Latvia's prime minister in the war of independence, later dictator after the 1934 coup
Leader of the Farmers' Union who had fled to the United States after 1905 and studied agriculture at the University of Nebraska. When the People's Council proclaimed independence on 18 November 1918 he became prime minister of the provisional government; after the Red Army took Riga in January 1919 he withdrew to Liepāja and kept the government alive by leaning on the German Landeswehr and Freikorps. Driven by the German coup of April onto the ship Saratov under British protection, he returned to Riga in July after Cēsis, saw off Bermondt's attack on the city and led Latvia through the Treaty of Riga with Soviet Russia in August 1920 and the land reform of September. He was prime minister several times in the 1920s, and on 15 May 1934 dissolved parliament and the parties in a coup, adding the presidency to his powers in 1936. Deported after the Soviet occupation of 1940, he died in prison at Krasnovodsk in Turkmenistan in 1942.
Related historical events
- 1918–1922The Civil War and Foreign InterventionLatvian prime minister during the independence warLed the provisional government from 1918 against Soviet forces, a pro-German rival government and Bermondt’s army. He established a dictatorship in 1934 and died after Soviet deportation.
- 1918.11–1920.10Baltic wars of independence and border settlementsLatvian prime minister during the independence warPrime minister of the provisional government from November 1918, he survived the retreat to Liepāja and refuge aboard ship, returned to Riga in July 1919, repelled Bermondt's army and led the Riga peace and land reform of 1920.
Revolution and independence wars
Led the provisional government from 1918 against Soviet forces, a pro-German rival government and Bermondt’s army. He established a dictatorship in 1934 and died after Soviet deportation.