1200-1600 Invaders!
Germans first arrived in 1158, en masse in 1200. 1600 marked the beginning of wars between Sweden, Poland-Lithuania, and Russia sweeping over Latvian territory.
1200-1600 Invaders!
Germans first arrived in 1158, en masse in 1200. 1600 marked the beginning of wars between Sweden, Poland-Lithuania, and Russia sweeping over Latvian territory.
1200-1600 Invaders!
Germans first arrived in 1158, en masse in 1200. 1600 marked the beginning of wars between Sweden, Poland-Lithuania, and Russia sweeping over Latvian territory.
1600-1819 Serfdom
Sweden invades in 1600. Wars ebb and flow over Latvia culminating in the devastating Great Northern War a century later and eventual subjugation under the Russian empire by 1789. Latvians spend centuries as serfs in service to German baronial hegemony.
1600-1819 Serfdom
Sweden invades in 1600. Wars ebb and flow over Latvia culminating in the devastating Great Northern War a century later and eventual subjugation under the Russian empire by 1789. Latvians spend centuries as serfs in service to German baronial hegemony.
1600-1819 Serfdom
Sweden invades in 1600. Wars ebb and flow over Latvia culminating in the devastating Great Northern War a century later and eventual subjugation under the Russian empire by 1789. Latvians spend centuries as serfs in service to German baronial hegemony.
1819-1917 National Awakening
Serfdom is abolished 1818-1820 in Kurzeme and Vidzeme, but lasts until 1863 (with the rest of Russia) in Latgale. Latvians become indentured servants, still unable to own land. They begin to dream of a Latvian homeland.
1819-1917 National Awakening
Serfdom is abolished 1818-1820 in Kurzeme and Vidzeme, but lasts until 1863 (with the rest of Russia) in Latgale. Latvians become indentured servants, still unable to own land. They begin to dream of a Latvian homeland.
1819-1917 National Awakening
Serfdom is abolished 1818-1820 in Kurzeme and Vidzeme, but lasts until 1863 (with the rest of Russia) in Latgale. Latvians become indentured servants, still unable to own land. They begin to dream of a Latvian homeland.
1905
Russian troops fired on a demonstration led by Father Gapon in front of the Winter Palace in St. Petersburg on January 9, 1905, killing 200. Government troops fired on demonstrators in Riga four days later, killing another 70. Latvians supported and voted for Bolsheviks, hoping for autonomy under Russia. Only when that hope began to evaporate did support solidify for independence. [Peters' photo]
1905
Russian troops fired on a demonstration led by Father Gapon in front of the Winter Palace in St. Petersburg on January 9, 1905, killing 200. Government troops fired on demonstrators in Riga four days later, killing another 70. Latvians supported and voted for Bolsheviks, hoping for autonomy under Russia. Only when that hope began to evaporate did support solidify for independence. [Peters' photo]
1905
Russian troops fired on a demonstration led by Father Gapon in front of the Winter Palace in St. Petersburg on January 9, 1905, killing 200. Government troops fired on demonstrators in Riga four days later, killing another 70. Latvians supported and voted for Bolsheviks, hoping for autonomy under Russia. Only when that hope began to evaporate did support solidify for independence. [Peters' photo]
1917-1920 The Great War
At one point, the newly declared provisional government of Latvia was ensconsed on a ship in Liepāja harbor. Germans — defeated in the west but supported against Russia in the east, held a small corner of Latvia, Russians the rest. Latvians allied with Germans drove out the Russians and then rid themselves of the Germans to finally achieve independence.
1917-1920 The Great War
At one point, the newly declared provisional government of Latvia was ensconsed on a ship in Liepāja harbor. Germans — defeated in the west but supported against Russia in the east, held a small corner of Latvia, Russians the rest. Latvians allied with Germans drove out the Russians and then rid themselves of the Germans to finally achieve independence.
1917-1920 The Great War
At one point, the newly declared provisional government of Latvia was ensconsed on a ship in Liepāja harbor. Germans — defeated in the west but supported against Russia in the east, held a small corner of Latvia, Russians the rest. Latvians allied with Germans drove out the Russians and then rid themselves of the Germans to finally achieve independence.
1920-1939 Freedom!
Latvia was left utterly devastated, but free. Its industry evacuated to Russia, saboutaged, or destroyed, the government broke up the massive baronial manorlands in the Land Reform of 1920, founding an agrarian nation of farmer-homesteaders. Latvia rebuilt with industrious zeal.
1920-1939 Freedom!
Latvia was left utterly devastated, but free. Its industry evacuated to Russia, saboutaged, or destroyed, the government broke up the massive baronial manorlands in the Land Reform of 1920, founding an agrarian nation of farmer-homesteaders. Latvia rebuilt with industrious zeal.
1920-1939 Freedom!
Latvia was left utterly devastated, but free. Its industry evacuated to Russia, saboutaged, or destroyed, the government broke up the massive baronial manorlands in the Land Reform of 1920, founding an agrarian nation of farmer-homesteaders. Latvia rebuilt with industrious zeal.
1940-1985 Terror!
Latvia once again became a stomping ground for foreign powers: the USSR, the Nazis and the Holocaust, and the USSR once again. Already promised by FDR to Stalin in 1943, Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia were the only countries to disappear off the map after WWII, albeit never legally incorporated into the Soviet Union.
1940-1985 Terror!
Latvia once again became a stomping ground for foreign powers: the USSR, the Nazis and the Holocaust, and the USSR once again. Already promised by FDR to Stalin in 1943, Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia were the only countries to disappear off the map after WWII, albeit never legally incorporated into the Soviet Union.
1940-1985 Terror!
Latvia once again became a stomping ground for foreign powers: the USSR, the Nazis and the Holocaust, and the USSR once again. Already promised by FDR to Stalin in 1943, Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia were the only countries to disappear off the map after WWII, albeit never legally incorporated into the Soviet Union.
Soviets return
Some 170,000 Latvians fled the reinvading Red Army. For those who remained behind, the Soviet return marked a return of brutality, of more mass deportations, and Russification. Latvians become second-class citizens forced to sing the glories of Stalin.
Soviets return
Some 170,000 Latvians fled the reinvading Red Army. For those who remained behind, the Soviet return marked a return of brutality, of more mass deportations, and Russification. Latvians become second-class citizens forced to sing the glories of Stalin.
Soviets return
Some 170,000 Latvians fled the reinvading Red Army. For those who remained behind, the Soviet return marked a return of brutality, of more mass deportations, and Russification. Latvians become second-class citizens forced to sing the glories of Stalin.
The DP Camps
Tens of thousands of Latvian refugees spent the next five years after the war in Displaced Persons camps in war-torn Allied-occupied Germany. Latvians established their own schools, workshops, hospitals, working with scraps, obsessed with preserving their culture and way of life, whatever the circumstances.
The DP Camps
Tens of thousands of Latvian refugees spent the next five years after the war in Displaced Persons camps in war-torn Allied-occupied Germany. Latvians established their own schools, workshops, hospitals, working with scraps, obsessed with preserving their culture and way of life, whatever the circumstances.
The DP Camps
Tens of thousands of Latvian refugees spent the next five years after the war in Displaced Persons camps in war-torn Allied-occupied Germany. Latvians established their own schools, workshops, hospitals, working with scraps, obsessed with preserving their culture and way of life, whatever the circumstances.
Preservation
Latvians fleeing into exile took only what they could carry. Taking only those few things that were most precious to them, the most evocative of home. Peters still has his parents' wooden suitcases, one of which still holds his paternal grandmother's-woven cloth. Peters's (second) cousin's mother's loom built from scraps in the DP camps made it to a new home in Australia.
Preservation
Latvians fleeing into exile took only what they could carry. Taking only those few things that were most precious to them, the most evocative of home. Peters still has his parents' wooden suitcases, one of which still holds his paternal grandmother's-woven cloth. Peters's (second) cousin's mother's loom built from scraps in the DP camps made it to a new home in Australia.
Preservation
Latvians fleeing into exile took only what they could carry. Taking only those few things that were most precious to them, the most evocative of home. Peters still has his parents' wooden suitcases, one of which still holds his paternal grandmother's-woven cloth. Peters's (second) cousin's mother's loom built from scraps in the DP camps made it to a new home in Australia.
Into the unknown
How best to prepare for a new life in a new country? Language lessons. Pocket dictionaries. And for those heading to America, Jānis Širmanis's Kriksis un Tomiņš Amērikā, Kriksis (a classic dog's name) and "little" Tom in America, a collection of stories with which to acquaint young readers with the unique aspects and customs of their new home.
Into the unknown
How best to prepare for a new life in a new country? Language lessons. Pocket dictionaries. And for those heading to America, Jānis Širmanis's Kriksis un Tomiņš Amērikā, Kriksis (a classic dog's name) and "little" Tom in America, a collection of stories with which to acquaint young readers with the unique aspects and customs of their new home.
Into the unknown
How best to prepare for a new life in a new country? Language lessons. Pocket dictionaries. And for those heading to America, Jānis Širmanis's Kriksis un Tomiņš Amērikā, Kriksis (a classic dog's name) and "little" Tom in America, a collection of stories with which to acquaint young readers with the unique aspects and customs of their new home.
1985-1991 Dievs Svētī Latviju!
God Bless Latvia! Gorbachov's rise in 1985 and his introduction of glasnost and perestroika opened the door. The Soviet Union swallowed the Baltics twice in WWII but neither social reforms nor the passage of time could stave off the geopolitical indigestion which hastened, perhaps even triggered, its demise. Latvia fully restored its independence in 1991.
1985-1991 Dievs Svētī Latviju!
God Bless Latvia! Gorbachov's rise in 1985 and his introduction of glasnost and perestroika opened the door. The Soviet Union swallowed the Baltics twice in WWII but neither social reforms nor the passage of time could stave off the geopolitical indigestion which hastened, perhaps even triggered, its demise. Latvia fully restored its independence in 1991.
1985-1991 Dievs Svētī Latviju!
God Bless Latvia! Gorbachov's rise in 1985 and his introduction of glasnost and perestroika opened the door. The Soviet Union swallowed the Baltics twice in WWII but neither social reforms nor the passage of time could stave off the geopolitical indigestion which hastened, perhaps even triggered, its demise. Latvia fully restored its independence in 1991.
Who are the Latvians?
Latvian and Lithuanian are the oldest living Indo-European languages — some 3,000 to 3,500 years old. Their sister peoples are heirs and custodians to a unique and rich cultural heritage.
Who are the Latvians?
Latvian and Lithuanian are the oldest living Indo-European languages — some 3,000 to 3,500 years old. Their sister peoples are heirs and custodians to a unique and rich cultural heritage.
Who are the Latvians?
Latvian and Lithuanian are the oldest living Indo-European languages — some 3,000 to 3,500 years old. Their sister peoples are heirs and custodians to a unique and rich cultural heritage.