Język Polski
English
How Soviet “Legitimacy” Was Made: 1940 “Elections” in Occupied Latvia
Institute of National Remembrance Review, Nr 5 (2023), strony: 169-184
Data publikacji: 2023-12-31
https://doi.org/10.48261/INRR230507
PDF (English)
Abstrakt
The Soviet occupation of Latvia in 1940 was “legitimized” by “People’s Saeima” which was “elected” on July 14–15, 1940. A significant role in these “elections” was carried out by The Communist Party of Latvia, which at that time was a branch of Comintern and therefore acted as a Soviet agency in Latvia. Some two dozens of candidates for MP of the “Working People’s Bloc” (which was openly backed by USSR officials) were at the same time members of various electoral commissions. “People’s Government”, which was appointed after the occupation of Latvia, Central Election Commission, local communists and their supporters were just executors in these “elections”. The real “master of puppets” who supervised whole process was Deputy Chairman of the Soviet government Andrey Vyshinsky and some other Soviet officials. These “elections” had nothing to do with elections in the common, democratic sense of that word. In fact, it was an affair of misleading, intimidation and fraud on a large scale. These events had grave consequences for Latvia – the loss of independence and establishment of extremely repressive regime in all three Baltic states.
Bibliografia
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Communist Party and Comintern files on Gulbis: Исполнительный комитет Коммунистического Интернационала. Отдел кадров. Латвия. Дело № 2863. Гулбис Оскар. [Executive Сommittee of the Communist International. Personnel Department. Latvia. File № 2863 Gulbis, Oscar] Latvian State Archive, collection PA-54, description 1, file 2863; Коммунистическая партия (большевиков) Латвии, Центральный комитет. Отдел кадров. Дело № 188. Анкеты и автобиографии номенклатурных и других работников. Том XIX. [Central Committee of the Communist (bolshevik) Party of Latvia. Personnel Department. File № 188. Questionnaires and Autobiographies of Nomenklatura and Other Officials. Volume XIX] Latvian State Archive, collection PA-101, description 2, file 188, pages 27-33.
Communist Party and Comintern files on Kalniņš: Исполнительный комитет Коммунистического Интернационала. Отдел кадров. Латвия. Личное дело № 4208. Калнин Арвид Андреевич. [Executive Сommittee of the Communist International. Personnel Department. Latvia. Personnel File № 4208 Kalniņš, Arvīds] Latvian State Archive, collection PA-54, description 1, file 4208; Коммунистическая партия (большевиков) Латвии, Центральный комитет. Отдел кадров. Дело № 195. Анкеты и автобиографии номенклатурных и других работников. Том XXVI. [Central Committee of the Communist (bolshevik) Party of Latvia. Personnel Department. File № 195. Questionnaires and Autobiographies of Nomenklatura and Other Officials. Volume XXVI] Latvian State Archive, collection PA-101, description 2, file 195, pages 193-199.
Communist Party file on Leja: Коммунистическая партия (большевиков) Латвии, Центральный комитет. Отдел кадров. Дело № 204. Анкеты и автобиографии номенклатурных и других работников. Том XXXV. [Central Committee of the Communist (bolshevik) Party of Latvia. Personnel Department. File № 204. Questionnaires and Autobiographies of Nomenklatura and Other Officials. Volume XXXV] Latvian State Archive, collection PA-101, description 2, file 204, pages 238-239.
Communist Party and Comintern files on Neilands: Исполнительный комитет Коммунистического Интернационала. Отдел кадров. Латвия. Личное дело № 1149 / 6785. Нейланд Роберт Карлович. [Executive Сommittee of the Communist International. Personnel Department. Latvia. Personnel File № 1149 / 6785 Neilands, Roberts] Latvian State Archive, collection PA-54, description 1, file 6785; Коммунистическая партия (большевиков) Латвии, Центральный комитет. Отдел кадров. Дело № 212. Анкеты и автобиографии номенклатурных и других работников. Том 43. [Central Committee of the Communist (bolshevik) Party of Latvia. Personnel Department. File № 212. Questionnaires and Autobiographies of Nomenklatura and Other Officials. Volume 43] Latvian State Archive, collection PA-101, description 2, file 212, pages 53-58.
Communist Party and Comintern files on Paldiņa: Исполнительный комитет Коммунистического Интернационала. Отдел кадров. Латвия. Личное дело № 7170. Палдин Ева Яновна. [Executive Сommittee of the Communist International. Personnel Department. Latvia. Personnel File № 7170 Paldiņa, Ieva] Latvian State Archive, collection PA-54, description 1, file 7170; Центральный комитет К[оммунистической] п[артии] (б[ольшевиков]) Латвии. Отдел кадров. Дело № 215. Анкеты и автобиографии ответственных работников. Том 46. [Central Committee of the Communist (bolshevik) Party of Latvia. Personnel Department. File № 215. Questionnaires and Autobiographies of Executive Officials. Volume 46] Latvian State Archive, collection PA-101, description 2, file 215, pages 117-125.
Communist Party and Comintern files on Paldiņš: Исполнительный комитет Коммунистического Интернационала. Отдел кадров. Латвия. Личное дело № 7171. Палдин Карл. [Executive Сommittee of the Communist International. Personnel Department. Latvia. Personnel File № 7171 Paldiņš, Kārlis] Latvian State Archive, collection PA-54, description 1, file 7171; Центральный комитет К[оммунистической] п[артии] (б[ольшевиков]) Латвии. Отдел кадров. Дело № 215. Анкеты и автобиографии ответственных работников. Том 46. [Central Committee of the Communist (bolshevik) Party of Latvia. Personnel Department. File № 215. Questionnaires and Autobiographies of Executive Officials. Volume 46] Latvian State Archive, collection PA-101, description 2, file 215, pages 126-132.
Communist Party and Comintern files on Plāters: Исполнительный комитет Коммунистического Интернационала. Отдел кадров. Латвия. Личное дело № 1990 / 7469. Платер Карл Петрович. [Executive Сommittee of the Communist International. Personnel Department. Latvia. Personnel File № 1990 / 7469 Plāters, Kārlis] Latvian State Archive, collection PA-54, description 1, file 7469; Центральный комитет К[оммунистической] п[артии] (б[ольшевиков]) Латвии. Отдел кадров. Дело № 218. Анкеты и автобиографии ответственных работников. Том 49. [Central Committee of the Communist (bolshevik) Party of Latvia. Personnel Department. File № 218. Questionnaires and Autobiographies of Executive Officials. Volume 49] Latvian State Archive, collection PA-101, description 2, file 218, pages 29-35.; Коллекция номенклатупных дел ЦК КПЛ. Дело № 3790. Платер Карл Петрович. [Collection of the Nomenklatura files of C[entral] C[ommittee] of the C[ommunist] P[arty of] L[atvia]. File № 3790. Plāters, Kārlis] Latvian State Archive, collection PA-15500, description 2, file 3790.
Communist Party and Comintern files on Plēsums: Исполнительный комитет Коммунистического Интернационала. Отдел кадров. Латвия. Дело № 7478. Плесум Петр Петрович. [Executive Сommittee of the Communist International. Personnel Department. Latvia. File № 7478 Plēsums, Pēteris] Latvian State Archive, collection PA-54, description 1, file 7478.; Коллекция номенклатупных дел ЦК КПЛ. Дело № 3808. Плесум Петр Петрович. [Collection of the Nomenklatura files of C[entral] C[ommittee] of the C[ommunist] P[arty of] L[atvia]. File № 3808. Plēsums, Pēteris] Latvian State Archive, collection PA-15500, description 2, file 3808.
Communist Party file on Prieže; Центральный комитет К[оммунистической] п[артии] (б[ольшевиков]) Латвии, Отдел кадров. Дело № 219. Анкеты и автобиографии ответственных работников. Том 50. [Central Committee of the C[ommunist] (b[olshevik]) P[arty] of Latvia. Personnel Department. File № 219. Questionnaires and Autobiographies of Executive Officials. Volume 50] Latvian State Archive, collection PA-101, description 2, file 219, pages 166-171.
Communist Party files on Pupurs: Центральный комитет К[оммунистической] п[артии] (б[ольшевиков]) Латвии. Отдел кадров. Дело № 220. Анкеты и автобиографии ответственных работников. Том 51. [Central Committee of the C[ommunist] (b[olshevik]) P[arty] of Latvia. Personnel Department. File № 220. Questionnaires and Autobiographies of Executive Officials. Volume 51] Latvian State Archive, collection PA-101, description 2, file 220, pages 91-93.; Коллекция номенклатупных дел ЦК КПЛ. Дело № 4117. Пупурс Янис Карлович. [Collection of the Nomenklatura files of C[entral] C[ommittee] of the C[ommunist] P[arty of] L[atvia]. File № 4117. Pupurs, Jānis] Latvian State Archive, collection PA-15500, description 2, file 4117.
Communist Party files on Šics: Центральный комитет К[оммунистической] п[артии] (б[ольшевиков]) Латвии. Отдел кадров. Дело № 240. Анкеты и автобиографии ответственных работников. Том 71. [Central Committee of the C[ommunist] (b[olshevik]) P[arty] of Latvia. Personnel Department. File № 240. Questionnaires and Autobiographies of Executive Officials. Volume 71] Latvian State Archive, collection PA-101, description 2, file 240, pages 161-166.; Коллекция личных дел номенклатупных кадров ЦК КП Латвии. Дело № 6635. Шиц Карл Лаврович. [Collection of the Personnel files of Nomenklatura staff of C[entral] C[ommittee] of the C[ommunist] P[arty of] Latvia. File № 6635. Šics, Kārlis] Latvian State Archive, collection PA-15500, description 2, file 6635.
Communist Party files on Vecvagars: Коммунистическая партия (большевиков) Латвии, Центральный комитет. Отдел кадров. Дело № 181. Анкеты и автобиографии номенклатурных и других работников. Том XII. [Central Committee of the Communist (bolshevik) Party of Latvia. Personnel Department. File № 181. Questionnaires and Autobiographies of Nomenklatura and Other Officials. Volume XII] Latvian State Archive, collection PA-101, description 2, file 181, pages 129-135.; Коллекция номенклатупных кадров ЦК КП Латвии. Дело № 1377. Вецвагар Яков Кришьянович. [Collection of the Nomenklatura staff of C[entral] C[ommittee] of the C[ommunist] P[arty of] Latvia. File № 1377. Vecvagars, Jēkabs] Latvian State Archive, collection PA-15500, description 1, file 1377.
Gore, Stranga 1992: Gore, Ilga, Stranga Aivars. Latvija: neatkarības mijkrēslis. Okupācija 1939. gada septembris – 1940. gada jūlijs. [Latvia: twilight of the independence. Occupation September 1939 – July 1940] Valmiera, Izglītība, 1992.
“Latvian Working People’s Bloc” list for Kurzeme 1940: Latvijas darba tautas bloks kandidātu saraksts Latvijas Republikas Saeimas vēlēšanām 14. un 15. jūlijā 1940. gadā Kurzemes vēlēšanu apgabalā. [Latvian Working People’s Bloc list of candidates for Saeima elections of the Republic of Latvia on July 14 and 15, 1940 for Kurzeme electoral region] Latvian State Historical Archive, collection 1308, description 9, file 3816, pages 14-15. This document is also published in internet: http://www.archiv.org.lv/velesanas1940/15/L_1.5.40.2_3%20LVVA_1308_9_3816_14.lp.jpg
“Latvian Working People’s Bloc” list for Zemgale 1940: Latvijas darba tautas bloks kandidātu saraksts Latvijas Republikas Saeimas vēlēšanām 14. un 15. jūlijā 1940. gadā Zemgales vēlēšanu apgabalā. [Latvian Working People’s Bloc list of candidates for Saeima elections of the Republic of Latvia on July 14 and 15, 1940 for Zemgale electoral region] Latvian State Historical Archive, collection 1308, description 9, file 3816, page 12. This document is also published in internet: http://www.archiv.org.lv/velesanas1940/15/L_1.5.40.1%20LVVA_1308_9_3816_12.lp.jpg
Lists on staff of electoral commissions 1940: Apriņķu vēlēšanu komisijas. [Election commissions of districts] Latvian State Historical Archive, collection 1308, description 9, file 3820, page 77.; Apriņķu vēlēšanu komisiju priekšsēdētāji. [Chairs of the election commissions of districts] Latvian State Historical Archive, collection 3723, description 2, file 1040, page 21.
Lorencs 2005: Kāda cilvēka dzīve. Klāva Lorenca atmiņas. [A man’s life. Memories of Klāvs Lorencs] Rīga, Zelta grauds, 2005.
Vēlēšanās bez izvēles: Vēlēšanās bez izvēles [Elections without choice], website of the Latvian National Archives. Accessed April 16, 2021. http://www.archiv.org.lv/velesanas1940/index.php?id=204.
Minutes of the Election Commission for Kuldīga district 1940: Kuldīgas apriņķa vēlēšanu komisijas protokols 1940. g. 8. jūlijā. [Minutes of the Election Commission for Kuldīga district on July 8, 1940] Latvian State Historical Archive, collection 1308, description 9, file 3803, page 30. This document is also published in internet: http://www.archiv.org.lv/velesanas1940/12/L_1.2.15.%20LVVA_1308_9_3803_30.lp.jpg
Minutes of the Election poll № 20 in Riga 1940: Rīgas vēlēšanu apgabala 20. vēlēšanu iecirknis. Protokols. [Minutes of the Election poll № 20 of the Riga region] Latvian State Historical Archive, collection 1308, description 9, file 2981, page 37. Some archival documents on violations and fraud of the “elections” in 1940 (including Minutes of the Election poll № 20 in Riga 1940) are published in internet: http://www.archiv.org.lv/velesanas1940/index.php?id=205
Niedre 1989: Niedre, Ojārs. 1940. gada Saeimas vēlēšanas (Farss vai traģēdija?). [Saeima elections in 1940. Farce or Tragedy?] Padomju Jaunatne, July 20, 1989, № 138, p. 3; July 21, 1989, № 139, p. 1.
NKVD file on agent “Smeliy” 1940: НКВД СССР 5 отдел ГУГБ 9 отделение. Дело-формуляр № 14991 «Смелый». [NKVD of USSR, M[ain] D[irectorate of the] S[tate] S[ecurity], 5th department, 9th division. File № 14991 “Smeliy”] Latvian State Archive, collection 1, description 1, file 27. This file is also published in internet: https://kgb.arhivi.lv/dokumenti/vdk/operativas-lietas/smelij
NKVD file on Maldups: Народный комиссариат внутренних дел Главное транспортное управление Дорожно-транспортный отдел Латвийской железной дороги. Дело № 5505/752 по обвинению Малдупс Александра Яновича. [Peoples Commissariat of Internal Affairs. Main Transport Directorate. Road Transport Department of the Latvian Railway. File № 5505/752 on charges for Maldups Aleksandrs] Latvian State Archive, collection 1986, description 2, file P-7806.
NKVD file on Menģelsons: Народный комиссариат внутренних дел Латвийской ССР. Дело № 5499/235 по обвинению Менгельсон Александра Александровича [People’s Commissariat of Internal Affairs of the Latvian SSR. File № 5499/235 on charges for Maldups, Aleksandrs] Latvian State Archive, collection 1987, description 1 (Riga), file 14002.
Occupation and Annexation of Latvia 1995: Latvijas okupācija un aneksija 1939 – 1940. Dokumenti un materiāli. [Occupation and Annexation of Latvia 1939 – 1940. Documents and Materials] Rīga, 1995.
Putin 2020: Putin, Vladimir. The Real Lessons of the 75th Anniversary of World War II. https://nationalinterest.org/feature/vladimir-putin-real-lessons-75th-anniversary-world-war-ii-162982?page=0%2C2
Report of the Central Election Commission 1940: Centrālās vēlēšanu komisijas ziņojums Saeimai. [Report of the Central Election Commission for Saeima] Latvian State Historical Archive, collection 1308, description 9, file 3822, pages 4-6.; See also Valdības Vēstnesis. July 24, 1940, № 2, pp. 1-2.
Sajadova 2016: Sajadova, Veronika. PSRS un Latvija: Starptautisko tiesību pārkāpumi. [Latvia and USSR: Violations of the International Law] Rīga, Lauku Avīze, 2016.
Stalin visitors 1940: Посетители кремлевского кабинета И.В. Сталина. [Visitors of the I. Stalin’s Office in Kremlin] Исторический Архив, 1996, № 2.
“Working People’s Bloc” propaganda articles 1940: Par mieru, par maizi, par tautas brīvību. [For peace, for bread, for freedom of nation] Cīņa, July 6, 1940, № 19, p. 1.; Par labākiem darba un dzīves apstākļiem. [For better conditions of life and job] Brīvā Zeme, July 11, 1940, № 154, p. 3.; Labākie no darba tautas. [The Best of the working people] Brīvā Jaunatne, July 13, 1940, № 8, p. 1. etc.
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