republic · Scandinavia and the Baltic

Latvian Socialist Soviet Republic

1918 CE – 1920 CE · capital Riga

Bolshevik Latvia of 1918-1920, led by Pēteris Stučka, which briefly held Riga before being driven out in the Latvian War of Independence.

Origins

After Germany's defeat, the Red Army and the Latvian Riflemen invaded Latvia. On 17 December 1918 a Soviet government under Pēteris Stučka proclaimed the Latvian Socialist Soviet Republic, and on 3 January 1919 it took Riga, forcing the national government of Kārlis Ulmanis to retreat to Liepāja.

Rule and society

The Soviet government nationalised land, industry and housing and created revolutionary tribunals, which carried out hundreds of executions. Food requisitioning caused famine in Riga. Its army controlled most of Latvia in early 1919, and it adopted a constitution in January.

Decline and legacy

German Freikorps and the Baltic Landeswehr, with Latvian national units, recaptured Riga on 22 May 1919. The Soviet government held on in Latgale until Latvian and Polish forces took Daugavpils in January 1920, and it was dissolved. The Republic of Latvia signed peace with Soviet Russia in August 1920.

Lineage

Iskolat 1917 CE – 1918 CELatvian Socialist Soviet Republic

Connections (2)

  • Latvian Socialist Soviet Republic was a protectorate of Russian SFSR1918 CE – 1920 CE
  • Latvian Socialist Soviet Republic was conquered by Republic of Latvia1920 CE

More states of Scandinavia and the Baltic →

Cite this page
APA
The Epoch Institute. (2026). Latvian Socialist Soviet Republic. In The Epoch Institute States Register. https://the-epoch-institute.org/state/latvian-socialist-soviet-republic
MLA
“Latvian Socialist Soviet Republic.” The Epoch Institute States Register, The Epoch Institute, 2026, https://the-epoch-institute.org/state/latvian-socialist-soviet-republic. Accessed .
Chicago
The Epoch Institute. “Latvian Socialist Soviet Republic.” The Epoch Institute States Register. 2026. https://the-epoch-institute.org/state/latvian-socialist-soviet-republic.
Harvard
The Epoch Institute (2026) ‘Latvian Socialist Soviet Republic’, The Epoch Institute States Register. Available at: https://the-epoch-institute.org/state/latvian-socialist-soviet-republic (Accessed: ).

Last reviewed October 2026Random state ↻