<P> Following the Welles Declaration of July 23 , 1940 , the annexation of Latvia into the Soviet Union ( USSR ) on 5 August 1940 was not recognized as legitimate by the United States , the European Community , and recognition of it as the nominal fifteenth constituent republic of the USSR was withheld for five decades . Its territory was subsequently conquered by Nazi Germany in June -- July 1941 , before being retaken by the Soviets in 1944 -- 1945 . Nevertheless , Latvia continued to exist as a de jure independent country with a number of countries continued to recognize Latvian diplomats and consuls who still functioned in the name of their former governments . </P>
<P> Following the Welles Declaration of July 23 , 1940 , the annexation of Latvia into the Soviet Union ( USSR ) on 5 August 1940 was not recognized as legitimate by the United States , the European Community , and recognition of it as the nominal fifteenth constituent republic of the USSR was withheld for five decades . Its territory was subsequently conquered by Nazi Germany in June -- July 1941 , before being retaken by the Soviets in 1944 -- 1945 . Nevertheless , Latvia continued to exist as a de jure independent country with a number of countries continued to recognize Latvian diplomats and consuls who still functioned in the name of their former governments . </P>
when did latvia become part of the soviet union
when did latvia become part of the soviet union
5 August 1940
5 August 1940