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Europe
Latvia |
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| Last reviewed: 31 March 2009 |
Country information
HISTORY
Recent History
Latvia first gained independence in 1918. In 1940-41 it was occupied by the Soviet Union under the provisions of the 1939 Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact with Nazi Germany, by Nazi Germany from 1941-1944, and again by the Soviet Union from 1944-91. Under the Nazi occupation the significant Jewish community was practically wiped out; under the Soviet occupation thousands of Latvians were deported to Siberian camps, executed or forced into exile. Society and industry were modelled along Soviet lines and absolute power rested with a Communist regime under Moscow's control.
The more tolerant political atmosphere in the Soviet Union under Gorbachev in the late 1980s allowed pro-independence and reform groups to come to the fore. Independence was proclaimed in May 1990, and international recognition followed after the failed Moscow coup in August 1991.
