Journal:Acta Historica Universitatis Klaipedensis
Volume 28 (2014): Paramilitarism in the Eastern Baltics, 1918–1940: Cases Studies and Comparisons = Paramilitarizmas Rytų Baltijos regione 1918–1940: atvejo studijos ir lyginimai, pp. 57–71
Abstract
On the basis of documents in the Latvian State Archives, this paper discusses the armed struggle against the Soviet authorities in Vidzeme, in northern Latgala, and Sela, which took place during the Latvian Wars of Independence, and was joined voluntarily by the local population in an organised way. The discussion tells about the armed guerrilla groups that operated in Vidzeme and northern Latgala in 1919, and formed a serious obstacle to the establishment of Soviet power, the participation of ethnic minorities in guerrilla groups, and the features of the guerrilla fighting. The collaboration between Latvian guerrillas and Lithuanian troops, and their role in the expulsion of Soviet Latvian troops from the country, is analysed.