History

On 17 November 1918, the Latvian People's Militia was founded, it was envisaged that the Latvian People's Militia would be founded on the basis of conscription, without excluding the possibility of volunteering for service.

A little later, on 22 November, the Defence Forces were established, their leadership was initially entrusted to the Minister of the Interior, with two senior members of the Latvian Soldiers' National Union appointed as the Minister's technical members.

At the beginning of 1919, as the Bolsheviks approached, the Latvian Provisional Government and the German authorities had to leave Riga. In the early hours of 3 January, the Latvian soldiers who had remained loyal to the Provisional Government, led by Lieutenant-Colonel Oskars Kalpaks, left the city in a column (the Latvian Separate Battalion was officially formed from them in Jelgava two days later). On the evening of 3 January, the first units of the Soviet Latvian army entered Riga. In the following weeks, the Soviet Latvian Army continued to advance.

On 7 January 1919, a meeting of the Provisional Government of Latvia was held in Liepāja, where it was decided to "defend ourselves to the last opportunity".

The Latvian army continued to develop, and by spring 1919 the Latvian armed forces consisted of the Landeswehr (the German-Baltic Home Guard), the North Latvian Brigade and the South Latvian Brigade. On 10 July 1919, these two brigades were united by General Dāvis Sīmansons, who became the first Commander-in-Chief of the Latvian Army. This day is considered to be the day when the Latvian Army was established.

In 1919, the Latvian Army was rapidly armed and developed, receiving arms and equipment from England, Poland and other countries.

After heavy fighting and the liberation of Latvia in 1921, the Commander-in-Chief of the Latvian Army relinquished his powers and the Army went into a peacetime state and began a reduction of the Army, which was completed in 1923.

From 1921 onwards, the Latvian Army began to train soldiers and to issue and establish regulations and various rules. During the development of the army, the first soldier's oath was administered on 24 January 1922.

On 17 June 1940, during the Second World War, Soviet troops took control of the whole of Latvia and Estonia.

Since the Soviet occupation of Latvia, the Latvian army was gradually disbanded, with Latvian soldiers being retired, arrested and deported. On 27 September 1940, the post of Latvian Minister of War was abolished, and on 9 October 1940, the post of Commander of the Latvian People's Army was abolished.

On 17 June 1989, the founding conference of the Latvian Riflemen's Association was held at the Great Hall of the Latvian State University in Riga. After which, within a few weeks, more than 500 former soldiers joined the Latvian Riflemen's Association. In the autumn, chapters and groups were formed in Jelgava, Tukums, Liepāja, Bauska, Balva, Livani, Moscow and elsewhere. Active work began on the drafting and elaboration of laws, regulations and various documents that would be necessary for the establishment and existence of the army.

On 10 September 1991, the Law on Compulsory National Military Service was adopted. As a result of this law, all male citizens of Latvia, aged between 19 and 50, must perform compulsory military service. Shortly after the adoption of this law, on 11 November, the first oath of a soldier since the restoration of Latvia's independence was taken at the Brethren Cemetery.