A new section "Books" is now available on the website of Latvian State Security Service (VDD).
In the newly created section, anyone interested can access and download the 2020 book "Security Service in Interwar Latvia, 1918–1940: History" in PDF format.
This book presents the history of Latvia’s civilian counterintelligence and internal security service (nowadays – VDD) in the interwar period: starting from the creation of the Service on 11 August 1919 under the name of State Security Department until the occupation of Latvia in 1940, when more than 90% of Service’s (then – Political Police Department) officers were executed during the repressions of the Soviet occupation regime.
Through times, the service changed its name several times, nevertheless its mission remained unchanged – to protect the independence, constitutional order and territorial integrity of the State of Latvia. This book provides valuable information on the early days of VDD, threats to Latvia’s national security as well as Service’s officers and working methods during the interwar period.
As the Director General of VDD Normunds Mežviets states in the foreword, this book reaffirms the well-known axiom – the successful existence of any country is not and will not be possible without a strong system of intelligence and security services, an indispensable cornerstone in each country’s national security and defence architecture.
Authors of the book are Aiga Bērziņa and Guntis Vāveris, scientific editor – Dr.hist. Ēriks Jēkabsons.
The "Books" section can be found under the "Useful" section of the website: here.
Information prepared by VDD
