Latvian Army
I Wars of Independence, Independence of the Baltic States, II WW2

800px-Coat_of_Arms_of_Latvian_National_Armed_.png
Coat of Arms of Latvian National Armed Forces.

On January 5, 1919, the first largest national military unit was established - the Separate Latvian Battalion under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Oskars Kalpaks. This unit, which was transformed into a brigade in March, together with the Northern Latvian Brigade, organized in Estonia and commanded by Colonel Jorgis Zemitans, formed the Latvian Army. The newly formed army grew and hardened in the battles against the Bermontians near Riga and Kurzeme, as well as in the battles against the Bolsheviks on the Latgale front.

One week after the end of World War I and the conclusion of the Compiegne armistice on November 11, 1918, the establishment of an independent Latvian state was proclaimed. The new caretaker government had hoped to do without a regular army, as no one was going to attack. On November 13, 1918, Soviet Russia revoked the Brestlitov Treaty of Peace, which had renounced Baltic territory in favor of Germany, and began moving west. Expectations that the German army would fulfill its commitment to defend Latvia against the Bolshevik invasion did not materialize.

Meanwhile, troops loyal to the Provisional Government of the Republic of Latvia were formed in Riga. In the spring of 1919, the Latvian Armed Forces consisted of the Landeswehr (German-Baltic National Guard), the Northern Latvian Brigade and the Southern Latvian Brigade. On July 10, 1919, General Dāvis Sīmansons united the two brigades, becoming the first Commander-in-Chief of the Latvian Army. This day is considered to be the day when the Latvian army was established.

In 1919, the Latvian army was rapidly armed and developed, and armaments and equipment were received from England, Poland and other countries. At the beginning of 1920, about 52,000 soldiers served in the Latvian Armed Forces. The War of Independence ended on August 11, 1920, when a peace treaty was signed with Soviet Russia. Immediately after the War of Independence, the Latvian army began to move to a peacetime state. The Latvian army consisted of four infantry divisions with three infantry regiments and an artillery regiment each. The infantry regiments were numbered and named after Latvian cities. The Latvian army also had a navy consisting of the flagship Virsaitis, a submarine division with two submarines "Ronis" and "Spidola", as well as a mine division with two minesweepers "Imanta" and "Viesturs" and several support ships.

The composition of the army was formed on the basis of the general military service to which all Latvian citizens were subjected. Until 1931, the service period was 18 months, later it was shortened to 12 months for infantry, 15 - for other weapons classes. The army and navy were administered by the Ministry of War. The army commander was in charge of the army, who was responsible for training and preparing the army.

On June 1, 1940, there were 30,843 men in the Latvian army. On June 17, 1940, during World War II, Soviet troops took control of all of Latvia and Estonia. The Latvian army was gradually disbanded, retiring in reserve, arresting and deporting Latvian soldiers. On September 27, 1940, the position of the Minister of War of Latvia was abolished, but on October 9, 1940, the position of Commander of the Latvian People's Army was abolished.

On June 17, 1989, the founding conference of the Latvian Riflemen's Association was held in the Great Hall of the State University of Latvia in Riga. After which, in a few weeks, more than 500 former soldiers joined the Latvian Riflemen's Association. In the autumn, branches and groups were established in Jelgava, Tukums, Liepaja, Bauska, Balvi, Livani, Moscow and elsewhere. Active work is beginning on the creation and development of laws, regulations and various documents that will be necessary for the establishment and existence of the army.

On September 10, 1991, a law on compulsory military service was passed. Due to this law, all male citizens of Latvia, aged 19-50, must perform compulsory military service. Shortly after the adoption of this law, on November 11, the Brothers' Cemetery is given the first oath of soldiers since the restoration of Latvia's independence.

More information sources

1. 100 events in the history of Latvia. People and processes 1918-2018. JSC “Latvijas Mediji”, 2018.

2. The blizzard of souls. Digital Museum. Available: https://www.dveseluputenis.lv/lv/laika-skala/notikums/105/sarkanas-armijas-iebrukums-latvija/ [accessed: 08.05.2021.].

3. National Armed Forces website. Available: https://www.mil.lv/lv/par-mums/vesture [accessed 08.05.202

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