1941: Latvia

Latvia, along with the neighboring Baltic states, was under Soviet rule the first half of the year and under Nazi rule the latter half, but the United States continued to recognize all of the Baltic countries as independent nations. Washington maintained diplomatic relations with Latvian Minister Alfred Bilmanis, who had been assigned to his post before the débâcle of 1939. Minister Bilmanis, like envoys of the other Baltic countries in the United States, acted independently, since there were no Latvian, Lithuanian or Estonian governments-in-exile comparable to those of many Nazi-occupied countries.

Both the Soviet and the Nazi dictatorships persecuted religious groups in Latvia and drained the country of much wealth, forcing the local population to work for small remuneration and in constant fear of military police. Severe food and clothing shortages prevailed throughout the year. In May an 'authoritative Latvian informant who recently arrived in the United States' reported that the average daily wage in Latvia was 5 lats (5.25 lats to the dollar) while a pound of bread cost from 1 to 1.5 lats, butter 40 to 50, meat 8 to 12, sausage 4 to 4.5, and eggs 1 lat each. He said that a man's suit cost 800 lats, an overcoat 1,000, and shoes 300 a pair.

Soviet Rule.

A Russo-German agreement signed on Jan. 10 clearly indicated Moscow's desire to rid the Baltic countries of all German influence, although the Nazi-Soviet 'friendship pact' was still in force. (See ESTONIA.) Soviet authorities also sought to purge Latvia of native elements who might interfere with the process of Sovietization. A Moscow radio broadcast on Jan. 17, for example, announced that the former Mayor and Police Chief of Riga, along with 15 other officials of the old Latvian Government, had been indicted on charges which were not disclosed. Fearing a German invasion, the Russians between June 16 and 24 — according to a statement of the Latvian Red Cross — shipped 26,000 Latvians in 824 freight cars to eastern parts of the Soviet Union.

The outbreak of war between Russia and Germany gave the Latvians short-lived hopes for independence. From Königsberg, Germany, on June 23 a so-called Latvian 'government-in-exile' radioed a call for revolt in Latvia. On June 25, however, Nazi spokesmen said that Germany would not recognize any régime in the Baltic countries during military operations. The same day, Latvian Minister Alfred Bilmanis gave the United States a declaration formally repudiating German rule over his country, expressing Latvia's intention to carry on its struggle for 'complete and unconditional independence,' and once more denouncing the Russian invasion of June 17, 1940. He explained that the 'change from the monstrous terroristic military occupation by Soviet Russia to military occupation by German troops ... will not bring freedom and full independence to Latvia and its inhabitants.'

Nazi Occupation.

On July 3, Soviet dictator Stalin broadcast an announcement that Germany had occupied Lithuania and most of Latvia. Retreating Russian forces had burned many fine old buildings and left Riga in ruins. During the rest of the month, however, guerrilla warfare raged in Latvian woods, according to the reports of the Swedish press. It was also observed that Tevija, the only Riga newspaper still printed in the Latvian language, carried entire pages of 'agony ads' — friends and relatives asking loved ones to send news about themselves. On July 17, Latvia was combined with Lithuania and Estonia to form 'Ostland Province' of Greater Germany under Reichskommissar Heinrich Lohse, who selected Riga as his place of residence.

The Germans began the Nazification of Latvia with characteristic thoroughness. Alfred Rosenberg, Reichs-minister for all conquered Russian territory, chose his cousin, Herr Wittrop, as Oberburgmeister (Mayor) of Riga. With the cooperation of General Commissioner for Latvia Drexler, and other Nazi officials, the new Oberburgmeister changed the name of Riga's main thoroughfare from Freedom Boulevard to Adolf Hitler Strasse, converted the city's slum district into a ghetto for its 35,000 Jews, and closed the University of Riga. As in all German-conquered countries, food and other vital supplies were extremely scarce and wages were kept comparatively low. See ESTONIA and LITHUANIA.