The HORRIBLE Soviet Occupation of Latvia (1940–41)
March 14, 2026
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10:12Now PlayingThe HORRIBLE Soviet Occupation of Latvia (1940–41)
YouTube Description
as posted by the channelIn 1940, Latvia’s independence came to an abrupt end. The turning point was the Molotov–Ribbentrop Pact of August 1939, in which Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union secretly divided Eastern Europe into spheres of influence. Latvia was assigned to the Soviet sphere. That autumn, Moscow forced Latvia to sign a “mutual assistance treaty”, allowing tens of thousands of Red Army troops and Soviet bases onto Latvian soil. Although Latvia formally remained independent, real power had already shifted.
In June 1940, while Germany crushed Western Europe, the Soviets issued an ultimatum accusing Latvia of anti-Soviet actions. Surrounded by overwhelming Soviet forces and abandoned by potential allies, the Latvian government had no realistic option but to comply. The Red Army occupied the country, and a pro-Soviet government was installed. Shortly afterward, rigged elections were held under NKVD supervision, with only communist-approved candidates allowed. The new parliament then “requested” Latvia’s incorporation into the Soviet Union. In August 1940, Latvia was formally annexed as a Soviet republic.
Soviet rule between 1940 and 1941 was swift and brutal. Political parties were banned, the economy was nationalized, and censorship imposed. The NKVD carried out mass arrests targeting politicians, officers, intellectuals, and business owners. The terror peaked in June 1941, when thousands of Latvians were deported to Siberia and Central Asia. Families were torn apart, many never returned. For Latvia, Soviet occupation meant the destruction of independence and the beginning of mass repression.
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SOURCES
– Latvia in World War II (Valdis Lumans).
– History of Latvia, the 20th Century (Daina Bleiere, Ilgvars Butulis, Inesis Feldmanis, Aivars Stranga, Antonijs Zunda).
– The Story of Latvia, a Historical Survey (Arveds Schwabe).
IMAGES
Images from commons.wikimedia.org.
VIDEO
Video material from:
My Latvia. (part 1 of 2)
My Latvia. (part 2 of 2)
DW Nr.565 4K 48FPS - German Newsreel - Német Híradó - 1941
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"Devastation and Revenge"
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Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
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