LATVIA
See also CITY OF RIGA
LATVIAN EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH
LATVIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH 1871 - 1945
ROMAN CATHOLIC HIERARCHY IN LATVIA 1871 - 1945
RUSSIAN LATVIA 1871 - 1918
In 1721, by the Treaty of Nystad, Sweden formally ceded Livonia (Vidzeme) - which
was already occupied by Russian troops since 1710 - to Russia.
In 1795, at the third partition of Poland, the Duchy of Courland - until then a fief
of Poland - was also annexed to Russia.(1)
Both territories formed separate Russian governments (gubernya), which from 1819 to
1876, from 1905 to 1909 (2), in 1914 - 1915 and in 1917 were both subordinated to
one overall Baltic administration.
(1) The Duchy of Courland incorporated the Latvian regions Kurzeme and Zemgale.
A fourth Latvian region, Latgale, was annexed to Russia after the first
partition of Poland in 1772. It became part of the Russian gubernya of
Vitebsk in 1802.
After they had become part of the Russian Empire both Courland and Livonia
- or rather their German nobility - continued at first to enjoy a large
degree of autonomy in administrative and judicial matters. It was only in
1889 that they were fully integrated into the Empire (abolition of local
German courts, introduction of the Russian language, etc.)
(2) The reestablishement of a superior common authority in 1905 was a the result
of major revolutionary agitation in both governments in 1905 - 1906
Chairman of the Federated Committee of Riga
(overall leader of all revolutionary committees set up in Livonia)
1905 - 1906 Andrejs Petrevics 1883 - 1939
Chairman of the United Committee of Liepāja
(overall leader of all revolutionary committees set up in Courland)
1905 - 1906 Jānis Luters 1883 - 1938
Chronology 1917
- march : after the end of the Russian monarchy, the Russian Provisional Government
toke control of Livonia only, Courland already being under German rule
since 1915.
Its authority was however contested by Latvian Nationalists and by Soviets
which were set up in different places and later united into the United
Latvian Workers, Soldiers and Landless Peasants Soviet.
- april : the northern counties of Livonia inhabited by Estonians (Tartu, Võru,
Viljandi, Pärnu and Saaremaa) were transferred to the new autonomous
province of Estonia.
- july : autonomy granted to Livonia and formally also to Courland.
- sep. : Riga was occupied by the Germans
- dec : after the "Octoberrevolution" the pro-Soviet 12th Army seized power in
Livonia and an Autonomous Latvian Soviet Government - which also covered
Latgale - was established soon afterwards.
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RUSSIAN ADMINISTRATORS
COURLAND
Governors
(subordinated to the Governors General of the Baltic Governments until 1876, and
in 1905 - 1909 and to the Special Plenipotentiaries in 1914 - 1915)
1868 - 1885 Paul Fromhold Ignatius Freiherr
von Lilienfeld 1829 - 1903
1885 Aleksandr Alekseyevich Manyos*
1885 - 1888 Konstantin Ivanovich Pashchenko 1830 - 1900
1888 - 1891 Dimitriy Sergeyevich Sipyagin 1853 - 1902
1891 - 1905 Dimitriy Dimitriyevich Sverbeyev 1842 - 1919
1905 - 1906 Gen. Woldemar (Wladimir Aleksandrovich)
von Böckmann 1848 - 1923
1905 - 1910 Leonid Mikhailovich Knyazev 1850 - 1919
1910 Knyaz Nikolay Dmitriyevich Kropotkin*
1910 - 1915 Sergey Dimitriyevich Nabokov 1866 - 1940
1915 - 1916 ... Tatishchev (in exile at Tartu)
1916 Peter (Pëtr Vasilyevich) Graf
Hendrikov (in exile at Tartu)
1916 - 1917 ... Strakhov (in exile at Tartu)
Provincial Commissioner
(Representative of the Russian Provisional Government - subordinated to the
Commissioner for the Civil Administration of the Baltic governments)
1917 Janis Cakste (in exile in Tartu) 1859 - 1927
LIVONIA
Governors
(subordinated to the Governors General of the Baltic Governments until 1876, and in
1905 - 1909 and to the Special Plenipotentiaries in 1914 - 1915)
1868 - 1871 Friedrich (Fedor Stanislavich)
Woldemar Freiherr von Lysander 1816 - 1893
1871 - 1872 Julius Gustav Freiherr von Cube* 1815 - 1888
1872 - 1874 Michael Baron von Wrangell 1836 - 1899
1874 - 1882 Alexander Karl Abraham Freiherr
von Üxküll-Güldenbandt 1840 - 1912
1882 - 1883 Hermann von Tobiessen*
1883 - 1885 Ivan Yegorovich von Shevich
1885 Hermann von Tobiessen* (2x)
1885 - 1895 Mikhail Sergeyevich Zinovyev 1... - 1895
1895 - 1896 Aleksandr Nikolayevich Bulygin*
1896 - 1900 Vladimir Dimitriyevich Surovtsev 1... - 1900
1900 - 1901 Aleksandr Nikolayevich Bulygin* (2x)
1901 - 1905 Mikhail Alekseyevich Pashkov
1905 P. P. Neklyudov*
1905 Yakov Dmitriyevich Bologovskoy*
1905 - 1914 Nikolay Aleksandrovich Zvegintsev
1914 - 1916 Arkadiy Ippolitovich Kelepovskiy
1916 Sergey Sergeyevich Podolinskiy*
1916 - 1917 N. N. Lavrinovskiy
1917 Sergey Alekseyevich Schidlovskiy
Provincial Commissioners
(Representative of the Russian Provisional Government - subordinated to the
Commissioner for the Civil Administration of the Baltic governments)
1917 Andrejs Krastkaln 1868 - 1939
1917 Andrejs Priedkaln 1873 - 1923
Chairman of the Military Revolutionary Committee of the 12th Army
1917 Jurijs Carin 1887 - 1922
Chairmen of the Executive Committee of the United Latvian Workers, Soldiers and
Landless Peasants Soviet (3)
Apvienotās Latvijas Strādnieku, Karievju un Bezzemnieku Deputātu Pamodes
Izpildkomitejas Priekedetāji
1917 Oto Kārklin 1884 - 1942
1917 - 1918 Fricis Rozin ("Azis",
"Roberts", etc.) driven out
by the Germans 1870 - 1919
(3) The new administration - also known as the Iskolat Republic - was not
recognized by the Latvian nationalists who established their own underground
administration working for an independent Latvian state.
Chairman of the Latvian National Council
Latvietu Nacionālās Padomes Priekedetajs
1917 - 1918 Voldemārs Zāmuels 1872 - 1948
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HEADS OF THE PROVINCIAL AUTONOMOUS ADMINISTRATIONS
COURLAND
Chairman of the Board of the Provisional Land Council of Courland
1917 Kārlis Pauluks (in exile in Tartu) 1870 -
LIVONIA
Chairmen of the Board of the Land Council of Livonia
1917 Vilis Skubin 1876 -
1917 Oto Kārklin s.a.
LATVIA UNDER GERMAN OCCUPATION
In 1918 the Germans, who had already conquered Courland in 1915 and the city of
Riga in 1917, also occupied Livonia. (4)
(4) Russia formally transferred Courland and the region of Riga to German
supreme authority by the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk in 1918. At the same
time it also recognized the "temporary" German occupation of Livonia
and of Latgale.
Some months later, by the additional Treaty of Berlin, Livonia and part
of Latgale (the town of Krustpils) were also transferred to German
supreme authority, the future fate of all these territories having to
be determinated later.
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GERMAN MILITARY ADMINISTRATORS
Three German military administrations (Etappenverwaltungen) - Courland, Riga and
Livonia - were set up as German advance progressed.
Their military administrators were subordinated to the Commanders of the 8th Army
in 1915 (only Courland) and to the Oberost 1915 - 1918. (see here for more on this
subject)
COURLAND (KURLAND)
Head of the Administration
Verwaltungschef
1915 - 1918 Alfred Freiherr von Gossler 1867 - 1946
RIGA
Heads of the Administration
Verwaltungschefs
1917 - 1918 Col. Karl W.B. von Alten 1852 -
1918 Col. Arnold von Engelbrechten 1870 -
LIVONIA (LIVLAND)
Head of the Administration
Verwaltungschef
1918 Gen. Albert Wilhelm Heinrich
Prinz von Hohenzollern-Preussen 1862 - 1929
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BALTIC GERMAN ADMINISTRATORS
In 1918 two councils - the first for Livonia, Estonia, Riga and Ösel and the other
for Courland - were established by the Baltic Germans with the approval of the
German military administration. They mainly had advisory functions.
COURLAND
Chairman of the Land Council of Courland
1918 Alexander Immanuel Freiherr
von Rahden-Maihof 1859 - 1920
LIVONIA, ESTONIA, RIGA AND ÖSEL
Chairman of the Joint Council of Livonia, Estonia, Riga, and Ösel
1918 Adolph Konstantin Jakob
Freiherr Pilar von Pilchau-Audern 1885 - 1958
Just before the end of the war both territories - now formally divided into the
cantons of Courland, Lettgallia, North Livonia, Riga and South Livonia - became
part of the independent federal Baltic State
REPUBLIC OF LATVIA
REPUBLIC OF LATVIA 1918 - 1940
In 1918, after the German defeat, the Latvian nationalists came to power and
proclaimed the independent Republic of Latvia. (5)
In 1940, invoquing a treaty of military cooperation which had been imposed to the
country the year before, troops of the USSR occupied Latvia. At the same time a
Soviet Commissar was appointed to supervise the reorganization of Latvia according
to Soviet model and to install a pro-USSR "People's Government". (6)
(5) At the same time Soviet troops however invaded the country, in this way
initiating a new troubled period of wars which would last until 1920.
See here for more details on this period
(6) Before the People's Government was formed, the national Latvian
government transferred all its power to Latvian diplomatic representatives
abroad.
Acting State Presidents
Valsts Prezidenta Vietas Izpilditāji
1940 - 1943 none
1943 - 1945 Pauls Kalnin 1872 - 1945
Head of the Latvian Diplomatic Service
Latvijas Diplomātu Kolegijas Vadītājs
(acted as informal Prime Minister)
1940 - 1963 Reinhold Kārlis Zarin, Latvian
Envoy Extraordinary and Minister
Plenipotentiary to the UK since 1933 1879 - 1963
Deputy Head of the Latvian Diplomatic Service
Latvijas Diplomātu Kolegijas Vadītājs Vietnieks
(acted as informal Minister of Foreign Affairs)
1940 - 1948 Alfreds Bīlmanis, Latvian Envoy
Extraordinary and Minister
Plenipotentiary to the U.S.
since 1935 1887 - 1948
__________________________________________________________________________________
HEADS OF STATE
Chairman of the Latvian People's Council
Latvijas Tautas Padomes Priekedetājs
1918 - 1920 Jānis Cakste s.a.
Chairman of the Constitutional Assembly
Satversmes Sapulces Prezidents
1920 - 1922 Jānis Cakste s.a.
State Presidents
Valsts Presidenti
1922 Frīdrihs Vesmanis* 1875 - 1942
1922 - 1925 Jānis Cakste s.a.
1925 Pauls Kalnin* s.a.
1925 - 1927 Jānis Cakste (2x)
1927 Pauls Kalnin* (2x)
1927 - 1930 Gustavs Zemgals 1871 - 1939
1930 Pauls Kalnin* (3x)
1930 - 1936 Alberts Kviesis 1881 - 1944
1936 - 1940 Kārlis Ulmanis (7) 1877 - 1942
(7) Unformally styled Vadonis (Leader) since 1934
__________________________________________________________________________________
MINISTERS
Prime Ministers
Minister President
Ministru Presidenti
1918 - 1921 Kārlis Ulmanis, briefly in exile on
a British warship in apr - jun 1919 s.a.
1921 - 1923 Zigfrīds Anna Meierovics 1887 - 1925
1923 Jānis Pauluks 1865 - 1937
1923 - 1924 Zigfrīds Anna Meierovics (2x)
1924 Voldemārs Zamuels s.a.
1924 - 1925 Hugo Celmin 1877 -
1925 - 1926 Kārlis Ulmanis (2x)
1926 Arturs Alberings 1876 - 1934
1926 - 1928 Margers Skujenieks 1886 - 1941
1928 Peteris Juraevskis 1872 - 1945
1928 - 1931 Hugo Celmin (2x)
1931 Kārlis Ulmanis (3x)
1931 - 1933 Margers Skujenieks (2x)
1933 - 1934 Ādolfs Blodnieks 1889 - 1962
1934 - 1940 Kārlis Ulmanis (4x)
Minister of Social Affairs
Sabiedrisko Lietu Ministrs
Despite its name this ministry actually was a political ministry (of propaganda)
that suprervised all cultural activities (newspapers, radio, printing etc) and was
also in charge of the Home Guard and the Labor Unions.
1937 - 1940 Alfrēds Jēkabs Bērzn 1899 - 1977
Ministers of Foreign Affairs
Ārlietu Ministri
1918 - 1924 Zigfrīds Anna Meierovics s.a.
1924 Kārlis Ludvigs Seja 1885 - 1962
1924 - 1925 Zigfrids Anna Meierovics (2x)
1925 Hugo Celmin s.a.
1925 - 1926 Hermanis Albats 1879 - 1942
1926 Kārlis Ulmanis s.a.
1926 - 1928 Felikss Cielens 1888 - 1964
1928 - 1930 Antons Balodis 1881 - 1942
1930 - 1931 Hugo Celmin (2x)
1931 Kārlis Ulmanis (2x)
1931 - 1933 Reinhold Kārlis Zarin s.a.
1933 - 1934 Voldemārs Salnais 1886 - 1948
1934 - 1936 Kārlis Ulmanis (3x)
1936 - 1940 Vilhelms N. Munters 1898 - 1967
Ministers of Defence
Ministers of Protection (Public Security)
Apsardzības Ministri
1918 LtCol. Roberts Dambītis 1881 - 1959
1918 - 1919 Jānis Zālītis 1874 - 1919
1919 Gen. Dāvids Sīmonsons 1859 - 1933
1919 - 1920 Kārlis Ulmanis s.a.
1920 Eriks-Mārtin Feldmanis 1884 - 1945
1920 - 1921 Jānis Goldmanis 1875 - 1955
1921 - 1922 Gustavs Zemgals s.a.
Ministers of War
Kara Ministri
1922 - 1923 Gustavs Zemgals s.a.
1923 - 1924 Jānis Ducen 1888 - 1925
1924 Col. Fricis Birkenteins 1888 - 1941
1924 Julijs Arājs 1884 - 1967
1924 - 1925 Gen. Rudolfs Bangerskis 1878 - 1958
1925 - 1926 Jānis Goldmanis s.a.
1926 Gen. Edvards Kalnin 1875 - 1964
1926-1928 Gen. Rudolfs Bangerskis (2x)
1928 Gen. Edvards Kalnin (2x)
1928 - 1929 Antons Ozols 1878 - 1956
1929 Col. Edvards-Kārlis Laimin 1882 - 1982
1929 - 1931 Gen. Mārtiņ Vācietis 1872 - 1945
1931 Col. Edvards-Kārlis Laimin (2x)
1931 - 1940 Gen. Jānis Balodis 1881 - 1965
1940 Gen. Krijānis Berkis 1884 - 1942
Ministers of Home Affairs
Ieklietu Ministri
1918 - 1919 Mikelis Valters 1874 - 1968
1919 Alfreds Birznieks 1889 - 1942
1919 - 1921 Arveds Bergs 1875 - 1941
1921 - 1923 Alberts Kviesis s.a.
1923 Peteris Bergis 1882 - 1942
1923 - 1924 Alfreds Birznieks (2x)
1924 - 1926 Col. Edvards-Kārlis Laimin s.a.
1926 - 1928 Margers Skujenieks s.a.
1928 - 1931 Col. Edvards-Kārlis Laimin (2x)
1931 Ansis Petrevics 1882 - 1941
1931 - 1932 Margers Skujenieks (2x)
1932 - 1933 Jānis Kaulin 1889 - 1942
1933 - 1934 Gotfrīds Mīlbergs 1887 - 1942
1934 - 1939 Vilis Gulbis 1890 - 1941
1939 - 1940 Kornelijs Veidnieks 1899 - 1942
Ministers of Justice
Tieslietu Ministri
1918 - 1919 Peteris Juraevskis s.a.
1919 Edvîns Magnuss
1919 - 1920 Kārlis Paumuks
1920 - 1921 Rudolfs Benuss 1884 -
1921 - 1924 Vilis Holtsmanis
1924 Voldemārs Zāmuels s.a.
1924 Julijs Arâjs s.a.
1925 Peteris Juraevskis (2x)
1926 Ansis Petrevics s.a.
1926 - 1927 Erasts Bitte
1927 Jurijs Paberzs 1891 - 1961
1928 Edvîns Magnuss (2x)
1928 - 1929 Baldvins Baron von Disterlohe 1869 - 1937
1929 Bernhards Berents
1929 - 1931 Jurijs Paberzs (2x)
1931 - 1933 Atis Tenik
1931 - 1934 Antons Ozols s.a.
1934 - 1940 Hermanis Apsîtis 1893 -
Ministers of Finance
Finansu Ministri
1918 - 1919 Kārlis Purik
1919 - 1920 Roberts Erhards
1920 - 1921 Kārlis Purik (2x)
1921 - 1922 Ringolds Kalnings 1873 -
1922 - 1923 Alfreds Riekstik
1923 Ansis Bunevics
1923 - 1924 Hermanis Punga 1877 -
1924 Ringlods Kalnings (2x)
1924 - 1926 Jānis Blumbergs 1886 -
1926 Arturs Alberings s.a.
1926 - 1928 Valdemārs Bastjānis
1928 Peteris Juraevskis s.a.
1928 Roberts Liepik
1928 - 1931 Ansis Petrevics s.a.
1931 Jānis Annuss 1887 -
1931 - 1932 Gustavs Zemgals s.a.
1932 - 1933 Margers Skujenieks s.a.
1933 - 1934 Jānis Annuss (2x)
1934 Evalds Rimbenieks 1889 -
1934 Vilis Gulbis 1890 -
1934 - 1938 Ludvigs Ctis
1938 - 1939 Alfreds Arturs Aleksandrs Valdmanis 1908 - 1970
1939 - 1940 Jānis Kaminskis
__________________________________________________________________________________
LATVIAN MINORITIES
In 1919 the Latvian government promulgated the "Law on the Structure of Minority
Nationalities Schools" that allowed the national minorities to establish their own
school systems.
Accordingly several Minority Nationalities School Sections were established within
the Ministry of Education : the German, Jewish and Russian in 1920, the Belorussian
and Polish some time later (8)
This system of autonomy lasted until 1934, when a new People's Education Law limited
the use of minority languages in schools. Still minority schools continued to exist
until 1940 (German schools were abolished in 1939, when German-Balts left Latvia),
but without any autonomy.
(8) The sections were under the supervision of the Minority Nationalities School
Department of the Ministry until 1924.
Therafter they became Minority Nationalities Education Authorities, under
the direct authority of the Minister.
Although called "School Autonomy", the autonomy was actually extended to
other cultural activities of the minoriries and the school authorities
also were concerned with minority theatres, newspapers, sports associations,
etc.
Ministers of Education
Izglītības Ministri
(for the period 1920 - 1934)
1918 - 1920 Kārlis Kasparsons 1865 - 1962
1920 - 1921 Juris Plāķis 1869 - 1942
1921 Longins Ausējs 1885 - 1941
1921 - 1923 Aleksandrs Dauge 1868 - 1937
1923 Pauls Gailītis 1869 - 1943
1923 Stanislavs Jaudzems 1890 - 1944
1923 - 1924 Hugo Celmin 1877 - 1941
1924 Kārlis Straubergs 1890 - 1962
1924 - 1925 Ernests Felsbergs 1866 - 1928
1925 Arvīds Kalnin 1894 - 1981
1925 - 1926 Edmunds Ziemelis 1880 - 1970
1926 - 1928 Jānis Rainis 1865 - 1929
1928 Augusts Tentelis 1876 - 1942
1928 - 1931 Edmunds Ziemelis (2x)
1931 - 1933 Atis Kenin 1874 - 1961
1933 - 1934 Vilis Gulbis 1890 - 1941
1934 Kārlis Beldavs 1868 - 1936
1934 - 1935 Ludvigs Adamovics 1884 - 1942
Heads (Prieksnieki) of the German School Section - German Education Authority (1924)
1920 - 1929 Karl Keller 1868 - 1939
1929 - 193. Wolfgang Wachsmuth 1876 - 1964
Heads (Prieksnieki) of the Polish School Section - Polish Education Authority (1924)
1921 Jozef Raczewski 18.. - 1921
1921 - 1922 none
1922 - 1934 Antoni Talat-Kielpsz
Referent of Polish affairs in the Ministry of Education
1934 - 1940 Roman Ciesulewicz
(information on the other sections/authorities is welcome)
__________________________________________________________________________________
SOVIET ADMINISTRATORS / PEOPLE'S GOVERNMENT IN 1940
Soviet Emissary charged with the supervision of the reorganization of the
Latvian State
1940 Andrey Yanuarevich Vyshinskiy 1883 - 1954
Commander of the Soviet troops in Latvia
1940 Gen. Fedor Isidorovich Kuznetsov 1898 - 1961
Acting State President
Valsts Prezidenta Vietas Izpilditājs
1940 Augusts Kirhenteins 1872 - 1963
Prime Minister
Ministru Prezidents
1940 Augusts Kirhenteins s.a.
Minister of Social Affairs
Sabiedrisko Lietu Ministrs
1940 Pēteris Blaus 1900 - 1971
Minister of Foreign Affairs
Ārlietu Ministrs
1940 Augusts Kirhenteins s.a.
Minister of War
Kara Ministrs
1940 Gen. Roberts Dambītis s.a.
Minister of Home Affairs
Ieklietu Ministrs
1940 Vilis Lācis 1904 - 1966
Minister of Justice
Tieslietu Ministrs
1940 Jurijs Raberzs 1891 - 1961
Minister of Finance
Finansu Ministrs
1940 Kārlis Karlsons
In 1940 Latvia was reorganized as a Soviet Socialist Republic
REPUBLIC OF LATVIA 1945
In 1945 as German power collapsed a Provisional Government assumed power in Liepāja
and on May 7 restored the Independent Republic of Latvia.
HEAD OF STATE
Chairman of the Latvian People's Council
Latvijas Tautas Padomes Priekedetājs
1945 Janis Andersons 1902 - 1969
MINISTERS
Prime Minister - Minister of War
Ministru Prezidents - Kara Ministrs
1945 Col. Roberts Osis 1900 - 1973
Minister of Foreign Affairs
Ārlietu Ministrs
1945 Arnolds Skrebers 1897 - 1979
Minister of Home Affairs
Ieklietu Ministrs
1945 Rodolfs Rocin 1907 -
Minister of Justice
Tieslietu Ministrs
1945 Teodors Zvejnieks 1884 -
Minister of Finance
Finansu Ministrs
1945 Aleksandrs Bulle 1892 -
On May 8 Soviet troops toke Liepāja and restored the Latvian SSR (9)
(9) The restoration of the Soviet regime toke place under the tight
supervision of a special Latvian Bureau of the CC of the Communist
Party of the USSR
Chairman
1944 - 194. Nikolay Nikolayevich Shatalin 1904 - 1984
Latvian resistance to this new incorporation into the USSR lasted
until the 1950's
LATVIAN SOVIET SOCIALIST REPUBLIC
The Latvian Soviet Socialist Republic became a member of the USSR immediately after
its foundation in 1940. From 1941 to 1944 it was under German occupation.
__________________________________________________________________________________
(during the first weeks the People's Government continued in office)
HEAD OF STATE
Chairman of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet
Augstakās Padomes Prezdija Priekedetājs
1940 - 1952 Augusts Kirhenteins s.a.
__________________________________________________________________________________
MINISTERS
(Formally styled People's Commissars until 1946 - (1))
Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars
Tautas Komisāru Padomes Prieksedetājs
1940 - 1946 Vilis Lacis s.a.
People's Commissar for Foreign Affairs
Ārlietu Tautas Komisārs
1944 - 1946 Peteris Valeskalns, continued as
Minister until 1950 1899 - 1987
People's Commissar for Home Affairs
Ieklietu Tautas Komisārs
1940 - 19.. A. Novik (?)
People's Commissar for Justice
Tieslietu Tautas Komisārs
1940 - 19.. Andrejs Jablonskis
People's Commissar for Finance
Finansu Tautas Komisārs
1940 - 1946 Arnolds Tabaks, continued as
Minister until 1949
(1) At the incorporation into the USSR the Latvian Ministry of War was abolished
and what remained of the Latvian army was integrated into the Soviet Army
as part of the Baltic Military District, commanded by Gen. Aleksandr
Dmitriyevich Loktionov (1893 - 1941), Soviet Deputy Minister of Defence
__________________________________________________________________________________
PARTY LEADERS
First Secretary of the Central Committee of the Latvian Communist Party
1940 - 1959 Janis Kalnberzin 1893 - 1986
Second Secretaries of the Central Committee of the Latvian Communist Party
[Unlike the first secretary who normally was a Latvian (or had at least some link
with the country) the second secretary normally was of Russian origin. He was often
also the real leader of the Party]
1940 Zanis Spure 1901 - 1943
1940 - 1944 ...
1944 - 1949 Ivan Kononovich Lebedev 1907 - 1972
__________________________________________________________________________________
ADMINISTRATORS OF GERMAN OCCUPIED LATVIA 1941 - 1945
In 1941 Latvia was occupied by German troops and after a brief period of military
rule - dependent of the Commanders of the Army Group North (in the occupied USSR)
- a German civilian administration was established and Latvia was organized as a
General Kommissariat which became part of the Reichskommissariat Ostland.
In 1945, as Soviet advance progressed, German rule was reduced to Courland, -
a
military pocket - the so-called Festung Kurland - that resisted until the end of
the war.
GERMAN ADMINISTRATORS
General Commissar
Generaalkommissar
(subordinated to the Reichskommissar Ostland)
1941 - 1945 Otto Heinrich Drechsler 1895 -
1945 W. von Borcke*
SS and Police Leader
SS und Polizeiführer (SSPF)
(responsible for internal security and war against the resistance - directly
subordinated to the H.S.S.P.F. of Ostland, not to the Generalkommissar)
1941 - 1944 SS-Oberführer Walther Schröder 1902 - 1973
Commanders of the Army Group Kurland
Befehlshaber der Heeresgruppe Kurland
1945 Gen. Lothar Rendulic 1887 - 1971
1945 Gen. Heinrich Gottfried Freiherr
von Vietinghoff "Vietinghoff-Scheel" 1887 - 1952
1945 Gen. Lothar Rendulic (2x)
1945 Gen. Carl Hilpert 1888 - 1946
Plenipotentiary of the Reich
1945 Gen. Hermann Heinrich Behrend 1898 - 1987
LATVIAN ADMINISTRATORS
An indigenous Latvian administration was established immediately after the conquest
by the local German administrators. (2)
It was formally recognized by the German central authorities in 1942, but it never
had much real power, most tasks being performed by the Generalkommissariat.
In 1945 as German rule collapsed, Latvia was - formally at least - granted autonomy.
(2) At the approach of the Germans in 1941, the Latvians revolted against the
Soviet regime and established two separate administrations in the liberated
territories before the arrival of the Germans, in this way hoping to
receive some form of recognition by the invaders.
Chairman of the Latvian Organisation Central Committee
Latvijas Organizācijas Centrālās Komitejas Priekedetājs
1941 Capt. Ernests Kreimanis 1890 - 1965
Chairman of the Provisional Latvian Administrative Council
1941 Bernhards Einbergs 1893 -
Both were however disbanded by the Germans.
First Directors General
Zemes Papārvaldes Pirmie Generāldirektori
1941 Alfreds Valdmanis 1908 - 1978
1941 - 1945 InfGen. Oskars Dankers (suspended 1944) 1884 -
Directors General of Home Affairs
Ieklietu Generāldirektori
1941 Alfreds Valdmanis s.a.
1941 - 1944 InfGen. Oskars Dankers s.a.
1944 - 1945 Mārtiņ Prīmanis 1878 - 1950
Directors General of Justice
Tieslietu Generāldirektori
1941 Teodors Zvejnieks 1884 -
1941 ...
1941 - 1943 Alfreds Valdmanis s.a.
1943 - 1944 Alberts Kviesis s.a.
1944 - 1945 Teodors Zvejnieks (2x)
Directors General of Finance
Finansu Generāldirektori
1941 Jānis Skujevics 1892 -
1941 Evalds Andersons
1941 - 1944 Jānis Skujevics (2x)
1944 - 1945 Jānis Miezis 1884 - 1950
President of the Latvian National Committee
Latvijas Nacionālās Komitejas prezidents
1945 Rudolfs Bangerskis s.a.
Secretary General of War
Kara Generālsekretārs
1945 Arturs Michael Silgailis 1895 - 1997
Secretary General of Home Affairs
Ieklietu Generālsekretārs
1945 Rudolfs Kocin 1907 -
Secretary General of Justice
Tieslietu Generālsekretārs
1945 Teodors Zvejnieks s.a.
Secretary General of Finance
Finansu Generālsekretārs
1945 Jānis Miezis s.a.
LEADERS OF THE RESISTANCE
The resistance against German occupation was divided between :
- the Communist Resistance - consisting mainly of straggling party-members and
soldiers - and organized into Otryadi (Partizan Units) subordinated to the
Central Staff of the Partizan Otryadi in Moscow.
Commander of the Latvian Partizan Otryadi
(before 1943 the Partizans operating in Latvia had been subordinated to
the Belarussian and Russian Command)
1943 - 1944 Arturs Sprogis 1904 - 1980
- In 1943 the different National Latvian resistance movements united into the
National Latvian Central Council
Chairmen of the Latvian Central Council
Latvijas Centralas Padomes Priekedetāji
1943 - 1944 Konstantins Cakste 1901 - 1945
1944 Bruno Haralds Kalnin* 1899 - 1990
1944 - 1945 Verners Tepfers, in exile
since 1944 1893 - 1958
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