# " MY LATVIA " COLD WAR SOVIET OCCUPATION OF BALTIC STATES LATVIA, ESTONIA, LITHUANIA 74582

Made by Albert Jekste, "My Latvia" is a haunting film about the illegal Soviet military occupation of three Baltic States in the 1940's. Jekste's highly personal work details Soviet use of internal subversion and conquest, and Stalin and other Soviet leaders imprisoning or deporting those who resisted. Farms were forcibly collectivized. An extensive program to impose bilingualism was initiated. Minority schools were shut down. Jekste examines the criminal backgrounds of Latvian nationals put into powerful positions within the new government. He worked for the Republic of Latvia prior to the Soviet occupation. The film is presented by the United States Information Service (:09) and collected from the Silas Bronson library (:20) Albert Jekste (:51) opens explaining his role as photographer for the free Latvian government (:59). He explains the dangers surrounding capturing this footage (1:10). Latvia experienced the greatest influx of ethnic Russians of all-time leading to a wash of much of the Latvian culture and way of life. The countryside of Latvia unfolds (1:50) as Jekste sets the scene (2:01). Latvian government officials celebrate their independence in 1918 (2:32). Janis Cakste was awarded the first presidency in 1920 (2:38). Soldiers parade through Latvian streets (2:56). Starving Russian peasants await rail cars in 1921 (3:20). Russian youth chomp on food, the first refugees of the Bolshevik regime (3:28). The ‘Great Song Festival’ of 1926 is featured (3:38). The…

- Kind: Film
- Genres: War, Industrial and advertising
- Archive: [Internet Archive](https://archive.org/details/74582MyLatvia)
- Licence or status: none stated by the archive
- Who can watch: Teens profiles and older (the archive gives no rating; placed by Invisible Network from its collection and subjects)

[Watch now](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/watch/archive/ia/74582MyLatvia?play=1)