Latvia
Some of the key events about Latvia
- 1201Crusaders invaded Livonian territory, beginning centuries of foreign rule
- 1558Livonian War began, devastating the region and leading to the dissolution of Livonia
- 1710Great Northern War and plague decimated Latvia's population
- 1812Napoleon's army invaded Latvia, causing widespread destruction
- 1918Latvia declared independence from Russia and Germany
- 1918German occupation of Latvia during World War I
- 1921Latvia was admitted to the League of Nations
- 1935The Freedom Monument was unveiled in Riga
- 1940Soviet Union forcibly annexed Latvia, ending its independence
- 1941Nazi Germany occupied Latvia during World War II
- 1944Soviet forces reoccupied Latvia, beginning a long period of Soviet rule
- 1949Mass deportations of Latvians to Siberia by Soviet authorities
- 1986Chernobyl nuclear disaster affected Latvia with radioactive fallout
- 1988The Latvian Popular Front was established, leading the push for independence
- 1990The Supreme Council of Latvia adopted the Declaration on the Restoration of Independence
- 1991Latvia regained full independence after the collapse of the Soviet Union
- 1994The last Russian troops withdrew from Latvia
- 2004Latvia joined both NATO and the European Union
- 2014Latvia adopted the euro as its official currency
- 2016Latvia became a member of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)
Disclaimer: This material is written based on information taken from open sources, including Wikipedia, news media, podcasts, and other public sources.
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