The Onset of Soviet Occupation in Latvia on June 17, 1940

The Soviet occupation of Latvia, as well as other Baltic states, was a prolonged tragedy. The date June 17, 1940, remains in the national calendar and collective memory as the start of the full-scale Red Army invasion. Under Soviet rule, this event was deceitfully labeled as "fraternal assistance" and the beginning of a "socialist revolution". This day marked the loss of Latvia's independence. It is remembered as one of the most tragic moments in Latvian history, serving as a warning against totalitarian aggression.