History of Latvia

The First World War, from 1914 to 1918, brought desolation, as the country became a bloody battlefield between Germany and Russia. Germany took complete control, but lost it after they lost the war. The Russian Revolution of 1917 saw out the Tsarist rulers and saw in Soviet Socialist state control.

In the middle ages, it was ruled by Germany, which founded its capital city of Riga. In the 16th Century the land fell under Polish and Lithuanian rule. In the 17th Century Sweden took over. In the 18th and 19th Centuries, Russia became its ruler. After defeating Sweden, Russia enacted "Russification" policies to change the language and culture of Latvia.

Latvia made its bid for freedom, fighting off the Russian Soviets during the Latvian War of Independence in 1918.

Latvian soldiers fight the War of Independence 1918