreements previously concluded with the USSR. In addition, these countries were required to let additional contingents of Soviet troops into their territory and form new ones. The conditions were accepted. A day later, units of the Red Army entered Latvia. A new government was also formed, headed by A. Kirchenstein. It organized elections to the People's Seimas. They were won by the only allowed political force called the Bloc of the Working People.
Establishment of the Latvian SSR
At the first meeting of the People's Seimas, Soviet power and the formation of the Latvian SSR were proclaimed. In addition, the deputies sent an official request to Moscow to accept the republic into the USSR. She was satisfied, and on August 5 Latvia became part of the Soviet Union. Work began immediately to amend the Constitution and form new local authorities.
History of the Latvian SSR (pre-war period)
The first steps of the new government caused different responses from the residents of the republic. For example, immediately after the deputies proclaimedthe formation of the Latvian SSR (year - 1940), the write-off of the debts of peasant farms began, which the majority of rural residents accepted with enthusiasm. At the same time, nationalization was being carried out, including large residential buildings, which gave rise to discontent among the middle class urban residents.
In addition, the joint use of rubles and lats led to a shortage of goods and an increase in prices, because of which it was decided to withdraw the national currency from circulation. At the same time, those who had deposits in banks suffered heavy losses, since amounts in excess of 1,000 rubles were confiscated. A storm of indignation was also caused by the formation of state farms, where members of small peasant farms were forcibly recorded. As a result, by the beginning of the German invasion of the USSR, there was a rather tense political situation in the republic, several underground anti-Soviet organizations were operating. The time has come for punitive measures - the shooting and sending to camps of the Latvian military, as well as the deportation of more than 14,000 civilians suspected of supporting the resistance forces.
Occupation
The Latvian SSR was one of the first to become a target for an attack by the Wehrmacht army. However, if in Belarus and Ukraine the population supported the Red Army, in Latvia the situation developed according to a completely different scenario. So, immediately after the intensive bombardment of Ventspils and Liepaja, an uprising against the Soviet regime began in the country. Members of underground organizations formed self-defense units from those who were dissatisfied with the policy of the new authorities and began to attack unitsRed Army. According to post-war estimates, they killed 6,000 communists, Soviet officials and Jews in June alone.
To save those civilians who were threatened with reprisal by the nationalists, the government of the USSR evacuated them deep into the country. In total, more than 53,000 people who had previously lived in the Latvian SSR were deported.
As part of the Reichskommissariat Ostland
On July 1, Wehrmacht troops entered Riga, where they were greeted with enthusiasm and handed over 1,500 captured Soviet soldiers. At the same time, members of the "self-defense squads" burned down the Riga Choral Synagogue, together with 600 Jews driven there, and shot more than a thousand representatives of this people in Daugavpils. By July 4, the Latvian SSR was completely under the control of the German army, and its government was evacuated to Moscow.
On September 1, 1941, the republic became part of the Reichskommissariat Ostland. It was prescribed to be called the general district. However, after a year and a half, the Germans were no longer perceived as liberators, since life did not become easier. Nevertheless, there were people who agreed to join the Latvian SS legion. According to contemporaries, most of his soldiers were patriots who wanted to see their country independent. They chose Germany because they saw it as the lesser evil and hated Russia.
After the war
Thanks to the heroism of the Soviet people, the Nazis failed to bring the USSR to its knees. On October 13, 1944, Soviet troops entered Riga. Immediately afterwards, the LatvianThe SSR began to rebuild its central government, industry and agriculture.
At the same time, the flywheel of the Soviet repressive machine was turned on at full power, which led to the deportation of 40,000 people. In order to provide food to the regions of the USSR, which suffered more than Latvia during the war, they carried out forced collectivization.
Industrial Development
Since the republic suffered less during the war years than other occupied regions of the USSR, its restoration proceeded at a faster pace. Within a few years, the population felt positive changes in a number of areas. In particular, since the beginning of the 50s, the industry of the Latvian SSR began to develop. Such giants as RVZ, RAF, VEF, Kommutator, Alfa, REZ, the Popov radio plant, as well as the Riga and Plavinskaya hydroelectric power stations and several thermal power plants were put into operation. Housing construction was actively carried out.
Among the achievements of Latvia during the Soviet period, one can note the creation of a developed network of roads, the modernization of agriculture, as well as positive changes in the field of secondary and higher education, sports, culture and he althcare.
New cities
The development of industry has become one of the main achievements that the Latvian SSR was proud of. The cities of the republic grew due to the influx of labor necessary for the functioning of large enterprises. In addition, some villages changed their status. So, the cities of Olaine and Vilyaka and a number of other small settlements became.
Tourism
Although there were resort villages on the coast of the Gulf of Riga even before the war, only in the 50s an extensive network of sanatoriums and rest houses was formed in the republic. In particular, the city of Jurmala, which was founded in 1959, has become one of the most prestigious resorts in the USSR. The mild climate, clear sea, gorgeous beaches, beautiful nature and salubrious air made the Latvian part of the B altic Sea coast a desirable place for spending summer vacations, especially since many residents of the Soviet Union considered the B altics to be, to some extent, “foreign countries.”
Tourists from all over the vast country were also attracted by the sights of the Latvian SSR. For example, many guests from other republics were delighted with the ancient monuments of history and architecture of Riga, such as the Dome Cathedral, St. Peter's Church, the House of the Blackheads, etc. They could see many interesting sights outside the Latvian capital. Excursions involving visits to the Mezotne and Rundale palaces, Turaida Castle, the Old Town Hall and the Church of the Holy Spirit in Bauska were especially popular.
Besides, the sights of Latvia created during the Soviet period were of interest. Among them are the Riga TV Tower, the Salaspils Memorial Complex of the Victims of Fascism and more.
Demographics
The natural and mechanical movement of the population of the Latvian SSR in different periods of its history was very different. Among the main reasons arenote:
- exile to remote regions of the USSR of persons recognized as disloyal to the Soviet regime;
- loss among the civilian population of men drafted into the Red Army and joined the ranks of the Wehrmacht units during the war years;
- traditionally low birth rate, which has fallen further due to urbanization;
- solving the problem of shortage of workers through the resettlement of citizens from other republics to the Latvian SSR;
- high standard of living, attracting migrants, etc.
As a result, the number of representatives of non-indigenous nationality living in the territory of the Latvian SSR has sharply increased. After the declaration of independence, it was found that about a third of the country's inhabitants are people who migrated from other union republics in 1940-1989 and their children. In the wake of the rise of ultrapatriotism, this category of the population began to be called non-citizens and was discriminated against. Later, their rights were somewhat expanded, but to this day they do not participate in elections, they cannot hold a number of positions and work in some areas. This seems to be absolute nonsense, especially since the country is a member of the EU, where absolute tolerance is proclaimed even in relation to illegal migrants.
Now you know how and why the formation of the Latvian SSR happened (date - July 21, 1940). Like many other historical events, it had both positive and negative aspects. It remains to be hoped that Latvia will be able to overcome all the problems it faces (lack ofinvestments, the outflow of the working-age population, a large income gap between the poor and the rich, etc.) and will not continue to blame the “Soviet past” for them, trying to forget all the good things that happened in 1940-1990.
