Latvian War of Independence

Latvian War of Independence
Part of Russian Civil War
Date 5 December 1918 - 11 August 1920 Location Latvia Result Latvian victory Territorial changes Independence of Latvia
Belligerents
Latvia Estonia Poland United Kingdom	Baltische Landeswehr VI Reserve Corps Freikorps West Russian Volunteer Army Latvia	Russian SFSR Latvian SSR
Commanders and leaders
Janis Balodis Ernst Põdder Edward Rydz-Śmigły	Rüdiger von der Goltz Alfred Fletcher Pavel Bermondt-Avalov	Dimitri Nadjoznyj Jukums Vācietis Pēteris Slavens
Strength
Latvia (in January 1920): 69 232 personnel 271 machine guns and 321 light machine guns 54 artillery 33 mortars Estonia (in June 1919) 16,000 personnel 204 machine guns 39 artillery 3 armoured vehicles 5 armoured trains	In June 1919: 20,000 personnel, 100 artillery, 3 armoured trains, 10 armoured vehicles, 18 airplanes, 469 machine guns	5,600-6,300 personnel, 55 machine-guns, 42 artillery, 3 armoured trains
Casualties and losses
Latvia: 3046 dead 4085 wounded Estonia (19–23 July): 115 dead, 500 wounded	400 killed 1,500 wounded (5 June - 2 July 1919)

The Latvian War of Independence, sometimes called the Latvian War of Liberation (Latvian: Latvijas brīvības cīņas, literally, the "Struggles for Latvia's 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 Treaty of Riga between the Republic of Latvia and the Russian SFSR on August 11, 1920.

The war involved Latvia (its provisional government was supported by Estonia, Poland, and the Western Allies, particularly the United Kingdom) against the Russian SFSR and the Bolsheviks' short-lived Latvian Socialist Soviet 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 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 Army in the Russian Civil War, but both Bermondt-Avalov 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).

Timeline

1918

• 11 November: The German Empire and Allies of World War I sign the armistice, which marks the end of World War I; 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.
• 28 November: The Regency Council of the United Baltic Duchy dissolved.
• 1 December: The Red Army invades Latvia.
• 17 December: The government of Latvian Socialist Soviet Republic, headed by Pēteris Stučka, is formed in Russia.

• 
  November 1918: After World War I most of Latvia was occupied by German forces (orange)

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: Oskars Kalpaks, commander of all Latvian forces subordinated to German Headquarters 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 the Latvian Independent Brigade.
• 16 April: The puppet Latvian Government established by the Baltic nobility organises a coup d'etat in Liepāja, the provisional national government of Latvia takes refuge aboard steamship "Saratow".
• 22 May: The Baltische Landeswehr captures Riga.
• 23 May: The Latvian Independent Brigade marches into Riga.
• 3 June: The Baltische Landeswehr reaches Cēsis.
• 6 June: The Battle of Cesis begins between the forces of the German VI Reserve Corps commanded by Major Alfred Fletcher on one side and the Estonian 3rd Division commanded by General Ernst Põdder on the other.
• 23 June: The Estonian force defeats the German army.
• 3 July: Estonia, Latvia and the pro-German Provisional Government of Latvia sign the Ceasefire of Strazdumuiža.
• 6 July: The North Latvian Brigade enters Riga.
• 5 October: The German mission secretly leaves Riga for Jelgava, where an attack is prepared by the German-established West Russian Volunteer Army on Riga.
• 8 October: The West Russian Volunteer Army attacks Riga, taking the Pārdaugava district.
• 3 November: The Latvian Army supported by the Estonian Army and the Royal Navy launches its counter attack.
• 11 November: The Latvian Army defeats the West Russian Volunteer Army in Riga.
• 22 November: The Lithuanian Army defeats the remnants of West Russian Volunteer Army in Lithuania near Radviliškis.

• 
  6 March 1919: After Soviet attack most of Latvia is under control of the Bolsheviks (pink)
• 
  16 April 1919: In March the united German and Latvian forces (orange and yellow) launches counter attack, taking most of Courland
• 
  22 June 1919: The 3rd Estonian Division (purple) confronted German forces at Cēsis in the beginning of June and gained victory on 23 June
• 
  11 November 1919: Latvian army has taken most of Vidzeme and is attacking the West Russian Volunteer Army, which is forced to retreat.

1920

• 3 January: United forces of Latvia and Poland launch attack on Bolsheviks in Latgale and take Daugavpils.
• 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.

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

Bibliography

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• General Graf Rüdiger von der Goltz (1920). Meine Sendung in Finland und im Baltikum. Verlag von K.F. Koehler, Leipzig.
• 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.
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• 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.
• Claus Grimm: „Vor den Toren Europas – Geschichte der Baltischen Landeswehr” Hamburg 1963