Latvia Incorporated into the Soviet Union: August 5, 1940

On August 5, 1940, Latvia was incorporated into the Soviet Union as the Latvian Soviet Socialist Republic. This significant and controversial transition marked the end of Latvia’s independence, which it had maintained since the end of World War I, and the onset of its integration into the Soviet socialist state.

Context Leading to Incorporation

The incorporation of Latvia into the Soviet Union was preceded by a series of geopolitical maneuvers rooted in the tumultuous environment of World War II. Initially, in 1939, the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact, a non-aggression treaty between the Soviet Union and Nazi Germany, created spheres of influence in Eastern Europe, effectively setting the stage for Soviet control over the Baltic states.

In June 1940, following the Soviet ultimatum and subsequent occupation, Soviet forces entered Latvia. By July, under intense pressure and amidst a Soviet military presence, a series of pro-Soviet activities culminated in a rigged election. The election results purportedly favored the establishment of a new government that later requested admission into the Soviet Union.

The Incorporation on August 5, 1940

On August 5, 1940, the Supreme Soviet, the governing entity of the Soviet Union, formally accepted Latvia’s annexation as the Latvian SSR. This action officially signaled the end of the Latvian Republic’s sovereignty and integrated Latvia as one of the republics in the Soviet Union.

Aftermath and Historical Significance

The annexation had profound impacts:

• Political Repression: The Soviet regime undertook widespread suppression of political dissent and carried out mass deportations and arrests of Latvian citizens deemed counterrevolutionary or nationalistic.
• Cultural and Social Changes: There were efforts to Sovietize Latvian society, including changes to education, religion, and the imposition of socialist-style governance and economic policies.
• International Reactions: The annexation was not recognized as legitimate by major Western powers and was condemned throughout the Cold War. Latvia remained under Soviet control until the eventual dissolution of the USSR in 1991, when it regained independence and re-established its sovereignty.

The events of August 5, 1940, are a significant marker in Latvian history, symbolizing both the harsh realities of occupation and the resilience of Latvian national identity.