History / 1919 - The battles for Latvia's independence and Bermondt's attack against Riga

Your name
Your e-mail address
Receiver’s e-mail address
Comment

1919 - The battles for Latvia's independence and Bermondt's attack against Riga

07.11.2008

Until the liberation of Riga on May 22, 1919, Karlis Ulmanis and Andrievs Niedra cooperated. However, after the city was liberated, the situation changed. Estonian and Latvian forces moved into Northern Latvia from Estonia, which supported the K.Ulmanis government, but did not acknowledge the A. Niedra government. It is interesting to point out that the smaller Latvian force was actually established in Estonia. Germans, who wished to increase their influence in Latvia, were interested not to allow these military units to capture large territories in Latvia, because this would strengthen the position of K.Ulmanis and his supporters.

Thus, the army of the German-Baltic Baltische Landeswehr ("Baltic Land Defence") and the German Iron Mercenary Divisions, which were loyal to the puppet government of A.Niedra, moved into Cesis District (northeastern Latvia). An armed conflict then broke out between the Estonian/Latvian and German/Baltic forces, which took place on June 19 to 23, 1919, and led to the defeat of the German/Baltic forces. After the battles, the A.Niedra government was forced to leave the political stage. On June 27, 1919, the interim K.Ulmanis government, which had been in exile, renewed its operation in the city of Liepaja, but on July 7, returned to Riga.

So that they would not have to leave Kurzeme Province (western Latvia), the German soldiers joined with the army of Russian General Pavel Bermondt. By the influence of German General Rudiger von der Goltz, Bermondt changed his previous plans of fighting in the Russian civil war on the side of the monarchists, and attempted to conquer the Baltic States. It was decided by the two generals that they would attempt to capture Riga, so that they could overthrow the Latvian and Estonian governments and incorporate these two countries as Russian provinces, as well as to completely restore the previous priviledges of the German-Baltic landowners in these territories.

The Bermondt/Golz 45,000 strong army began its attack against Riga on October 8, 1919. This army had 100 cannons, 600 machine guns and 120 airplanes. On the other hand, the Latvian forces defending the city only amounted to 12,000 soldiers, because the rest of the Latvian army was fighting Soviet forces in the province of Latgale (eastern Latvia). The advantage of the enemy was huge, that is why after two days of fighting, Latvian forces were forced retreat, and on October 9, Bermondt's army unit had reached the Riga suburb of Tornakalns. Latvian soldiers retreated to the opposite side of the Daugava River. The next day, Bermondt's forces occupied the remaining part of the Riga suburb of Pardaugava (left side of the Daugava River). Battles raged for one month between the two forces located on opposite banks of the river.

The decisive attack took place on November 3, and was supported by allied ships, which opened fire on the Bermondt/Golz army. A week long battle ensued, and on November 10, Latvian forces crossed the river and forced the invading army out of the city. On November 11, Riga was liberated. The fight for Latvia's freedom lasted until the end of 1920, when Kurzeme Province was liberated from the Germany army, and Latgale Province was liberated from the Soviet army.

Pictures:

Picture one: The Northern Latvian Army by the gates of Riga - reproduction from the book "Latvijas Republika desmit pastāvēšanas gados" (The Republic of Latvia During Ten Years of Independence), Riga, 1928, page 33.

Picture two: The ravaged Riga suburb of Pardaugava during the battles between the Latvian army and Bermondt's army - reproduction from the book "Latvijas Republika desmit pastāvēšanas gados" (The Republic of Latvia During Ten Years of Independence), Riga, 1928, page 114.

Sources:

Excerpt from the book - Fr.Zalitis, „Latvijas vēsture" (Latvian History); Riga, 1937; page 347.

Excerpt from the book „Latvijas vēsture 20.gadsimts" (Latvian history in the 20th century), Riga, publisher „Jumava", 2005, pages 116-118.

Comments