Brūno Kalniņš facts for kids

Brūno Haralds Kalniņš (born May 7, 1899, in Tukums, Latvia – died March 26, 1990, in Stockholm, Sweden) was an important Latvian politician and historian. He was a social democrat, which means he believed in fairness and equality for all people. His parents, Pauls Kalniņš and Klāra Kalniņa, were also well-known social democratic politicians.

Brūno Kalniņš: A Life in Politics

Brūno Kalniņš was a key leader in the social democratic youth movement in Latvia. This movement worked to improve society and help ordinary people. He was also elected to the Saeima, which is Latvia's parliament.

Challenges in Latvia

In 1934, there was a big change in Latvia. The leader, Kārlis Ulmanis, took control in a way that was not democratic. This is called an authoritarian coup d'état. Because Brūno Kalniņš was a leading social democrat, he was arrested. He was then sent away to live in Sweden.

Return to Latvia and New Roles

Brūno Kalniņš came back to Latvia in 1940. At this time, the Soviet Union took control of Latvia. He became a political officer in the Latvian Army, which was renamed the Latvian People's Army. This meant he helped guide the soldiers in their political beliefs.

Later, he became a teacher at the University of Latvia. He taught about Marxism, which is a set of ideas about how society and the economy should be organized.

During World War II

When Nazi Germany occupied Latvia, Brūno Kalniņš was arrested again. He was sent to a Nazi concentration camp. These were terrible places where many people suffered. Luckily, he was released in 1944.

Life After the War

After World War II, Brūno Kalniņš lived in Sweden. He wrote several books about the history of the Baltic region and Russia. He also helped to restart the Latvian Social Democratic Workers' Party for Latvians living outside their home country.

Even though he later criticized the Soviet government in Latvia, some Latvians found it hard to forget his actions in 1940–41. This was a very complex time in history for Latvia.