SUMMARY

[Note to reader: this Country page primarily contains brief information about state-based violence during the period 1946–1974, and to some extent 1975–1988. For more detailed information on organized violence after 1989, please consult the specific Conflict and Dyad pages available on the left-hand side of this page. These pages contain more detailed information regarding all three categories of organized violence in this country from 1989 and onwards (when applicable), as well as detailed information about state-based violence 1975–1988. The left-hand side menu also contains links to Actor pages for all groups involved in organized violence since 1989 in this country, as well as actors involved in state-based violence 1975–1988.]

Latvia declared itself independent in 1918 at the end of the First World War. In 1940, it was annexed by the Soviet Union. Shortly thereafter Nazi Germany occupied a third of its territory. In 1944, Soviet rule was re-established in the whole country. Latvia remained a constituent republic of the Soviet Union until 1991, when the Soviet Union fell apart.

There was a minor intra-state armed conflict between Latvian armed groups and the Soviet government from 1946 to 1947. The short period of independence between the world wars had entrenched a strong sense of national identity among the Latvians. The repressive regime installed by the Soviet Union in 1940 had deeply alienated large parts of the population.

With this background, resistance against the re-established Soviet rule formed in the Latvian forests. The so-called “Forest Brothers” were organized in three groups: the Association of the Latvian Fatherland Guards (LTS(p)A), its youth organization, and the Latvian National Guerrilla Organization (LNPA). Lacking a unified command and facing the overwhelming military superiority of the Soviet forces, the movement quickly lost its impetus. The conflict became inactive in 1948.

Latvia provided secondary warring support to the Iraqi government against various rebel groups from 2004 to 2006. Latvian troops also backed the Afghan government forces against the Taleban.

Latvia has no recorded conflicts as a sovereign state in UCDP data. The Soviet Union (Latvia) conflict is viewed as an intra-state conflict within the Soviet Union.