Latvia

Latvia's history is marked by centuries of foreign influence, including periods under Teutonic, Swedish, Polish-Lithuanian, and Russian rule. The independent Republic of Latvia was proclaimed on November 18, 1918, following the collapse of the Russian Empire after World War I. The interwar period saw Latvia navigate a path between Soviet and German interests, but was ultimately disrupted by the Soviet occupation in 1940. Following World War II, Latvia was incorporated into the Soviet Union as a Soviet Socialist Republic, experiencing significant demographic changes and political repression. Latvia regained its independence in 1991 with the dissolution of the Soviet Union, and has since focused on integration with Western institutions like the European Union and NATO.