Legal Issues of the State Continuity of Latvia during the Period of German Occupation (1942–1945)

Abstract

The viewpoint that the Latvian Central Council was the only organisation in the territory of Latvia that kept the idea of the continuity of the Latvian state alive is unfounded. The Latvian local Self-administration, which could also be called the collaboration Self-administration, has used the argument that the Latvian state has not passed away due to the occupations, but instead continues to exist as a subject of international law in a number of petitions to the German civil administration.

There were opportunities for Latvians to state their opinion in questions regarding Latvia´s statehood, usually in concurrence with resolving other issues, such as the formation of the Latvian Legion, issuing passports to inhabitants of Latvia, questions regarding reprivatisation and belonging of goods and property of Latvian residents, as well as discussion about granting autonomy to Latvia. Out of the 15 documents analysed in this article at least 12 were submitted to the German civil administration in Latvia.