Latvia

Flag of Latvia

Latvia, officially the State of Latvia is a small revanchist nation in the Baltic States of Eastern Europe. It is a military dictatorship currently under the control of the military general Jānis Kurelis. Propped up by the Russian state and with half of its people still under the control of German landowners the people of Latvia have gladly taken up the National Populist ideology of their masters and in fact may even be more radical than the Russians. Latvia was freed during the Second Weltkrieg but at the cost of losing over half of their nation as German forces occupied up until the Daugava River cutting the city of Riga in twain. This has forced the Latvians to relocate their capital to one farther away from the Frontline and towards the east of Latvia. Latvia was proclaimed on November 18th 1941 several months after the Estonians due to factional rivalries and the lack of any organized partisan movements from the Latvian populace. Latvia cannot be called a true victor of the Weltkrieg as over half of its country and populace was taken away from it in the final peace deal. This has made the Latvians more resentful of the Germans than ever before and the Latvians may be looking for someone new to help them fight once Russia implodes. Currently a loyal puppet of Russia the Latvians are looking for any way to get their revenge and opportunity may or may not arise for the young nation.

## History

Latvia like Estonia was under the rule of the United Baltic Duchy. But unlike their northern neighbors the Latvians were unable to organize a government before German forces entered into Riga. Once the Duchy was established the Latvians would end up being worked by the landowners who would treat the Latvians as second-class citizens in comparison to the Baltic Germans. And at the beating heart of resentment was the Germans taking the city of Riga for their capital and treating the city as theirs, and theirs alone. Resentment grew and grew within the Latvians as the pessimistic attitude of their populace slowly melted away into Anger at those who were oppressing them. And soon came an opportunity to vent out this anger as the Second Weltkrieg broke out. Russian forces quickly stormed into Eastern Europe and the Latvian peoples helped them into their country causing the rapid collapse of the United Baltic Duchy. Like in Estonia the Russians recognized that the Latvians would not sit down quietly if they annexed the country. So the Russians established a puppet government within Latvia under the pretense of being independent. A military dictatorship was set up for the time being until the supposed end of the war. Latvians signed up for the war effort in droves and joined the Russians in the Battle of Koningsburg witch was the city where the Baltic Germans had their core. But instead of a victory like all those before it, this time the Germans would come out on top and begin their own mass offensive. The Latvians were driven out of Lithuania and back into their own country where they would lose the entire western half to the Germans. However defensive lines along the Daugava River prevented a total capitulation of the country. With neither side able to dislodge the other a peace treaty was signed with the current frontline becoming the Border. This presented an issue for the Latvians as they no longer controlled all of the City of Riga and thus a new capital needed to be chosen. The next biggest city within the country was towards the Estonian Border at Valimera where the capital still stands. Latvia after the war has begun to democratize however the feeling of resentment towards Germany and loyalty towards Russia has strengthened the National Populist ideology within Latvia. And it may be a while until Latvia stops being a Military Dictatorship.

## Military

For such a small nation the Military forces of Latvia are impressive. With a larger military than most Latvia hosts an army comprising of nearly 1/3rd of its entire population. this is due not only to Idealogical zeal but also the mandatory military service within the nation. Conscripting all of those from age 18-50 within the nation. However just like in Estonia the Eussians have declawed Latvia by forbidding it a Navy or Air force. But this doesn't have the same sting to the Latvians as to the Estonians as the Latvians count on the Russians to aid them should conflict arise once again.