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The Latvian Society of Physicists and Mathematicians
Founded in 1939
Latvia was dominated by Russia from the end of the 18th century until World War I. During 1917 this domination ended and, after a brief period of German invasion, the country became independent in a proclamation made on 18 November 1918. It was, therefore, in an independent Latvia that the Latvian Society of Physicists and Mathematicians was founded on 10 March 1939. The Society was headed by a physicist but it contained a number of the leading Latvian mathematicians including Grinbergs and Meders. It was only a few months later that the German-Soviet Nonaggression Pact was signed in August 1939 and Latvia's fate was out of its own hands.
On 17 June 1940 the Red Army invaded Latvia and only three days later a new government of Soviet supporters was announced. They voted on 21 July for Latvia to become a part of the USSR and on 5 August this became official. The Soviet occupation saw around 35,000 Latvians deported to Russia within a year. In December 1940 the Latvian Society of Physicists and Mathematicians was closed down by the authorities who were particularly harsh on intellectuals (these formed the major part of those deported) and they also wished to stamp out any national feelings among Latvians.
The German army invaded the USSR in July 1941. For a period Latvia was a province of a larger Ostland (including Estonia, Lithuania, and Belorussia) and the Latvian Society of Physicists and Mathematicians tried to reopen its Society. It operated from January 1943 to May 1944 when again it was closed down through the renewed Soviet domination of Latvia.
On 4 May 1990 Latvian again declared its independence. There was a transitional period, marked by violence in Riga in January 1991, but by August 1991 Latvia had gained full independence. The Latvian Society of Physicists and Mathematicians was again restarted, but this time it became the Latvian Physical Society, and the Latvian Mathematical Society was founded as a new body in January 1993.
On 17 June 1940 the Red Army invaded Latvia and only three days later a new government of Soviet supporters was announced. They voted on 21 July for Latvia to become a part of the USSR and on 5 August this became official. The Soviet occupation saw around 35,000 Latvians deported to Russia within a year. In December 1940 the Latvian Society of Physicists and Mathematicians was closed down by the authorities who were particularly harsh on intellectuals (these formed the major part of those deported) and they also wished to stamp out any national feelings among Latvians.
The German army invaded the USSR in July 1941. For a period Latvia was a province of a larger Ostland (including Estonia, Lithuania, and Belorussia) and the Latvian Society of Physicists and Mathematicians tried to reopen its Society. It operated from January 1943 to May 1944 when again it was closed down through the renewed Soviet domination of Latvia.
On 4 May 1990 Latvian again declared its independence. There was a transitional period, marked by violence in Riga in January 1991, but by August 1991 Latvia had gained full independence. The Latvian Society of Physicists and Mathematicians was again restarted, but this time it became the Latvian Physical Society, and the Latvian Mathematical Society was founded as a new body in January 1993.
References (show)
- A Sostak, The Latvian Mathematical Society after 10 years, European Mathematical Society Newsletter 48 (June, 2003), 21-25.
Last Updated August 2004