Latvian War of Independence 4212744 224182556 2008-07-07T18:22:41Z Philaweb 3185337 {{Latvia-hist-stub}} {{Infobox Military Conflict |conflict=Latvian War of Independence |date=[[5 December]], [[1918]] - [[11 August]], [[1920]] |place=[[Latvia]] |casus= Proclamation of Republic of Latvia ([[18 November]], [[1918]]) |territory= |result=Signing of the [[Latvian-Soviet Riga Peace Treaty]] |combatant1={{flag|Latvia}}<br/>{{flag|Estonia}}<br/>{{flagicon|Poland}} [[Second Polish Republic|Poland]] <br/>{{flagicon|United Kingdom}} [[United Kingdom|British Empire]]<br/>{{flagicon|France}} [[French Third Republic|France]] |combatant2={{flag|Russian SFSR|1918}}<br/>{{flag|Latvian Socialist Soviet Republic|name=Latvian SSR}}<br/> |combatant3={{flagicon|Russian Empire}} [[Bermontians|White Movement]]<br/>{{flagicon|United Baltic Duchy}} [[Baltische Landeswehr]] |commander1={{flagicon|Latvia}} [[Oskars Kalpaks]]<br/>{{flagicon|Latvia}} [[Jānis Balodis]]<br/>{{flagicon|Latvia}} [[Jorģis Zemitāns]]<br/>{{flagicon|Estonia}} [[Johan Laidoner]]<br/>{{flagicon|Poland}} [[Edward Rydz-Śmigły]]<br/>{{flagicon|UK}} [[Harold Alexander, 1st Earl Alexander of Tunis|Harold Alexander]] |commander2={{flagicon|Latvian Socialist Soviet Republic}} [[Jukums Vācietis]] |commander3={{flagicon|Russian Empire}} [[Pavel Bermont-Avalov]]<br/>{{flagicon|United Baltic Duchy}} [[Rüdiger von der Goltz]] |strength1=[[Latvia]]:<br/>39 000 [[Infantry]]<br/>33 [[Cannon]]s<br/>173 [[Machine gun]]s<br/>2 [[airplanes]]<br/>1 [[Armoured train]]<br/>3 [[Armoured fighting vehicle|Armoured vehicles]] |strength2= |strength3=[[West Russian Volunteer Army|Bermont]]:<br/>51 000 [[Infantry]]<br/>100 [[Cannon]]s<br/>600 [[Machine gun]]s<br/>120 [[airplanes]]<br/>3 [[Armoured train]]s<br/>10 [[Armoured fighting vehicle|Armoured vehicles]] |casualties1=3400 dead<br/>3800 wounded |casualties2= |casualties3= }} The '''Latvian War of Independence''', sometimes called the '''Latvian War of Liberation''' ([[Latvian language|Latvian]]: ''Latvijas brīvības cīņas'', literally "Latvia's struggles for freedom," or ''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 [[Latvian-Soviet Riga Peace Treaty|Treaty of Riga]] between the [[Latvia|Republic of Latvia]] and the [[Russian SFSR]] on [[August 11]] [[1920]].<ref>{{Lv icon}}Freibergs J. (1998, 2001) ''Jaunako laiku vesture 20. gadsimts'' Zvaigzne ABC ISBN 9984-17-049-7</ref> The war involved Latvia (its provisional government was supported by [[Estonia]], [[Second Polish Republic|Poland]], and the Western Allies, particularly the [[United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland|United Kingdom]]) against the Russian SFSR and the [[Bolsheviks]]' short-lived [[Latvian Socialist Soviet Republic]]. [[Weimar Republic|Germany]] and the [[United Baltic Duchy]] added a new level of intrigue, initially being nominally allied to the Nationalist/Allied force, but attempting to jockey for German domination of Latvia. Eventually, the tensions flared up after a German coup against the Latvian government and led to open war. Following a ceasefire, the Germans developed a ploy, nominally dissolving into the [[Bermontians|West Russian Volunteer Army]] led by general [[Pavel Bermont-Avalov]]. The West Russian Volunteer Army included Germans and former Russian prisoners of war nominally allied with the [[White movement|White Army]] in the [[Russian Civil War]], but both Bermont and Von Der Goltz were more interested in eliminating the nationalists than fighting the Bolsheviks. Certain episodes of the Latvian Independence War are therefore also considered by Polish historians to be a part of the [[Polish-Soviet War]] (particularly the [[Battle of Daugavpils]]).{{Fact|date=February 2007}} ==Timeline== === 1918 === * [[11 November]]: The [[German Empire]] and [[Allies of World War I]] sign the [[Armistice with Germany (Compiègne)|armistice]], which marks the end of [[World War I]]; [[Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic|Soviet Russia]] launches attack on German forces. The British Empire recognises ''de facto'' independence of Latvia. * [[17 November]]: First legislative institution of Latvia, the [[People’s Council of Latvia]] and the provisional government is established. [[Jānis Čakste]] becomes the chairman of the People’s Council, while [[Kārlis Ulmanis]] becomes prime minister. * [[18 November]]: Republic of Latvia is proclaimed in [[Riga]]. * [[1 December]]: The [[Red Army]] enters Latvia. * [[4 December]]: The government of [[Latvian Socialist Soviet Republic]], headed by [[Pēteris Stučka]], is formed in Russia. <gallery Caption="" widths="150px"> Image:Latvian Independence War 1918.svg|'''November 1918''': After World War I most of Latvia was occupied by German forces (orange) </gallery> === 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. * [[3 March]]: United German and Latvian forces commence counterattack against the forces of Soviet Latvia. * [[6 March]]: The commander in chief of the Latvian Army [[Oskars Kalpaks]] 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 a brigade. * [[16 April]]: Germans organises a [[coup d'etat]] in Liepāja, the provisional government of Latvia takes refuge aboard steamship "Saratow". * [[22 May]]: German forces capture Riga. * [[23 May]]: Latvian Independent Brigade marches into Riga. * [[3 June]]: German forces reach [[Cēsis]]. * [[6 June]]: [[Battle of Wenden|Battle of Cēsis]], between German forces and joint forces of [[Estonia]] and the Latvian Northern Army begins, fighting continues until 3 July. * [[22 June]]: Estonian Army and Northern Latvian Army defeat German forces at Cēsis. * [[3 July]]: Ceasefire of Strazdumuiža is signed. * [[6 July]]: Northern Latvian Army led by [[Jorģis Zemitāns]] enters Riga. * [[5 October]]: German mission secretly leaves Riga for Jelgava, where Bermontian attack on Riga is prepared. * [[8 October]]: Bermontians attacks Riga, taking [[Pārdaugava]]. * [[3 November]]: Latvian Army launches counter attack against Bermontians. * [[11 November]]: Latvian Army defeats Bermontians at Riga. * [[22 November]]: Lithuanian Army defeats remnants of Bermontians in [[Lithuania]] near [[Radviliškis]]. <gallery caption="" widths="150px" perrow="4"> Image:Latvian Independence War 1919.03.06.svg|'''6 March 1919''': After Soviet attack most of Latvia is under control of the Bolsheviks (pink) Image:Latvian Independence War 1919.04.16.svg|'''16 April 1919''': In March the united German and Latvian forces (orange and yellow) launches counter attack, taking most of [[Courland]] Image:Latvian Independence War 1919.06.22.svg|'''22 June 1919''': United Estonian and Latvian forces (purple) confronted German forces at Cēsis in the beginning of June and gained victory on 22 June Image:Latvian Independence War 1919.11.11.svg|'''11 November 1919''': Latvian army has taken most of [[Vidzeme]] and is attacking the Bermontians, who are forced to retreat </gallery> === 1920 === * [[3 January]]: United forces of Latvia and Poland launch attack on Bolsheviks in [[Latgale]] and [[Battle of Daugavpils|take Daugaupils]]. * [[13 January]]: Government of the Latvian SSR resigns. * [[1 February]]: Latvia signs ceasefire with Russia. * 17 - 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. ==Bibliography== * {{cite book | author = [[Pavel Bermondt-Avalov|General Fürst Awaloff]] | title = Im Kampf gegen den Bolschewismus. Erinnerungen von General Fürst Awaloff, Oberbefehlshaber der Deutsch-Russischen Westarmee im Baltikum. | publisher = Verlag von J.J. Augustin, Glückstadt und Hamburg | year = 1925}} * {{cite book | author = [[Rüdiger von der Goltz|General Graf Rüdiger von der Goltz]] | title = Meine Sendung in Finland und im Baltikum. | publisher = Verlag von K.F. Koehler, Leipzig | year = 1920}} *BischoffJosef, Die letzte Front. Geschichte der Eiserne Division im Baltikum 1919, Berlin 1935. * Darstellungen aus den Nachkriegskämpfen deutscher Truppen und Freikorps, Bd 2: Der Feldzug im Baltikum bis zur zweiten Einnahme von Riga. Januar bis Mai 1919, Berlin 1937; Bd 3: Die Kämpfe im Baltikum nach der zweiten Einnahme von Riga. Juni bis Dezember 1919, Berlin 1938. * Die baltische Landeswehr im Befreiungskampf gegen den Bolschevismus. Ein Gedenkbuch, herausgegeben vom baltischen Landeswehrein, Riga 1929. *Kiewisz Leon, Sprawy łotewskie w bałtyckiej polityce Niemiec 1914-1919, Poznań 1970. * [[Piotr Łossowski|Łossowski Piotr]], Między wojną a pokojem. Niemieckie zamysły wojenne na wschodzie w obliczu traktatu wersalskiego. Marzec-kwiecień 1919, Warszawa 1976. * Paluszyński Tomasz, Walka o niepodległość Łotwy 1914-1920, Warszawa 1999. * Von den baltische Provinzen zu den baltischen Staaten. Beiträge zur Entstehungsgeschichte der Republiken Estland und Lettland, Bd I (1917-1918), Bd II (1919-1920), Marburg 1971, 1977. ==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 1918-19]] ==References== <references/> {{latvia-hist-stub}} [[Category:Russian Revolution]] [[Category:History of Estonia]] [[Category:History of Latvia]] [[Category:Wars of independence]] [[Category:1918 in Latvia]] [[Category:1919 in Latvia]] [[Category:1920 in Latvia]] [[eo:Latva milito de sendependeco]] [[lv:Latvijas brīvības cīņas]] [[lt:Latvijos nepriklausomybės karas]] [[pl:Łotewska wojna o niepodległość]] [[pt:Guerra de Independência da Letônia]]