The Latvian Socialist Soviet Republic was a short-lived socialist republic formed during the Latvian War of Independence. It was proclaimed on 17 December 1918 with the political, economic, and military backing of Vladimir Lenin and his Bolshevik government in the Russian SFSR. The head of government was Pēteris Stučka with Jūlijs Daniševskis as his deputy.
May 1, 1919 celebrations in Riga
May 1, 1919 decorations in Riga
5 ruble note
Latvian Riflemen
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The Latvian Riflemen were originally a military formation of the Imperial Russian Army assembled starting 1915 in Latvia in order to defend Baltic governorates against the German Empire in World War I. Initially, the battalions were formed by volunteers, and from 1916 by conscription among the Latvian population. A total of about 40,000 troops were drafted into the Latvian Riflemen Division. They were used as an elite force in the Imperial and Red armies.
Latvian volunteers from 3rd Kurzeme Riflemen Battalion (1915)
Latvian Riflemen in the trenches during the Christmas Battles
Soviet-era monument for the Latvian Riflemen in Riga.