Latvia Timeline of Events

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Latvia

Latvia , officially the Republic of Latvia , is a country in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by Estonia , to the south by Lithuania , to the east by the Russian Federation , to the southeast by Belarus and shares maritime borders to the west with Sweden...

Timeline of Events

1918

3.3.1918

Germany, Austria and Russia sign the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk ending Russia's involvement in World War I, and leading to the independence of Finland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland.

11.18.1918

Latvia declares its independence from Russia.

1919

11.11.1919

Lāčplēša day – Latvian forces defeat the Freikorps at Riga in the Latvian War of Independence.

1920

8.11.1920

The Latvia-Bolshevist Russia peace treaty, which relinquished Russia's authority and pretenses to Latvia, is signed.

1934

5.15.1934

Kārlis Ulmanis establishes an authoritarian government in Latvia.

1940

6.17.1940

The three Baltic states of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania fall under the occupation of the Soviet Union.

7.23.1940

The United States' Under Secretary of State Sumner Welles issues a declaration on the U.S. non-recognition policy of the Soviet annexation and incorporation of three Baltic States: Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania.

8.5.1940

World War II: the Soviet Union formally annexes Latvia.

1941

6.14.1941

June deportation, the first major wave of Soviet mass deportations and murder of Estonians, Latvians and Lithuanians, begins.

1944

10.13.1944

World War II: Riga, the capital of Latvia is liberated by the Red Army.

1949

3.25.1949

The extensive deportation campaign known as March deportation is conducted in Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania to force collectivisation by way of terror. The Soviet authorities deport more than 92,000 people from the Baltics to remote areas of the Soviet Union.

1989

8.23.1989

Singing Revolution: two million people from Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania stand on the Vilnius-Tallinn road, holding hands (Baltic Way).

1990

5.4.1990

Latvia proclaims the renewal of its independence after the Soviet occupation.

1991

3.3.1991

In two concurring referendums: 74% of the population of Latvia votes for independence from the Soviet Union, in Estonia

8.21.1991

Latvia declares renewal of its full independence after the occupation of Soviet Union.

8.27.1991

The European Community recognizes the independence of the Baltic states of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania.

9.2.1991

The United States recognize the independence of the Baltic states: Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania.

9.6.1991

The Soviet Union recognizes the independence of the Baltic states: Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania.

9.17.1991

Estonia, North Korea, South Korea, Latvia, Lithuania, the Marshall Islands and Micronesia join the United Nations.

1992

7.20.1992

The first post-Soviet monetary reform in Latvia ended, as the Soviet rouble lost its status as legal tender.

1995

10.27.1995

Latvia applies for membership in the European Union.

2001

8.1.2001

Bulgaria, Cyprus, Latvia, Malta, Slovenia and Slovakia join the European Environment Agency.

2002

11.21.2002

NATO invites Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia to become members.

12.13.2002

Enlargement of the European Union: The European Union announces that Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia, and Slovenia will become members from May 1, 2004.

2004

3.29.2004

Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia join NATO as full members.

5.1.2004

Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia, and Slovenia join the European Union, celebrated at the residence of the Irish President in Dublin.

2005

12.15.2005

Latvia amends its constitution to eliminate possibility of same-sex couples being entitled to marry.