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[LATVIA WITHIN THE USSR] Latviiskaia Sovetskaia Sotsialisticheskaia Respublika. 1940–1955. 15 let Sovetskoi Latvii [i.e. The Latvian Soviet Socialist Republic. 1940–1955. 15 Years of Soviet Latvia]

Item #2467

Riga: Latviiskoe gosudarstvennoe izdatel’stvo, 1955. [250] pp.: ill., 1 ill. 34,5x26 cm. In original red cloth with embossed coat of arms and ornament. Near fine condition.

Inscription on half-title: “To the first brigade of Communist labor of the Road Construction Administration in Tbilisi from the Riga Road and Bridge Construction Trust”. Design was created by R. Dzenis. He used photographers by G. Akmolinsky, A. Belov, S. Danilov, V. Gailis, D. Gedzyun, K. Reke, A. Taranenko, B. Tiknus, M. Treyzon and others.

This parade book was published after Stalin’s death but all the materials in the book are related to Latvia under the Stalinist rule. It includes photographs, photomontages, reproductions of Latvian editions.
Latvijas Padomju Sociālistiskā Republika [Latvian SSR] was one of the states created after the occupation and annexation of Baltic countries by the USSR that started in 1939-1940. De-facto, in
1941–1944 Latvian territory was occupied by Nazi Germany, but the period is not counted in this parade edition.
The narrative starts with early Latvian social democratic organizations that appeared in Boston and London in the late 19th century, with reproductions of their newspapers. It is followed with a favorable presentation of Bolsheviks’ shortlived Latvijas Sociālistiskā Padomju Republika [Latvian Socialist Soviet Republic] that existed in 1918–1920. After the October Revolution, most of the Latvian rifle regiments supported the Bolsheviks and served in the Kremlin and across the country. Later many commanders and ordinary Latvian riflemen reached senior positions in the Red Army and Soviet authorities. Thus, I. Vatsetis became the first commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces of the RSFSR (1918–1919), F. Eichmans became the first head of the GULAG, E. Berzin became the first director of the Dalstroy Trust (related to GULAG as well), etc. In the late 1920s, communist demonstrations were held in Riga again. Portraits of Latvian communists and montages of periodicals are provided.
The annexation of Latvia because of the Molotov–Ribbentrop Pact was officially explained by an increase of proletarian impact among the masses and the legal elections resulting in socialist regime
instead of “fascist terror which lasted since 1934”. In 1941, the Soviet authorities started a series of mass deportations from Latvia, in which around 60,000 people were deported to remote areas (mostly, Siberia and the Far East). This campaign was mainly aimed at the Latvian intelligentsia, representatives of national minorities, as well as wealthy locals.
The book is mostly devoted to the large-scale reconstruction and industrialisation in the Latvian SSR launched in 1945. First of all, achievements in industries are showcased through photographs
and photomontages. Photographers visited the Ķegums HES, the Riga Thermal Power Station, the Riga Carriage Building Plant, the Riga Diesel Plant, the Riga Shipyard, the Riga Electric Machine
Building Plant, the Riga and Liepāja agricultural machinery factories, also fuel, chemical, timber, sewing, paper producing and printing enterprises, as well as manufacturers of electrical and electronic products, radio receivers, bicycles, electric lamps, fabrics, shoes, cookware, porcelain and glass tableware, furniture, fish cans, bread, cigarettes, candies, etc. Then, achievements of agriculture are lauded: state animal and poultry farms, fruits and vegetables harvests, tractors and other machinery, farm construction. The book presented new and well-equipped groceries as well as the Riga central market, new apartment buildings, public canteens, a television studio, a Latvian young pioneers’ parade and children’s summer camps, Baltic resorts, maternity hospitals, kindergartens, schools and universities, research workers, books and periodicals of Soviet Latvia, theaters, cinematography, music concerts, arts, sport competitions, Latvian shock-workers, an exhibition held on the 10th anniversary of Soviet Latvia.

Worldcat shows copies located in Chicago, Colorado Boulder, Illinois, North Carolina, Yale Universities.

Price: $1,250.00