{"id":58,"date":"2011-08-15T09:49:05","date_gmt":"2011-08-15T09:49:05","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/velovilnius.lt\/balticcycle\/?p=58"},"modified":"2019-11-20T09:25:12","modified_gmt":"2019-11-20T09:25:12","slug":"hints-links-background-latvia","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/velovilnius.lt\/balticcycle\/de\/hints-links-background-latvia\/","title":{"rendered":"Hints, Links, Background Latvia, History of Latvia"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<style type=\"text\/css\">\n    <!-- @page { margin: 2cm } P { margin-bottom: 0.21cm } --><br \/>    <\/style>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p lang=\"de-DE\" style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 120%; text-decoration: none;\" align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"> <span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Black';\"><u>The Coat of Arms<\/u><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"de-DE\" style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 120%; text-decoration: none;\" align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\">The coat of arms combines symbols of Latvian national statehood (three stars, the sea and the sun) as well as symbols representing ancient historical districts: Kurzeme and Zemgale are depicted by a lion, Vidzeme and Latgale are depicted by the legendary winged silver creature with an eagle\u2019s head, a griffin.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"de-DE\" style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 120%; text-decoration: none;\" align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Black';\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\">Geography<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"de-DE\" style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 120%; text-decoration: none;\" align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\">Latvia is the central country of the Baltic States (Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania). On the world map Latvia is to be found in North-eastern Europe, on the east coast of the Baltic Sea. The landscape of the country is marked by lowland plains and rolling hills. Most of the countryside is less than 100 metres above sea level. There are thousands of rivers and lakes in Latvia.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"de-DE\" style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 120%; text-decoration: none;\" align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\">* Area: 64,589 sq.km or 24,937 <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"de-DE\" style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 120%; text-decoration: none;\" align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\">sq.miles. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"de-DE\" style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 120%; text-decoration: none;\" align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\">* Length of Latvia\u2019s Baltic coastline:<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"de-DE\" style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 120%; text-decoration: none;\" align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\">494 km. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"de-DE\" style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 120%; text-decoration: none;\" align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\">* Longest river within Latvian territory: the Gauja, 452 km. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"de-DE\" style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 120%; text-decoration: none;\" align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\">* Largest river to flow through Latvian territory: the Daugava, total length 1,005 km, of which 352 km within Latvian territory. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"de-DE\" style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 120%; text-decoration: none;\" align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\">* Highest point: Gaizi?kalns, <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"de-DE\" style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 120%; text-decoration: none;\" align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\">311.6 metres. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"de-DE\" style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 120%; text-decoration: none;\" align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Black';\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\">Climate<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"de-DE\" style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 120%; text-decoration: none;\" align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\">Latvia\u2019s weather is governed by a moderate oceanic climate, with changing high and low pressure and a considerable amount of precipitation. Summer: June &#8211; August, average temperature: 15.8<\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\">?<\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\">, (winter: -4.5<\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\">?<\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\">)<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"de-DE\" style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 120%; text-decoration: none;\" align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Black';\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\">Nature<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"de-DE\" style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 120%; text-decoration: none;\" align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\">Latvia is situated in a nature zone between the vegetation of Northern and Central Europe presenting splendid and diverse natural landscapes. Latvia, more backgroundForests cover 44 percent of the territory. Variety of flora and fauna: aprox. 27.7 thousand species &#8211; the largest otter population in Europe, and a greater chance of seeing the rare black stork<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"de-DE\" style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 120%; text-decoration: none;\" align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Black';\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\">Currency<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"de-DE\" style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 120%; text-decoration: none;\" align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\">Latvian national currency is the lats (LVL), 1 lats consists of 100 santims. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"de-DE\" style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 120%; text-decoration: none;\" align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #b8292e;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\">Exchange rate 1 ? = ca. 0,6 Ls<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"de-DE\" style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 120%; text-decoration: none;\" align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\">Most Important Traditional Festival<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"de-DE\" style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 120%; text-decoration: none;\" align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\">The annual celebration of the summer solstice, known as J??i (St. John) is generally viewed as the most important Latvian holiday. J??i is celebrated on June 23 and 24. These days of celebration mark the summer solstice with a colourful array of ancient traditions whose origins date back thousands of years.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"de-DE\" style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 120%; text-decoration: none;\" align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Black';\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\">Latvian Foods<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"de-DE\" style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 120%; text-decoration: none;\" align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\">Latvia\u2019s most popular national foods are usually considered to be caraway cheese, grey peas with bacon, bacon-filled pastries made from yeast dough and a special rye bread prepared according to ancient recipes. Rye bread is eaten every day by most of the population and it can be bought in every shop. Caraway cheese is the most typical food of the J??i (summer solstice) celebrations. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"de-DE\" style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 120%; text-decoration: none;\" align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #b8292e;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\">Important \/ Wichtigste Tel. Nr.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"de-DE\" style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 120%; text-decoration: none;\" align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\">Feuerwehr \/ Fire guard \/ <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"de-DE\" style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 120%; text-decoration: none;\" align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\">Ugunsdzeseji: 01, 112<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"de-DE\" style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 120%; text-decoration: none;\" align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\">Policija: 02<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"de-DE\" style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 120%; text-decoration: none;\" align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\">Erste Medizinische Hilfe \/ First Medical Aid \/ Atra mediciniska palidziba: 03,<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"de-DE\" style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 120%; text-decoration: none;\" align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\">Information: 118, 117<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"de-DE\" style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 120%; text-decoration: none;\" align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\">www.117.lv. www.118.lv<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"de-DE\" style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 120%; text-decoration: none;\" align=\"CENTER\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><sup><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Black';\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\">HOTLINE FOR TOURISTS <\/span><\/span><\/sup><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"de-DE\" style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 120%; text-decoration: none;\" align=\"CENTER\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><sup><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Black';\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\">IN LATVIA<\/span><\/span><\/sup><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"de-DE\" style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 120%; text-decoration: none;\" align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #b8292e;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\">The number is + 371\u00a067001188\u00a0and it is open around the clock, manned by English-speaking operators.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p lang=\"de-DE\" style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 120%; text-decoration: none;\" align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\">Links<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"de-DE\" style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 120%; text-decoration: none;\" align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\">Baltisches Informationsb?o\/<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"de-DE\" style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 120%; text-decoration: none;\" align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\">Baltikum Tourismus Zentrale (BTZ)<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"de-DE\" style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 120%; text-decoration: none;\" align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\">Fremdenverkehrsamt Estland &#8211;<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"de-DE\" style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 120%; text-decoration: none;\" align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\">Lettland &#8211; Litauen<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"de-DE\" style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 120%; text-decoration: none;\" align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\">Katharinenstr.19-20<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"de-DE\" style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 120%; text-decoration: none;\" align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\">10711 Berlin &#8211; Wilmersdorf<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"de-DE\" style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 120%; text-decoration: none;\" align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\">Tel. 030 &#8211; 89009091<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"de-DE\" style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 120%; text-decoration: none;\" align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\">Fax 030 &#8211; 89009092<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"de-DE\" style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 120%; text-decoration: none;\" align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\">info@baltikuminfo.de; <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"de-DE\" style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 120%; text-decoration: none;\" align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\">www.baltikuminfo.de<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"de-DE\" style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 120%; text-decoration: none;\" align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\">www.vietas.lv<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"de-DE\" style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 120%; text-decoration: none;\" align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\">www.openlatvia.lv<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"de-DE\" style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 120%; text-decoration: none;\" align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\">www.muzieji.lv<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"de-DE\" style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 120%; text-decoration: none;\" align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\">www.travel.lv<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"de-DE\" style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 120%; text-decoration: none;\" align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\">www.rigathisweek.com<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"de-DE\" style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 120%; text-decoration: none;\" align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\">www.rigaguide.lv<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"de-DE\" style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 120%; text-decoration: none;\" align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\">www.inyourpocket.com<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"de-DE\" style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 120%; text-decoration: none;\" align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\">Urlaub auf dem Lande \/ <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"de-DE\" style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 120%; text-decoration: none;\" align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\">Conutry holidays \/ Atputa Laukos: www.celotajs.lv , www.traveller.lv , <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"de-DE\" style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 120%; text-decoration: none;\" align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\">Kartenladen des Verlags \/ map shop <\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\">?<\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\">ana Seta\u201c Elizabetes iela 83\/85, korp 2, Riga, I-V: 10-19:VI:10-17:VII: <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<table border=\"1\" width=\"100%\" cellspacing=\"1\" cellpadding=\"1\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"50%\">\n<p lang=\"de-DE\" style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 120%; text-decoration: none;\" align=\"CENTER\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Black';\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\">A SHORT HISTORY <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"de-DE\" style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 120%; text-decoration: none;\" align=\"CENTER\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Black';\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\">OF LATVIA<\/span><\/span> <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"de-DE\" style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 120%; text-decoration: none;\" align=\"LEFT\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><sub><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\">Based on a text of Raimonds Cer\u016bzis, The Latvian Institute<\/span><\/span><\/sub><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"de-DE\" style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 120%; text-decoration: none;\" align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Black';\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\">Legendary History<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"de-DE\" style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 120%; text-decoration: none;\" align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\">The territory known today as Latvia has been inhabited since <\/span><span style=\"color: #b8292e;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\">9000 BC<\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\">. In the first half of 2000 BC, the proto-Balts or early Baltic peoples arrived. This era became famous as a trading crossroads. The \u2018<\/span><span style=\"color: #b8292e;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\">route from the Vikings to the Greeks<\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\">\u2019 mentioned in ancient chronicles stretched from Scandinavia through Latvian territory along the river Daugava to the Ancient Russia and Byzantine Empire. Latvia\u2019s coast was known as <\/span><span style=\"color: #b8292e;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\">the amber coast<\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\">. Baltic amber was known in places as far away as Ancient Greece and the Roman Empire. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"de-DE\" style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 120%; text-decoration: none;\" align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\">In the 900s AD, the Balts began to establish specific tribal realms. Four individual tribal cultures developed on nowadays Latvian territories: Couronians, Latgallians, Selonians, Semigallians (in Latvian: kur<\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\">\uc24f<\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\">, latga\u013ci, s\u0113\u013ci and zemga\u013ci). In the 1100s and 1200s, the Couronians maintained a lifestyle of intensive invasions that included looting and pillaging. Located on the east coast of the Baltic Sea, they became known as the \u2018Baltic Vikings\u2019. Their contemporaries, the inland Selonians and Semigallians, were known as peace-loving and prosperous farmers. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"de-DE\" style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 120%; text-decoration: none;\" align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Black';\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\">Under German Rule<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"de-DE\" style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 120%; text-decoration: none;\" align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\">Because of its strategic geographic location, Latvian territory was frequently invaded by neighbouring nations, largely defining the fate of Latvia and its people. By the <\/span><span style=\"color: #b8292e;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\">late 1100s<\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\">, Latvia was increasingly visited by traders from Western Europe who used Latvia\u2019s longest river, the Daugava, as a trade route to Russia. At the close of the 12th century, German traders arrived, bringing with them missionaries who attempted to convert the pagan Baltic and Finno-Ugrian tribes to the Christian faith. Out of loyalty to their ancient pantheistic beliefs, the Balts resisted. The Pope in Rome ordered a <\/span><span style=\"color: #b8292e;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\">military Crusade against the Baltic peoples<\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\">. Armed Germanic Crusaders were hired to assist the Christian missionaries and knights in a brutal campaign to forcibly convert the people of the region. At the strategically most important place close to the delta of the river Daugava to the Baltic Sea the Germans founded the city of <\/span><span style=\"color: #b8292e;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\">R\u012bga in 1201<\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\">. In the 1200s, a confederation of feudal territories was developed under German rule named <\/span><span style=\"color: #b8292e;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\">Livonia<\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\">. The territory included today\u2019s Latvia and Estonia. In 1282, R\u012bga and later C\u0113sis, Limba<\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\">\uc5cd<\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\">, Koknese and Valmiera, were <\/span><span style=\"color: #b8292e;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\">members <\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\">in the Northern German Trading Organisation known as the Hanseatic League (<\/span><span style=\"color: #b8292e;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\">Hansa<\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\">). <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"de-DE\" style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 120%; text-decoration: none;\" align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Black';\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\">Under Polish and Swedish Rule<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"de-DE\" style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 120%; text-decoration: none;\" align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\">The 1500s were a time of great changes for the inhabitants of Latvia, notable for the reformation and the collapse of Livonia. After the <\/span><span style=\"color: #b8292e;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\">Livonian War (1558 \ufffd1583)<\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\"> today\u2019s Latvian territory came under <\/span><span style=\"color: #b8292e;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\">Polish-Lithuanian rule<\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\">. The <\/span><span style=\"color: #b8292e;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\">Lutheran faith <\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\">was accepted in Kurzeme (Courland), Zemgale (Semigallia) and Vidzeme (Livland), Roman Catholic faith maintained its dominance in the South Eastern Region of Latgale (Latgallia). <\/span><span style=\"color: #b8292e;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\">In the 1600s<\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\">, the <\/span><span style=\"color: #b8292e;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\">Dukedom of Kurzeme (Courland)<\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\"> experienced a notable economic boom. It established even two colonies \ufffdan island in the estuary of the Gambia River in Africa and Tobago Island in the Caribbean Sea. On Tobago there is still a \u201cCourland bay\u201d. During the <\/span><span style=\"color: #b8292e;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\">Polish-Swedish war (1600 \ufffd1629)<\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\">, R\u012bga came under Swedish rule, overshadowing Stockholm as the largest and most developed city in the Swedish Kingdom. The North Eastern region of Vidzeme was known as the \u2018Swedish Bread Basket\u2019 &#8211; it supplied the larger part of the Swedish kingdom with wheat. Consolidation of the Latvian nation occurred in the 1600s. With the merging of the Couronians, Latgallians, Selonians, Semigallians and Livs (Finno-Ugrians along the Northwesten Baltic Sea Coast) a culturally unified nation that spoke a common language developed \ufffd<\/span><span style=\"color: #b8292e;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\">the Latvians (in Latvian: latvie<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\"><span style=\"color: #b8292e;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\">\uc24f<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\"><span style=\"color: #b8292e;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\">)<\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\">. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"de-DE\" style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 120%; text-decoration: none;\" align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Black';\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\">Under Russian Rule<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"de-DE\" style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 120%; text-decoration: none;\" align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\">At the beginning of the 1700s the <\/span><span style=\"color: #b8292e;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\">Great Northern War <\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\">broke out &#8211; a result of the Russian Empire\u2019s desire to expand to the Baltic Sea. In 1710, the Russian Tsar, Peter I, conquered Vidzeme, together with R\u012bga a clear passage to Europe. By the end of the 18th century, all of Latvia\u2019s territory was under Russian rule. At the end of the 1700s, industry developed quickly, bringing with it a major growth in population. Latvia became the most developed province of the Russian Empire. At the beginning of the 1800s, with the rise of national consciousness throughout Europe, ethnic Latvians experienced a powerful \u2018awakening\u2019 of national identity. The first newspapers in Latvian language were printed, and active cultural development took place. The latter half of the 1800s marked a period of national rebirth \ufffdthe most active members of the Latvian social and cultural life, the so called \u2018New-Latvians\u2019, jaunlatvie<\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\">\uc24f<\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\">, demanded the same rights long enjoyed by other nations. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"de-DE\" style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 120%; text-decoration: none;\" align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Black';\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\">The Fight for Independence<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"de-DE\" style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 120%; text-decoration: none;\" align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\">The idea of an independent Latvia became a reality at the beginning of the 1900s. As the First World War spread to Latvian territory and directly engaged the entire population, a powerful pro-independence movement developed. Courageous Latvian riflemen called \u2018latvie<\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\">\uc25f <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\">str\u0113lnieki\u2019 fought on the Tsarist Russian side during this war, and earned recognition for their bravery across Europe. Post-war confusion enabled pro-independence forces to consolidate their efforts. Latvia\u2019s independence was proclaimed shortly after the end of the First World War \ufffdon <\/span><span style=\"color: #b8292e;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\">November 18, 1918<\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\">. The first to recognise Latvia\u2019s independence was Soviet Russia. The international community recognised Latvia\u2019s independence on January 26, 1921. In the same year Latvia became a member of the League of Nations and took an active role in the European community of democratic nations. In the midst of the world economic crises of the 1930s, Latvia also experienced dissatisfaction among its population. In an attempt to bring stability to the country, the Prime Minister organised a <\/span><span style=\"color: #b8292e;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\">peaceful coup d\u2019etat on May 15, 1934<\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\">, suspending the activities of the Saeima (the Parliament) and all political parties. This was followed by rapid economic growth, during which Latvia achieved one of the highest standards of living in Europe. Because of a general improvement in the quality of life, there was little opposition to the <\/span><span style=\"color: #b8292e;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\">authoritarian rule of the Prime Minister<\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\">. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"de-DE\" style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 120%; text-decoration: none;\" align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Black';\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\">Loss of Independence<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"de-DE\" style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 120%; text-decoration: none;\" align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\">Latvia\u2019s longstanding strategic importance to the USSR was underlined with the signing of the so-called <\/span><span style=\"color: #b8292e;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\">\u2018Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact\u2019 on August 23, 1939<\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\">. In concordance with this unlawful secret agreement, the <\/span><span style=\"color: #b8292e;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\">Soviet army occupied Latvia<\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\"> on June 17, 1940. A few months later, Latvia was incorporated into the Soviet Union. During the \u2018<\/span><span style=\"color: #b8292e;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\">Night of Terror<\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\">\u2019 (June 13-14, 1941) thousands of Latvia\u2019s inhabitants were taken from their homes, placed in boxcars and deported to Siberia. Thirty-five thousand people suffered Soviet repression in the first year of Soviet occupation. In the <\/span><span style=\"color: #b8292e;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\">summer of 1941<\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\">, the Soviets were forced to retreat as Latvia was invaded by German occupation forces. Under subsequent <\/span><span style=\"color: #b8292e;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\">Nazi German rule<\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\">, <\/span><span style=\"color: #b8292e;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\">90 percent of Latvia\u2019s Jewish population was systematically annihilated<\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\">. In 1944, the USSR reinvaded Latvia. Following heavy fighting between German and Soviet troops, the Red Army finally gained the upper hand. Famous became Western Latvia where the \u201cFortress Curonia\u201d was declared. It\u2019s capitulation took place only after the defeat of Nazi Germany. During the course of the war, both occupying forces conscripted Latvians into their armies, in this way increased the loss of the nation\u2019s \u2018human resource\u2019. By 1945, Latvia was once again under total Soviet occupation and pre-war Soviet rule was reinstated. The first post war years marked a particularly <\/span><span style=\"color: #b8292e;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\">dismal and sombre period <\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\">in Latvia\u2019s history. Soviet rule was characterised by systematic repression and genocide against the Latvian people. One hundred and twenty thousand Latvian inhabitants were imprisoned or deported to Soviet concentration (<\/span><span style=\"color: #b8292e;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\">GULAG<\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\">) camps. More than hundred and forty thousand took refuge from the Soviet army by <\/span><span style=\"color: #b8292e;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\">fleeing to the West<\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\">. On March 25, 1949, more than forty thousand rural residents were deported to Siberia in a sweeping repressive action. An extensive <\/span><span style=\"color: #b8292e;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\">Russification campaign<\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\"> began in Latvia and many administrative obstacles were created to hinder the use of the Latvian language. Latvia was forced to adopt Soviet farming practices (\u201ccollectivisation\u201d) and the economic infrastructure developed in the 1920s and 1930s was destroyed. Moscow decided to base some of the Soviet Union\u2019s most advanced manufacturing factories in Latvia. To supply the large labour force needed, workers from other Soviet republics mainly Russia were seddled to the country. Whereas prior to the Second World War Latvians comprised 75 percent of the population, by the end of the 1980s, this number was reduced to 50 percent. (Present population: 2.3 mln). <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"de-DE\" style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 120%; text-decoration: none;\" align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Black';\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\">Reinstating Independence<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"de-DE\" style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 120%; text-decoration: none;\" align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\">A liberalisation within the communist regime in the USSR, known as \u2018glasnost\u2019, began in the mid 1980s. This opportunity was seized by pro-independence forces in the population, who formed mass, nationally oriented socio-political organisations \ufffdTautas Fronte (The Popular Front of Latvia), Latvijas Nacion\u0101l\u0101s Neatkar\u012bbas Kust\u012bba (Latvia\u2019s National Independence Movement), Pilso\u0146u Kongress (The Congress of Citizens of Latvia). All supported the restoration of Latvia\u2019s national independence. <\/span><span style=\"color: #b8292e;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\">August 23, 1989<\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\">, marked the 50th anniversary of the signing of notorious \u2018Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact\u2019, which had led to the Soviet occupations of Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia. In order to draw the world\u2019s attention to the fate of the Baltic nations, around 2 million Latvians, Lithuanians and Estonians joined hands in a human chain called \u201cthe Baltic Way\u201d that stretched 600 kilometres from Tallinn, to R\u012bga, to Vilnius. A major step toward restoration of independence was taken on <\/span><span style=\"color: #b8292e;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\">May 4, 1990<\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\">, when the Latvian SSR parliamentary body known as the Supreme Council adopted a declaration calling for the restoring independence following a transition period. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"de-DE\" style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 120%; text-decoration: none;\" align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\">On <\/span><span style=\"color: #b8292e;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\">August 21, 1991 <\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\">the parliament voted to end to this transition period, thus restoring Latvia\u2019s pre-war independence. In September 1991, Latvian independence was recognised by the USSR. Soon after reinstating independence, Latvia became a member of the United Nations, the International Monetary Fund, of the European Council etc. <\/span><span style=\"color: #b8292e;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\">In 2004 <\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\">Latvia\u2019s most important foreign policy goals \ufffdmembership in the<\/span><span style=\"color: #b8292e;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\"> European Union and NATO<\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\"> \ufffdwere fulfilled. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"de-DE\" style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 120%; text-decoration: none;\" align=\"JUSTIFY\">\n<\/td>\n<td width=\"50%\">\n<p lang=\"de-DE\" style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 120%; text-decoration: none;\" align=\"CENTER\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Black';\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">Geschichte <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"de-DE\" style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 120%; text-decoration: none;\" align=\"CENTER\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Black';\">Lettlands <\/span><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Black';\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\">[DE]<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"de-DE\" style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 120%; text-decoration: none;\" align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><sub><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\">Hier ist einmal die englische Fassung l\ufffdger <\/span><\/span><\/sub><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"de-DE\" style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 120%; text-decoration: none;\" align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Black';\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\">Fr\u00fchgeschichte<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"de-DE\" style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 120%; text-decoration: none;\" align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\">9000 vor Christus: Funde erster Besiedlung<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"de-DE\" style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 120%; text-decoration: none;\" align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\">2000-1500 vor Christus: Ankunft\/Besiedlung durch die Vorfahren der Balten sogenannte \u201cProto-baltische St\ufffdme\u201d.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"de-DE\" style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 120%; text-decoration: none;\" align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\">Erste Berichte \ufffder Handel mit Bernstein bis nach Byzanz (Griechenland), sp\ufffder Rom. Die Ostseek\ufffdte wird als \u201cBernsteink\ufffdte\u201d ber\ufffdmt<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"de-DE\" style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 120%; text-decoration: none;\" align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\">Im 10. Jahrhundert nach Christus bilden sich die folgende Gruppen von Bewohner auf dem Territorium des heutigen Lettland: Kuren (heute: Westlettland), Latgalen (heute: S\ufffdostlettland), Selen, Semgalen (S\ufffdlettland) auf Lettisch: kur<\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\">\uc24f<\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\">, latgali, seli and zemgali). Dar\ufffder hinaus siedelten im Norden Lettlands (vor allem an dien K\ufffdten) die Liven, ein Stamm, der eher mit den Esten und Finnen, als mit den heutigen Letten verwandt ist.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"de-DE\" style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 120%; text-decoration: none;\" align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Black';\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\">Deutsche Zeiten<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"de-DE\" style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 120%; text-decoration: none;\" align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\">Im 12. Jahrhundert nahm der Handel von Westeuropa nach Russland \ufffder den Fluss Daugava (deutsch: D\ufffda) zu. Verst\ufffdkt kamen deutsche H\ufffdd\u00adler und auch Missionare, welche die \u201cBaltischen Heiden\u201d zum christlichen Glauben zu bekehren suchten. Der Papst in Rom rief sogar zu einem Kreuzzug auf. In der Folge unterwarfen Deutsche Kreuzritter blutig die lettischen St\ufffdme. 1201 begr\ufffddete Bischof Albert aus Bremen kommend die Stadt Riga nahe der strategische wichtigen Daugava-M\ufffddung in die Ostsee.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"de-DE\" style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 120%; text-decoration: none;\" align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\">Im 13. Jahrhundert bildete sich ein deutsch beherrschtes Gebiet unter dem Namen \u201cLivonia\u201d\/Livl\ufffddische Konf\ufffdderation (das Gebiet erstreckte sich \ufffder das heutige-Lett\u00adland und den Gro\ufffdeil Estlands). <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"de-DE\" style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 120%; text-decoration: none;\" align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\">1282 wurde Riga, sp\ufffder auch die St\ufffdte Cesis (Wenden), Limba<\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\">\uc5cd<\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\">, Koknese und Valmiera (Wolmir), Mitg\u00adlied der mittelalterlichen Handels\u00adorganisation Hanse. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"de-DE\" style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 120%; text-decoration: none;\" align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Black';\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\">Polen und Schweden<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"de-DE\" style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 120%; text-decoration: none;\" align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\">Im 16 Jahrhundert kam es zu gro\ufffdn Ver\ufffdderungen, vor allem der Reformation und dem Zerfall des Staates Livland.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"de-DE\" style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 120%; text-decoration: none;\" align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\">1558-1583: <\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\">\uaef5<\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\">ivl\ufffddischer Krieg\u201c, in dessen Folge Lettland unter Pol\u00adnisch-Litauischen Einfluss kam. Die \u201cDeutschen\u201d bitten die Polen um Schutz vor Iwan genannt \u201cder Schreckliche\u201d. Obwohl sich der Lutherische Glaube in Kurzeme (Kurland), Zemgale (Semgallen) und Vidzeme (Livland) durchsetzte, ist der S\ufffdosten (Latgalen) mehrheitlich katholisch und es gibt katholische <\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\">\uaef1<\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\">nseln\u201c, so das St\ufffdtchen Alsunga in Kurland.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"de-DE\" style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 120%; text-decoration: none;\" align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\">Im 17. Jahrhundert war es das Herzogtum Kurland, dass ein ansehnliche Gr<\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\">\u79e4<\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\">e erlangte. Es umfasste ungef\ufffdr ganz West- und S\ufffdlettland. Kurland hatte sogar zwei Kolonien \ufffdeine Insel im Gambia-Fluss in Afrika sowie die Insel Tobago in der Karabik. Bis heute gibt es eine \u201cCourland bay\u201d auf Tobago und die Flagge Tobagos besteht aus den gleichen Farben (Schwarz und Rot) wie die Kurlands. Eindrucksvoll ist der<\/span><span style=\"color: #b8292e;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\"> Palast mit der Gruft der Herz\ufffde von Kurland in Jelgava (Mitau)<\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\"> in S\ufffdlettland.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"de-DE\" style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 120%; text-decoration: none;\" align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\">1600-1629: Polnisch-Schwedischer Krieg, in dem Riga zur Gr<\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\">\u79e4<\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\">ten Stadt Schwedens wurde. Es entsteht auch eine die verschiedenen St\ufffdme einende Sprache und \ufffderkultur.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"de-DE\" style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 120%; text-decoration: none;\" align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Black';\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\">Russische Herrschaft<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"de-DE\" style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 120%; text-decoration: none;\" align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\">Das 18. Jahrhundert sieht den Auftstieg Russlands unter Zar Peter dem Ersten, genannt <\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\">\uaf0b<\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\">er Gro\ufffd\u201c. Es kommt zum Gro\ufffdn Nordischen Krieg. 1710 erobert Russland Vidzeme (Nordostlettland), bis zum Ende des 18 Jh. ganz Lettland. Es w\ufffdhst die Industrie und mit ihr die Bev\ufffdkerung. Lettland wird zur fortschrittlichsten Provinz im Russischen Zarenreich.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"de-DE\" style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 120%; text-decoration: none;\" align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\">Im 19. Jahrhundert entsteht dann wie ein lettisches Nationalbewusstsein, eigene Zeitungen, kulturelle Veranstaltungen und Entwicklungen. Es ist kein Wunder, dass daraus die nationale Bewegung der <\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\">\uaef2<\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\">ungletten\u201c (jaunlatvie<\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\">\uc24f<\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\">) hervorgeht.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"de-DE\" style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 120%; text-decoration: none;\" align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Black';\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\">Auf dem Weg zur <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"de-DE\" style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 120%; text-decoration: none;\" align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Black';\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\">Unabh\u00e4ngigkeit<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"de-DE\" style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 120%; text-decoration: none;\" align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\">Mit dem Ende des Ersten Weltkrieges kommt die gro\ufffd Gelegenheit f\ufffd einen eigenen lettischen Staat. Die sog. Lettischen Sch\ufffdzen\u201c (latvie<\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\">\uc25f <\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\">strelnieki) hatten auf beiden Seiten gek\ufffdpft und bilden die Grundlage einer Landesverteidigung. Die Letten m\ufffdsen dabei sowohl gegen \ufffderreste der deutsche Truppen k\ufffdpfen &#8211; am ber\ufffdmtesten: die Schlacht bei Cesis &#8211; als auch gegen die Bestrebungen aus Lettland eine Sowjetrepublik zu machen<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"de-DE\" style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 120%; text-decoration: none;\" align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\">18.11.1918 &#8211; Erkl\ufffdung der <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"de-DE\" style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 120%; text-decoration: none;\" align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\">Unabh\ufffdgigkeit als <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"de-DE\" style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 120%; text-decoration: none;\" align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\">demokratische Republik.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"de-DE\" style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 120%; text-decoration: none;\" align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\">Als erster Staat erkannte Sowjetruss\u00adland die Lettische Republik an. \u201cLettische Sch\ufffdzen\u201d hatten auch die sichere Fahrt Lenins aus dem Schweizer Exil nach Petersburg abgesichert, damit er die russische Revolution ausl\ufffden konnte. Ein Denkmal f\ufffd die \u201cLettischen Sch\ufffdzen\u201d sie steht bis heute vor dem Geschichtsmuseum am Rathausplatz in Riga.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"de-DE\" style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 120%; text-decoration: none;\" align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\">26.1.1921 \ufffdInternationale Anerkennung der lettischen Unabh\ufffdgigkeit. Lettland wird Mitglied im V\ufffdkerbund. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"de-DE\" style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 120%; text-decoration: none;\" align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\">1930er: Die Weltwirtschaftkrise beutelt auch Lettland. Dies nutzt der Premierminister Karlis Ulmanis f\ufffd einen Staatsstreich am 15.5.1934, vielleicht um noch schlimmeren vorzubeugen. Bis zur Einverleibung durch die Sowjetunion 1940 wird das Land autorit\ufffd regiert, Parteien und Parlament aufgel\ufffdt <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"de-DE\" style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 120%; text-decoration: none;\" align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Black';\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\">Kriegswirren &amp; Repressionen<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"de-DE\" style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 120%; text-decoration: none;\" align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\">23.8.1939 \u201cMolotov-RibbentropPakt\u201d (auch \u201cHitler-Stalin-Pakt\u201d genannt). In dessen Folge werden die Baltischen Staaten der Sowjetischen Interessensph\ufffde zugesprochen.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"de-DE\" style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 120%; text-decoration: none;\" align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\">Als Konsequenz besetzten Sowjetische Truppen am 17.6.1940 Lett\u00adland, das bald darauf als <\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\">\uaef5<\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\">ettische Sowjetrepublik\u201c der Sowjetunion beitritt. In der sogenannten <\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\">\uaef7<\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\">acht des Terror\u201c werden vom 13. zum 14. Juni 1941 Tausende von Einwohnern Lett\u00adlands in Viehwagons gesteckt und nach Sibirien deportiert. Rund 45.000 Menschen sindvon solchen Aktionen im ersten Jahr \u201cSowjetlettlands\u201d betroffen.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"de-DE\" style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 120%; text-decoration: none;\" align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\">Im Sommer 1941 marschieren deutsche Truppen ein. Unter der Nazi-Herrschaft werden 90 Prozent der j\ufffdischen Bev\ufffdkerung systematisch vernichtet. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"en-GB\" style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 120%; text-decoration: none;\" align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\"><span lang=\"de-DE\">1944 kehren die Truppen der UdSSR zur\ufffdk. Bis zuletzt wehrt sich die sogenannte <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"color: #b8292e;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\"><span lang=\"de-DE\">Festung Kurland<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\"><span lang=\"de-DE\">\u201c in Westlettland (Museum in Zante s\ufffdlich von Kuldiga), die erst nach dem Fall Berlins kapituliert. Wie schon im Ersten Weltkrieg, so werden auch im Zweiten Letten mehr oder minder williges Kanonenfutter auf beiden Seiten. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"de-DE\" style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 120%; text-decoration: none;\" align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\">Die ersten Jahre nach dem Zweiten Weltkrieg haben den Beinamen \u201cdie dunkelen Jahre\u201d bekommen. 120.000 Einwohner werden eingekerkert oder in die Sowjetischen Straf-Lager (GULAG) nach Sibirien deportiert. \ufffder 140.000 Einwohner fliehen nach Westen. Allein am 25.3.1949 werden 40.000 Einwohner nach Sibirien deportiert. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"de-DE\" style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 120%; text-decoration: none;\" align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\">Parallel zum Bev\ufffdkerungsverlust wird die Wirtschaft unstrukturiert: Die Landwirtschaft wird kollektiviert und gro\ufffd Industrieanlagen gebaut. Die Arbeitskr\ufffdte daf\ufffd kommen haupts\ufffdhlich aus den slawischen Republiken, allen voran Russland. Der Anteil der Lettischen Bev\ufffdkerung sinkt von 75 Prozent vor dem Zweiten Weltkrieg auf 52 Prozent Ende der 1980er Jahre (bei rund 2,3 Mio. Einwohnern).<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"de-DE\" style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 120%; text-decoration: none;\" align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Black';\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\">Modernes Lettland<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"de-DE\" style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 120%; text-decoration: none;\" align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\">In den 1980er Jahren kommt es zu liberalen Haltungen in der UdSSR. Auch das lettische Volk nutzt die Chance nach mehr Freiheit mit nationalen Massen-Organisationen, von den die bekanntesten die Volksfront &#8211; <\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\">\uaeff<\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\">autas Fronte\u201c, Die lettische Nationale Unabh\ufffdgigkeitsbewegung &#8211;<\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\">\uaef5<\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\">atvijas Nacionalas Neatkaribas Kustiba\u201c und der B\ufffdgerkongress &#8211;<\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\">\uaefa<\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\">ilsonu Kongress\u201c waren. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"de-DE\" style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 120%; text-decoration: none;\" align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\">Am 23. August 1989 kommt es zu einer besonderen Gedenkveranstaltung zum 50. Jahrestages des \u2018Molotov-Ribbentrop Pakts\u2019. In Gedenken an die Besetzung Lettland, Litauens und Estlands reichen sich rund 2 Millionen Menschen die H\ufffdde f\ufffd eine Menschenkette von 600 Kilometern L\ufffdge zwischen den Hauptst\ufffdten Tallinn, Riga und Vilnius. Name der Aktion: Der baltische Weg\u201c.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"de-DE\" style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 120%; text-decoration: none;\" align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\">Der Oberste Rat der Lettischen Sowjetrepublik erkl\ufffdt am 4. Mai 1990 den Beginn einer \ufffdergangsperiode zur Wiederherstellung der Unabh\ufffdgigkeit. Am 21. August 1991 beschlie\ufffd das Parlament das Ende der \ufffdergangsperiode. Im September 1991 wird die Unabh\ufffdgigkeit von der UdSSR anerkannt. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"de-DE\" style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 120%; text-decoration: none;\" align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\">Lettland wird Mitglied der Verein\u00adten Nationen, des Internationalen W\ufffdrungsfonds und der Welthandelsorganition.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"de-DE\" style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 120%; text-decoration: none;\" align=\"LEFT\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\">2004 wird Lettland Vollmitglied von NATO und Europ\ufffdscher Union&#8230;<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><\/td>\n<td><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&nbsp; &nbsp; The Coat of Arms The coat of arms combines symbols of Latvian national statehood (three stars, the sea and the sun) as well as symbols representing ancient historical districts: Kurzeme and Zemgale are depicted by a lion, Vidzeme and Latgale are depicted by the legendary winged silver creature with an eagle\u2019s head, a [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false,"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":true,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","enabled":false},"version":2},"_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[8],"tags":[139],"featured_image_src":"","blog_images":{"medium":"","large":""},"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"ams_acf":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p4oO1r-W","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[],"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"pwapp_after_post_content":"","pwapp_before_post_content":"","androapp_header":"","pwapp_author":{"ID":1,"name":"admin","slug":"admin"},"pwapp_terms":{"category":[{"term_id":8,"name":"[:en]Hints[:de]Tipps und Tricks[:]","slug":"hints","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":8,"taxonomy":"category","description":"","parent":0,"count":11,"filter":"raw","i18n_config":{"name":{"ts":{"en":"[:en]Hints[:de]Tipps und Tricks[:]"}}},"cat_ID":8,"category_count":11,"category_description":"","cat_name":"[:en]Hints[:de]Tipps und Tricks[:]","category_nicename":"hints","category_parent":0,"ID":8}],"post_tag":[{"term_id":139,"name":"[:en]Cycling in Latvia[:de]Radfahren in Lettland[:]","slug":"latvia","term_group":1,"term_taxonomy_id":139,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":6,"filter":"raw","i18n_config":{"name":{"ts":{"en":"[:en]Cycling in Latvia[:de]Radfahren in Lettland[:]"}}},"ID":139}]},"pwapp_feed_image_dimension_type":"preview","pwapp_post_image":null,"share_image":null,"featured_image_showhide":"show","pwapp_excerpt":"<p>&nbsp; &nbsp; The Coat of Arms The coat of arms combines symbols of Latvian national statehood (three stars, the sea and the sun) as well as symbols representing ancient historical districts: Kurzeme and Zemgale are depicted by a lion, Vidzeme and Latgale are depicted by the legendary winged silver creature with an eagle\u2019s head, a [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","pwapp_title":"Hints, Links, Background Latvia, History of Latvia","androapp_image_list":[],"pwapp_post_content":"<style type=\"text\/css\">androapp img{\r\n    max-width: 100%;\r\n    height: auto;\r\n}\r\niframe{\r\n    max-width: 100%;    \r\n}\r\nfigure {\r\n    max-width: 100%;\r\n    height: auto;\r\n}\r\nimg{\r\n    max-width: 100% !important;\r\n    height: auto;\r\n}\r\ndiv {\r\n    max-width: 100% !important;\r\n}\r\nspan {\r\n    max-width:100%;\r\n    overflow: auto;\r\n}\r\naudio {\r\n    display:block;\r\n    visibility:visible !important;\r\n}\r\nvideo{\r\n    width:100%;\r\n    height:auto;\r\n}\r\n<\/style><div class='androapp'><p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<style type=\"text\/css\">\n    <!-- @page { margin: 2cm } P { margin-bottom: 0.21cm } --><br \/>    <\/style>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p lang=\"de-DE\" style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 120%; text-decoration: none;\" align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"> <span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Black';\"><u>The Coat of Arms<\/u><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"de-DE\" style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 120%; text-decoration: none;\" align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\">The coat of arms combines symbols of Latvian national statehood (three stars, the sea and the sun) as well as symbols representing ancient historical districts: Kurzeme and Zemgale are depicted by a lion, Vidzeme and Latgale are depicted by the legendary winged silver creature with an eagle\u2019s head, a griffin.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"de-DE\" style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 120%; text-decoration: none;\" align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Black';\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\">Geography<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"de-DE\" style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 120%; text-decoration: none;\" align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\">Latvia is the central country of the Baltic States (Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania). On the world map Latvia is to be found in North-eastern Europe, on the east coast of the Baltic Sea. The landscape of the country is marked by lowland plains and rolling hills. Most of the countryside is less than 100 metres above sea level. There are thousands of rivers and lakes in Latvia.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"de-DE\" style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 120%; text-decoration: none;\" align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\">* Area: 64,589 sq.km or 24,937 <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"de-DE\" style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 120%; text-decoration: none;\" align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\">sq.miles. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"de-DE\" style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 120%; text-decoration: none;\" align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\">* Length of Latvia\u2019s Baltic coastline:<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"de-DE\" style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 120%; text-decoration: none;\" align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\">494 km. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"de-DE\" style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 120%; text-decoration: none;\" align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\">* Longest river within Latvian territory: the Gauja, 452 km. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"de-DE\" style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 120%; text-decoration: none;\" align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\">* Largest river to flow through Latvian territory: the Daugava, total length 1,005 km, of which 352 km within Latvian territory. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"de-DE\" style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 120%; text-decoration: none;\" align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\">* Highest point: Gaizi?kalns, <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"de-DE\" style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 120%; text-decoration: none;\" align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\">311.6 metres. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"de-DE\" style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 120%; text-decoration: none;\" align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Black';\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\">Climate<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"de-DE\" style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 120%; text-decoration: none;\" align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\">Latvia\u2019s weather is governed by a moderate oceanic climate, with changing high and low pressure and a considerable amount of precipitation. Summer: June &#8211; August, average temperature: 15.8<\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\">?<\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\">, (winter: -4.5<\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\">?<\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\">)<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"de-DE\" style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 120%; text-decoration: none;\" align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Black';\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\">Nature<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"de-DE\" style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 120%; text-decoration: none;\" align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\">Latvia is situated in a nature zone between the vegetation of Northern and Central Europe presenting splendid and diverse natural landscapes. Latvia, more backgroundForests cover 44 percent of the territory. Variety of flora and fauna: aprox. 27.7 thousand species &#8211; the largest otter population in Europe, and a greater chance of seeing the rare black stork<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"de-DE\" style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 120%; text-decoration: none;\" align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Black';\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\">Currency<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"de-DE\" style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 120%; text-decoration: none;\" align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\">Latvian national currency is the lats (LVL), 1 lats consists of 100 santims. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"de-DE\" style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 120%; text-decoration: none;\" align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #b8292e;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\">Exchange rate 1 ? = ca. 0,6 Ls<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"de-DE\" style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 120%; text-decoration: none;\" align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\">Most Important Traditional Festival<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"de-DE\" style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 120%; text-decoration: none;\" align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\">The annual celebration of the summer solstice, known as J??i (St. John) is generally viewed as the most important Latvian holiday. J??i is celebrated on June 23 and 24. These days of celebration mark the summer solstice with a colourful array of ancient traditions whose origins date back thousands of years.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"de-DE\" style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 120%; text-decoration: none;\" align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Black';\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\">Latvian Foods<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"de-DE\" style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 120%; text-decoration: none;\" align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\">Latvia\u2019s most popular national foods are usually considered to be caraway cheese, grey peas with bacon, bacon-filled pastries made from yeast dough and a special rye bread prepared according to ancient recipes. Rye bread is eaten every day by most of the population and it can be bought in every shop. Caraway cheese is the most typical food of the J??i (summer solstice) celebrations. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"de-DE\" style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 120%; text-decoration: none;\" align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #b8292e;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\">Important \/ Wichtigste Tel. Nr.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"de-DE\" style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 120%; text-decoration: none;\" align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\">Feuerwehr \/ Fire guard \/ <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"de-DE\" style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 120%; text-decoration: none;\" align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\">Ugunsdzeseji: 01, 112<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"de-DE\" style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 120%; text-decoration: none;\" align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\">Policija: 02<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"de-DE\" style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 120%; text-decoration: none;\" align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\">Erste Medizinische Hilfe \/ First Medical Aid \/ Atra mediciniska palidziba: 03,<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"de-DE\" style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 120%; text-decoration: none;\" align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\">Information: 118, 117<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"de-DE\" style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 120%; text-decoration: none;\" align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\">www.117.lv. www.118.lv<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"de-DE\" style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 120%; text-decoration: none;\" align=\"CENTER\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><sup><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Black';\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\">HOTLINE FOR TOURISTS <\/span><\/span><\/sup><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"de-DE\" style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 120%; text-decoration: none;\" align=\"CENTER\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><sup><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Black';\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\">IN LATVIA<\/span><\/span><\/sup><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"de-DE\" style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 120%; text-decoration: none;\" align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #b8292e;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\">The number is + 371\u00a067001188\u00a0and it is open around the clock, manned by English-speaking operators.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p lang=\"de-DE\" style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 120%; text-decoration: none;\" align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\">Links<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"de-DE\" style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 120%; text-decoration: none;\" align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\">Baltisches Informationsb?o\/<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"de-DE\" style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 120%; text-decoration: none;\" align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\">Baltikum Tourismus Zentrale (BTZ)<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"de-DE\" style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 120%; text-decoration: none;\" align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\">Fremdenverkehrsamt Estland &#8211;<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"de-DE\" style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 120%; text-decoration: none;\" align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\">Lettland &#8211; Litauen<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"de-DE\" style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 120%; text-decoration: none;\" align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\">Katharinenstr.19-20<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"de-DE\" style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 120%; text-decoration: none;\" align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\">10711 Berlin &#8211; Wilmersdorf<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"de-DE\" style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 120%; text-decoration: none;\" align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\">Tel. 030 &#8211; 89009091<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"de-DE\" style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 120%; text-decoration: none;\" align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\">Fax 030 &#8211; 89009092<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"de-DE\" style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 120%; text-decoration: none;\" align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\">info@baltikuminfo.de; <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"de-DE\" style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 120%; text-decoration: none;\" align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\">www.baltikuminfo.de<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"de-DE\" style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 120%; text-decoration: none;\" align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\">www.vietas.lv<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"de-DE\" style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 120%; text-decoration: none;\" align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\">www.openlatvia.lv<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"de-DE\" style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 120%; text-decoration: none;\" align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\">www.muzieji.lv<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"de-DE\" style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 120%; text-decoration: none;\" align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\">www.travel.lv<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"de-DE\" style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 120%; text-decoration: none;\" align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\">www.rigathisweek.com<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"de-DE\" style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 120%; text-decoration: none;\" align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\">www.rigaguide.lv<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"de-DE\" style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 120%; text-decoration: none;\" align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\">www.inyourpocket.com<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"de-DE\" style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 120%; text-decoration: none;\" align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\">Urlaub auf dem Lande \/ <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"de-DE\" style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 120%; text-decoration: none;\" align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\">Conutry holidays \/ Atputa Laukos: www.celotajs.lv , www.traveller.lv , <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"de-DE\" style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 120%; text-decoration: none;\" align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\">Kartenladen des Verlags \/ map shop <\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\">?<\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\">ana Seta\u201c Elizabetes iela 83\/85, korp 2, Riga, I-V: 10-19:VI:10-17:VII: <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<table border=\"1\" width=\"100%\" cellspacing=\"1\" cellpadding=\"1\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"50%\">\n<p lang=\"de-DE\" style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 120%; text-decoration: none;\" align=\"CENTER\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Black';\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\">A SHORT HISTORY <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"de-DE\" style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 120%; text-decoration: none;\" align=\"CENTER\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Black';\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\">OF LATVIA<\/span><\/span> <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"de-DE\" style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 120%; text-decoration: none;\" align=\"LEFT\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><sub><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\">Based on a text of Raimonds Cer\u016bzis, The Latvian Institute<\/span><\/span><\/sub><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"de-DE\" style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 120%; text-decoration: none;\" align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Black';\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\">Legendary History<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"de-DE\" style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 120%; text-decoration: none;\" align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\">The territory known today as Latvia has been inhabited since <\/span><span style=\"color: #b8292e;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\">9000 BC<\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\">. In the first half of 2000 BC, the proto-Balts or early Baltic peoples arrived. This era became famous as a trading crossroads. The \u2018<\/span><span style=\"color: #b8292e;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\">route from the Vikings to the Greeks<\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\">\u2019 mentioned in ancient chronicles stretched from Scandinavia through Latvian territory along the river Daugava to the Ancient Russia and Byzantine Empire. Latvia\u2019s coast was known as <\/span><span style=\"color: #b8292e;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\">the amber coast<\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\">. Baltic amber was known in places as far away as Ancient Greece and the Roman Empire. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"de-DE\" style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 120%; text-decoration: none;\" align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\">In the 900s AD, the Balts began to establish specific tribal realms. Four individual tribal cultures developed on nowadays Latvian territories: Couronians, Latgallians, Selonians, Semigallians (in Latvian: kur<\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\">\uc24f<\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\">, latga\u013ci, s\u0113\u013ci and zemga\u013ci). In the 1100s and 1200s, the Couronians maintained a lifestyle of intensive invasions that included looting and pillaging. Located on the east coast of the Baltic Sea, they became known as the \u2018Baltic Vikings\u2019. Their contemporaries, the inland Selonians and Semigallians, were known as peace-loving and prosperous farmers. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"de-DE\" style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 120%; text-decoration: none;\" align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Black';\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\">Under German Rule<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"de-DE\" style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 120%; text-decoration: none;\" align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\">Because of its strategic geographic location, Latvian territory was frequently invaded by neighbouring nations, largely defining the fate of Latvia and its people. By the <\/span><span style=\"color: #b8292e;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\">late 1100s<\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\">, Latvia was increasingly visited by traders from Western Europe who used Latvia\u2019s longest river, the Daugava, as a trade route to Russia. At the close of the 12th century, German traders arrived, bringing with them missionaries who attempted to convert the pagan Baltic and Finno-Ugrian tribes to the Christian faith. Out of loyalty to their ancient pantheistic beliefs, the Balts resisted. The Pope in Rome ordered a <\/span><span style=\"color: #b8292e;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\">military Crusade against the Baltic peoples<\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\">. Armed Germanic Crusaders were hired to assist the Christian missionaries and knights in a brutal campaign to forcibly convert the people of the region. At the strategically most important place close to the delta of the river Daugava to the Baltic Sea the Germans founded the city of <\/span><span style=\"color: #b8292e;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\">R\u012bga in 1201<\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\">. In the 1200s, a confederation of feudal territories was developed under German rule named <\/span><span style=\"color: #b8292e;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\">Livonia<\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\">. The territory included today\u2019s Latvia and Estonia. In 1282, R\u012bga and later C\u0113sis, Limba<\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\">\uc5cd<\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\">, Koknese and Valmiera, were <\/span><span style=\"color: #b8292e;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\">members <\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\">in the Northern German Trading Organisation known as the Hanseatic League (<\/span><span style=\"color: #b8292e;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\">Hansa<\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\">). <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"de-DE\" style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 120%; text-decoration: none;\" align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Black';\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\">Under Polish and Swedish Rule<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"de-DE\" style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 120%; text-decoration: none;\" align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\">The 1500s were a time of great changes for the inhabitants of Latvia, notable for the reformation and the collapse of Livonia. After the <\/span><span style=\"color: #b8292e;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\">Livonian War (1558 \ufffd1583)<\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\"> today\u2019s Latvian territory came under <\/span><span style=\"color: #b8292e;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\">Polish-Lithuanian rule<\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\">. The <\/span><span style=\"color: #b8292e;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\">Lutheran faith <\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\">was accepted in Kurzeme (Courland), Zemgale (Semigallia) and Vidzeme (Livland), Roman Catholic faith maintained its dominance in the South Eastern Region of Latgale (Latgallia). <\/span><span style=\"color: #b8292e;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\">In the 1600s<\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\">, the <\/span><span style=\"color: #b8292e;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\">Dukedom of Kurzeme (Courland)<\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\"> experienced a notable economic boom. It established even two colonies \ufffdan island in the estuary of the Gambia River in Africa and Tobago Island in the Caribbean Sea. On Tobago there is still a \u201cCourland bay\u201d. During the <\/span><span style=\"color: #b8292e;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\">Polish-Swedish war (1600 \ufffd1629)<\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\">, R\u012bga came under Swedish rule, overshadowing Stockholm as the largest and most developed city in the Swedish Kingdom. The North Eastern region of Vidzeme was known as the \u2018Swedish Bread Basket\u2019 &#8211; it supplied the larger part of the Swedish kingdom with wheat. Consolidation of the Latvian nation occurred in the 1600s. With the merging of the Couronians, Latgallians, Selonians, Semigallians and Livs (Finno-Ugrians along the Northwesten Baltic Sea Coast) a culturally unified nation that spoke a common language developed \ufffd<\/span><span style=\"color: #b8292e;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\">the Latvians (in Latvian: latvie<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\"><span style=\"color: #b8292e;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\">\uc24f<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\"><span style=\"color: #b8292e;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\">)<\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\">. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"de-DE\" style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 120%; text-decoration: none;\" align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Black';\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\">Under Russian Rule<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"de-DE\" style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 120%; text-decoration: none;\" align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\">At the beginning of the 1700s the <\/span><span style=\"color: #b8292e;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\">Great Northern War <\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\">broke out &#8211; a result of the Russian Empire\u2019s desire to expand to the Baltic Sea. In 1710, the Russian Tsar, Peter I, conquered Vidzeme, together with R\u012bga a clear passage to Europe. By the end of the 18th century, all of Latvia\u2019s territory was under Russian rule. At the end of the 1700s, industry developed quickly, bringing with it a major growth in population. Latvia became the most developed province of the Russian Empire. At the beginning of the 1800s, with the rise of national consciousness throughout Europe, ethnic Latvians experienced a powerful \u2018awakening\u2019 of national identity. The first newspapers in Latvian language were printed, and active cultural development took place. The latter half of the 1800s marked a period of national rebirth \ufffdthe most active members of the Latvian social and cultural life, the so called \u2018New-Latvians\u2019, jaunlatvie<\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\">\uc24f<\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\">, demanded the same rights long enjoyed by other nations. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"de-DE\" style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 120%; text-decoration: none;\" align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Black';\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\">The Fight for Independence<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"de-DE\" style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 120%; text-decoration: none;\" align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\">The idea of an independent Latvia became a reality at the beginning of the 1900s. As the First World War spread to Latvian territory and directly engaged the entire population, a powerful pro-independence movement developed. Courageous Latvian riflemen called \u2018latvie<\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\">\uc25f <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\">str\u0113lnieki\u2019 fought on the Tsarist Russian side during this war, and earned recognition for their bravery across Europe. Post-war confusion enabled pro-independence forces to consolidate their efforts. Latvia\u2019s independence was proclaimed shortly after the end of the First World War \ufffdon <\/span><span style=\"color: #b8292e;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\">November 18, 1918<\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\">. The first to recognise Latvia\u2019s independence was Soviet Russia. The international community recognised Latvia\u2019s independence on January 26, 1921. In the same year Latvia became a member of the League of Nations and took an active role in the European community of democratic nations. In the midst of the world economic crises of the 1930s, Latvia also experienced dissatisfaction among its population. In an attempt to bring stability to the country, the Prime Minister organised a <\/span><span style=\"color: #b8292e;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\">peaceful coup d\u2019etat on May 15, 1934<\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\">, suspending the activities of the Saeima (the Parliament) and all political parties. This was followed by rapid economic growth, during which Latvia achieved one of the highest standards of living in Europe. Because of a general improvement in the quality of life, there was little opposition to the <\/span><span style=\"color: #b8292e;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\">authoritarian rule of the Prime Minister<\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\">. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"de-DE\" style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 120%; text-decoration: none;\" align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Black';\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\">Loss of Independence<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"de-DE\" style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 120%; text-decoration: none;\" align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\">Latvia\u2019s longstanding strategic importance to the USSR was underlined with the signing of the so-called <\/span><span style=\"color: #b8292e;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\">\u2018Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact\u2019 on August 23, 1939<\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\">. In concordance with this unlawful secret agreement, the <\/span><span style=\"color: #b8292e;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\">Soviet army occupied Latvia<\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\"> on June 17, 1940. A few months later, Latvia was incorporated into the Soviet Union. During the \u2018<\/span><span style=\"color: #b8292e;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\">Night of Terror<\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\">\u2019 (June 13-14, 1941) thousands of Latvia\u2019s inhabitants were taken from their homes, placed in boxcars and deported to Siberia. Thirty-five thousand people suffered Soviet repression in the first year of Soviet occupation. In the <\/span><span style=\"color: #b8292e;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\">summer of 1941<\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\">, the Soviets were forced to retreat as Latvia was invaded by German occupation forces. Under subsequent <\/span><span style=\"color: #b8292e;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\">Nazi German rule<\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\">, <\/span><span style=\"color: #b8292e;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\">90 percent of Latvia\u2019s Jewish population was systematically annihilated<\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\">. In 1944, the USSR reinvaded Latvia. Following heavy fighting between German and Soviet troops, the Red Army finally gained the upper hand. Famous became Western Latvia where the \u201cFortress Curonia\u201d was declared. It\u2019s capitulation took place only after the defeat of Nazi Germany. During the course of the war, both occupying forces conscripted Latvians into their armies, in this way increased the loss of the nation\u2019s \u2018human resource\u2019. By 1945, Latvia was once again under total Soviet occupation and pre-war Soviet rule was reinstated. The first post war years marked a particularly <\/span><span style=\"color: #b8292e;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\">dismal and sombre period <\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\">in Latvia\u2019s history. Soviet rule was characterised by systematic repression and genocide against the Latvian people. One hundred and twenty thousand Latvian inhabitants were imprisoned or deported to Soviet concentration (<\/span><span style=\"color: #b8292e;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\">GULAG<\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\">) camps. More than hundred and forty thousand took refuge from the Soviet army by <\/span><span style=\"color: #b8292e;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\">fleeing to the West<\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\">. On March 25, 1949, more than forty thousand rural residents were deported to Siberia in a sweeping repressive action. An extensive <\/span><span style=\"color: #b8292e;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\">Russification campaign<\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\"> began in Latvia and many administrative obstacles were created to hinder the use of the Latvian language. Latvia was forced to adopt Soviet farming practices (\u201ccollectivisation\u201d) and the economic infrastructure developed in the 1920s and 1930s was destroyed. Moscow decided to base some of the Soviet Union\u2019s most advanced manufacturing factories in Latvia. To supply the large labour force needed, workers from other Soviet republics mainly Russia were seddled to the country. Whereas prior to the Second World War Latvians comprised 75 percent of the population, by the end of the 1980s, this number was reduced to 50 percent. (Present population: 2.3 mln). <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"de-DE\" style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 120%; text-decoration: none;\" align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Black';\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\">Reinstating Independence<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"de-DE\" style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 120%; text-decoration: none;\" align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\">A liberalisation within the communist regime in the USSR, known as \u2018glasnost\u2019, began in the mid 1980s. This opportunity was seized by pro-independence forces in the population, who formed mass, nationally oriented socio-political organisations \ufffdTautas Fronte (The Popular Front of Latvia), Latvijas Nacion\u0101l\u0101s Neatkar\u012bbas Kust\u012bba (Latvia\u2019s National Independence Movement), Pilso\u0146u Kongress (The Congress of Citizens of Latvia). All supported the restoration of Latvia\u2019s national independence. <\/span><span style=\"color: #b8292e;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\">August 23, 1989<\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\">, marked the 50th anniversary of the signing of notorious \u2018Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact\u2019, which had led to the Soviet occupations of Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia. In order to draw the world\u2019s attention to the fate of the Baltic nations, around 2 million Latvians, Lithuanians and Estonians joined hands in a human chain called \u201cthe Baltic Way\u201d that stretched 600 kilometres from Tallinn, to R\u012bga, to Vilnius. A major step toward restoration of independence was taken on <\/span><span style=\"color: #b8292e;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\">May 4, 1990<\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\">, when the Latvian SSR parliamentary body known as the Supreme Council adopted a declaration calling for the restoring independence following a transition period. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"de-DE\" style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 120%; text-decoration: none;\" align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\">On <\/span><span style=\"color: #b8292e;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\">August 21, 1991 <\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\">the parliament voted to end to this transition period, thus restoring Latvia\u2019s pre-war independence. In September 1991, Latvian independence was recognised by the USSR. Soon after reinstating independence, Latvia became a member of the United Nations, the International Monetary Fund, of the European Council etc. <\/span><span style=\"color: #b8292e;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\">In 2004 <\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\">Latvia\u2019s most important foreign policy goals \ufffdmembership in the<\/span><span style=\"color: #b8292e;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\"> European Union and NATO<\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\"> \ufffdwere fulfilled. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"de-DE\" style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 120%; text-decoration: none;\" align=\"JUSTIFY\">\n<\/td>\n<td width=\"50%\">\n<p lang=\"de-DE\" style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 120%; text-decoration: none;\" align=\"CENTER\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Black';\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">Geschichte <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"de-DE\" style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 120%; text-decoration: none;\" align=\"CENTER\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Black';\">Lettlands <\/span><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Black';\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\">[DE]<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"de-DE\" style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 120%; text-decoration: none;\" align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><sub><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\">Hier ist einmal die englische Fassung l\ufffdger <\/span><\/span><\/sub><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"de-DE\" style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 120%; text-decoration: none;\" align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Black';\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\">Fr\u00fchgeschichte<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"de-DE\" style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 120%; text-decoration: none;\" align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\">9000 vor Christus: Funde erster Besiedlung<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"de-DE\" style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 120%; text-decoration: none;\" align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\">2000-1500 vor Christus: Ankunft\/Besiedlung durch die Vorfahren der Balten sogenannte \u201cProto-baltische St\ufffdme\u201d.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"de-DE\" style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 120%; text-decoration: none;\" align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\">Erste Berichte \ufffder Handel mit Bernstein bis nach Byzanz (Griechenland), sp\ufffder Rom. Die Ostseek\ufffdte wird als \u201cBernsteink\ufffdte\u201d ber\ufffdmt<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"de-DE\" style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 120%; text-decoration: none;\" align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\">Im 10. Jahrhundert nach Christus bilden sich die folgende Gruppen von Bewohner auf dem Territorium des heutigen Lettland: Kuren (heute: Westlettland), Latgalen (heute: S\ufffdostlettland), Selen, Semgalen (S\ufffdlettland) auf Lettisch: kur<\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\">\uc24f<\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\">, latgali, seli and zemgali). Dar\ufffder hinaus siedelten im Norden Lettlands (vor allem an dien K\ufffdten) die Liven, ein Stamm, der eher mit den Esten und Finnen, als mit den heutigen Letten verwandt ist.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"de-DE\" style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 120%; text-decoration: none;\" align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Black';\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\">Deutsche Zeiten<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"de-DE\" style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 120%; text-decoration: none;\" align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\">Im 12. Jahrhundert nahm der Handel von Westeuropa nach Russland \ufffder den Fluss Daugava (deutsch: D\ufffda) zu. Verst\ufffdkt kamen deutsche H\ufffdd\u00adler und auch Missionare, welche die \u201cBaltischen Heiden\u201d zum christlichen Glauben zu bekehren suchten. Der Papst in Rom rief sogar zu einem Kreuzzug auf. In der Folge unterwarfen Deutsche Kreuzritter blutig die lettischen St\ufffdme. 1201 begr\ufffddete Bischof Albert aus Bremen kommend die Stadt Riga nahe der strategische wichtigen Daugava-M\ufffddung in die Ostsee.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"de-DE\" style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 120%; text-decoration: none;\" align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\">Im 13. Jahrhundert bildete sich ein deutsch beherrschtes Gebiet unter dem Namen \u201cLivonia\u201d\/Livl\ufffddische Konf\ufffdderation (das Gebiet erstreckte sich \ufffder das heutige-Lett\u00adland und den Gro\ufffdeil Estlands). <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"de-DE\" style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 120%; text-decoration: none;\" align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\">1282 wurde Riga, sp\ufffder auch die St\ufffdte Cesis (Wenden), Limba<\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\">\uc5cd<\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\">, Koknese und Valmiera (Wolmir), Mitg\u00adlied der mittelalterlichen Handels\u00adorganisation Hanse. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"de-DE\" style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 120%; text-decoration: none;\" align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Black';\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\">Polen und Schweden<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"de-DE\" style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 120%; text-decoration: none;\" align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\">Im 16 Jahrhundert kam es zu gro\ufffdn Ver\ufffdderungen, vor allem der Reformation und dem Zerfall des Staates Livland.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"de-DE\" style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 120%; text-decoration: none;\" align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\">1558-1583: <\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\">\uaef5<\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\">ivl\ufffddischer Krieg\u201c, in dessen Folge Lettland unter Pol\u00adnisch-Litauischen Einfluss kam. Die \u201cDeutschen\u201d bitten die Polen um Schutz vor Iwan genannt \u201cder Schreckliche\u201d. Obwohl sich der Lutherische Glaube in Kurzeme (Kurland), Zemgale (Semgallen) und Vidzeme (Livland) durchsetzte, ist der S\ufffdosten (Latgalen) mehrheitlich katholisch und es gibt katholische <\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\">\uaef1<\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\">nseln\u201c, so das St\ufffdtchen Alsunga in Kurland.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"de-DE\" style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 120%; text-decoration: none;\" align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\">Im 17. Jahrhundert war es das Herzogtum Kurland, dass ein ansehnliche Gr<\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\">\u79e4<\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\">e erlangte. Es umfasste ungef\ufffdr ganz West- und S\ufffdlettland. Kurland hatte sogar zwei Kolonien \ufffdeine Insel im Gambia-Fluss in Afrika sowie die Insel Tobago in der Karabik. Bis heute gibt es eine \u201cCourland bay\u201d auf Tobago und die Flagge Tobagos besteht aus den gleichen Farben (Schwarz und Rot) wie die Kurlands. Eindrucksvoll ist der<\/span><span style=\"color: #b8292e;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\"> Palast mit der Gruft der Herz\ufffde von Kurland in Jelgava (Mitau)<\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\"> in S\ufffdlettland.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"de-DE\" style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 120%; text-decoration: none;\" align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\">1600-1629: Polnisch-Schwedischer Krieg, in dem Riga zur Gr<\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\">\u79e4<\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\">ten Stadt Schwedens wurde. Es entsteht auch eine die verschiedenen St\ufffdme einende Sprache und \ufffderkultur.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"de-DE\" style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 120%; text-decoration: none;\" align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Black';\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\">Russische Herrschaft<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"de-DE\" style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 120%; text-decoration: none;\" align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\">Das 18. Jahrhundert sieht den Auftstieg Russlands unter Zar Peter dem Ersten, genannt <\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\">\uaf0b<\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\">er Gro\ufffd\u201c. Es kommt zum Gro\ufffdn Nordischen Krieg. 1710 erobert Russland Vidzeme (Nordostlettland), bis zum Ende des 18 Jh. ganz Lettland. Es w\ufffdhst die Industrie und mit ihr die Bev\ufffdkerung. Lettland wird zur fortschrittlichsten Provinz im Russischen Zarenreich.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"de-DE\" style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 120%; text-decoration: none;\" align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\">Im 19. Jahrhundert entsteht dann wie ein lettisches Nationalbewusstsein, eigene Zeitungen, kulturelle Veranstaltungen und Entwicklungen. Es ist kein Wunder, dass daraus die nationale Bewegung der <\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\">\uaef2<\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\">ungletten\u201c (jaunlatvie<\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\">\uc24f<\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\">) hervorgeht.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"de-DE\" style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 120%; text-decoration: none;\" align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Black';\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\">Auf dem Weg zur <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"de-DE\" style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 120%; text-decoration: none;\" align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Black';\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\">Unabh\u00e4ngigkeit<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"de-DE\" style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 120%; text-decoration: none;\" align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\">Mit dem Ende des Ersten Weltkrieges kommt die gro\ufffd Gelegenheit f\ufffd einen eigenen lettischen Staat. Die sog. Lettischen Sch\ufffdzen\u201c (latvie<\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\">\uc25f <\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\">strelnieki) hatten auf beiden Seiten gek\ufffdpft und bilden die Grundlage einer Landesverteidigung. Die Letten m\ufffdsen dabei sowohl gegen \ufffderreste der deutsche Truppen k\ufffdpfen &#8211; am ber\ufffdmtesten: die Schlacht bei Cesis &#8211; als auch gegen die Bestrebungen aus Lettland eine Sowjetrepublik zu machen<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"de-DE\" style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 120%; text-decoration: none;\" align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\">18.11.1918 &#8211; Erkl\ufffdung der <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"de-DE\" style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 120%; text-decoration: none;\" align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\">Unabh\ufffdgigkeit als <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"de-DE\" style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 120%; text-decoration: none;\" align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\">demokratische Republik.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"de-DE\" style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 120%; text-decoration: none;\" align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\">Als erster Staat erkannte Sowjetruss\u00adland die Lettische Republik an. \u201cLettische Sch\ufffdzen\u201d hatten auch die sichere Fahrt Lenins aus dem Schweizer Exil nach Petersburg abgesichert, damit er die russische Revolution ausl\ufffden konnte. Ein Denkmal f\ufffd die \u201cLettischen Sch\ufffdzen\u201d sie steht bis heute vor dem Geschichtsmuseum am Rathausplatz in Riga.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"de-DE\" style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 120%; text-decoration: none;\" align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\">26.1.1921 \ufffdInternationale Anerkennung der lettischen Unabh\ufffdgigkeit. Lettland wird Mitglied im V\ufffdkerbund. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"de-DE\" style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 120%; text-decoration: none;\" align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\">1930er: Die Weltwirtschaftkrise beutelt auch Lettland. Dies nutzt der Premierminister Karlis Ulmanis f\ufffd einen Staatsstreich am 15.5.1934, vielleicht um noch schlimmeren vorzubeugen. Bis zur Einverleibung durch die Sowjetunion 1940 wird das Land autorit\ufffd regiert, Parteien und Parlament aufgel\ufffdt <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"de-DE\" style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 120%; text-decoration: none;\" align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Black';\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\">Kriegswirren &amp; Repressionen<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"de-DE\" style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 120%; text-decoration: none;\" align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\">23.8.1939 \u201cMolotov-RibbentropPakt\u201d (auch \u201cHitler-Stalin-Pakt\u201d genannt). In dessen Folge werden die Baltischen Staaten der Sowjetischen Interessensph\ufffde zugesprochen.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"de-DE\" style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 120%; text-decoration: none;\" align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\">Als Konsequenz besetzten Sowjetische Truppen am 17.6.1940 Lett\u00adland, das bald darauf als <\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\">\uaef5<\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\">ettische Sowjetrepublik\u201c der Sowjetunion beitritt. In der sogenannten <\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\">\uaef7<\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\">acht des Terror\u201c werden vom 13. zum 14. Juni 1941 Tausende von Einwohnern Lett\u00adlands in Viehwagons gesteckt und nach Sibirien deportiert. Rund 45.000 Menschen sindvon solchen Aktionen im ersten Jahr \u201cSowjetlettlands\u201d betroffen.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"de-DE\" style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 120%; text-decoration: none;\" align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\">Im Sommer 1941 marschieren deutsche Truppen ein. Unter der Nazi-Herrschaft werden 90 Prozent der j\ufffdischen Bev\ufffdkerung systematisch vernichtet. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"en-GB\" style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 120%; text-decoration: none;\" align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\"><span lang=\"de-DE\">1944 kehren die Truppen der UdSSR zur\ufffdk. Bis zuletzt wehrt sich die sogenannte <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"color: #b8292e;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\"><span lang=\"de-DE\">Festung Kurland<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\"><span lang=\"de-DE\">\u201c in Westlettland (Museum in Zante s\ufffdlich von Kuldiga), die erst nach dem Fall Berlins kapituliert. Wie schon im Ersten Weltkrieg, so werden auch im Zweiten Letten mehr oder minder williges Kanonenfutter auf beiden Seiten. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"de-DE\" style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 120%; text-decoration: none;\" align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\">Die ersten Jahre nach dem Zweiten Weltkrieg haben den Beinamen \u201cdie dunkelen Jahre\u201d bekommen. 120.000 Einwohner werden eingekerkert oder in die Sowjetischen Straf-Lager (GULAG) nach Sibirien deportiert. \ufffder 140.000 Einwohner fliehen nach Westen. Allein am 25.3.1949 werden 40.000 Einwohner nach Sibirien deportiert. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"de-DE\" style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 120%; text-decoration: none;\" align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\">Parallel zum Bev\ufffdkerungsverlust wird die Wirtschaft unstrukturiert: Die Landwirtschaft wird kollektiviert und gro\ufffd Industrieanlagen gebaut. Die Arbeitskr\ufffdte daf\ufffd kommen haupts\ufffdhlich aus den slawischen Republiken, allen voran Russland. Der Anteil der Lettischen Bev\ufffdkerung sinkt von 75 Prozent vor dem Zweiten Weltkrieg auf 52 Prozent Ende der 1980er Jahre (bei rund 2,3 Mio. Einwohnern).<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"de-DE\" style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 120%; text-decoration: none;\" align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Black';\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\">Modernes Lettland<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"de-DE\" style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 120%; text-decoration: none;\" align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\">In den 1980er Jahren kommt es zu liberalen Haltungen in der UdSSR. Auch das lettische Volk nutzt die Chance nach mehr Freiheit mit nationalen Massen-Organisationen, von den die bekanntesten die Volksfront &#8211; <\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\">\uaeff<\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\">autas Fronte\u201c, Die lettische Nationale Unabh\ufffdgigkeitsbewegung &#8211;<\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\">\uaef5<\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\">atvijas Nacionalas Neatkaribas Kustiba\u201c und der B\ufffdgerkongress &#8211;<\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\">\uaefa<\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\">ilsonu Kongress\u201c waren. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"de-DE\" style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 120%; text-decoration: none;\" align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\">Am 23. August 1989 kommt es zu einer besonderen Gedenkveranstaltung zum 50. Jahrestages des \u2018Molotov-Ribbentrop Pakts\u2019. In Gedenken an die Besetzung Lettland, Litauens und Estlands reichen sich rund 2 Millionen Menschen die H\ufffdde f\ufffd eine Menschenkette von 600 Kilometern L\ufffdge zwischen den Hauptst\ufffdten Tallinn, Riga und Vilnius. Name der Aktion: Der baltische Weg\u201c.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"de-DE\" style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 120%; text-decoration: none;\" align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\">Der Oberste Rat der Lettischen Sowjetrepublik erkl\ufffdt am 4. Mai 1990 den Beginn einer \ufffdergangsperiode zur Wiederherstellung der Unabh\ufffdgigkeit. Am 21. August 1991 beschlie\ufffd das Parlament das Ende der \ufffdergangsperiode. Im September 1991 wird die Unabh\ufffdgigkeit von der UdSSR anerkannt. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"de-DE\" style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 120%; text-decoration: none;\" align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\">Lettland wird Mitglied der Verein\u00adten Nationen, des Internationalen W\ufffdrungsfonds und der Welthandelsorganition.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"de-DE\" style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 120%; text-decoration: none;\" align=\"LEFT\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\">2004 wird Lettland Vollmitglied von NATO und Europ\ufffdscher Union&#8230;<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><\/td>\n<td><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>","pwapp_post_content_type":"postprocessed","pwapp_preview_type":"excerpt","androapp_failover_post_content_type":"","share_text":"&nbsp; &nbsp; The Coat of Arms The coat of arms combines symbols of Latvian national statehood (three stars, the sea and the sun) as well as symbols representing ancient historical districts: Kurzeme and Zemgale are depicted by a lion, Vidzeme and Latgale are depicted by the legendary winged silver creature with an eagle\u2019s head, a [&hellip;]\n\nvia https:\/\/velovilnius.lt\/balticcycle\/de\/hints-links-background-latvia\/","supercache":"androappsupercache","featured_image":{"url":false},"post_categories":[{"id":8,"count":11,"description":"","name":"[:en]Hints[:de]Tipps und Tricks[:]","slug":"hints","parent":0}],"post_tags":[{"id":139,"count":6,"description":"","name":"[:en]Cycling in Latvia[:de]Radfahren in Lettland[:]","slug":"latvia","parent":0}],"post_author":"admin","post_author_avatar_urls":{"24":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/1200e688b817528f69cc83f0d043134f?s=24&d=mm&r=g","48":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/1200e688b817528f69cc83f0d043134f?s=48&d=mm&r=g","96":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/1200e688b817528f69cc83f0d043134f?s=96&d=mm&r=g"},"post_comment_count":0,"image":false,"thumb":false,"thumb_medium":false,"images":{"medium_large":false,"1536x1536":false,"2048x2048":false,"woocommerce_thumbnail":false,"woocommerce_single":false,"woocommerce_gallery_thumbnail":false,"shop_catalog":false,"shop_single":false,"shop_thumbnail":false},"post_title":"Hints, Links, Background Latvia, History of Latvia","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/velovilnius.lt\/balticcycle\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/58"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/velovilnius.lt\/balticcycle\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/velovilnius.lt\/balticcycle\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/velovilnius.lt\/balticcycle\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/velovilnius.lt\/balticcycle\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=58"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/velovilnius.lt\/balticcycle\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/58\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2612,"href":"https:\/\/velovilnius.lt\/balticcycle\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/58\/revisions\/2612"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/velovilnius.lt\/balticcycle\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=58"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/velovilnius.lt\/balticcycle\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=58"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/velovilnius.lt\/balticcycle\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=58"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}