Hugo Celmiņš facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Hugo Celmiņš
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| 5th Prime Minister of Latvia | |
| In office 19 December 1924 – 23 December 1925 |
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| Preceded by | Voldemārs Zāmuēls |
| Succeeded by | Kārlis Ulmanis |
| In office 1 December 1928 – 26 March 1931 |
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| Preceded by | Pēteris Juraševskis |
| Succeeded by | Kārlis Ulmanis |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 30 October 1877 Lubāna, Kreis Wenden, Governorate of Livonia, Russian Empire |
| Died | 30 July 1941 (aged 63) Lefortovo Prison, Moscow Oblast, Russian SFSR, USSR |
| Political party | Latvian Farmers' Union |
Hugo Celmiņš (born October 30, 1877 – died July 30, 1941) was an important Latvian politician. He was also an agronomist, which means he studied farming and soil. He served as the Prime Minister of Latvia two times. This is like being the head of the country's government. Later, he was arrested and died in 1941. Hugo Celmiņš helped create new farming rules in Latvia.
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Hugo Celmiņš: Early Life
Hugo Celmiņš was born on October 30, 1877. He grew up in a place called Lubāna parish in Latvia. He was the youngest son in his family.
He went to school from 1887 to 1891 at Lubāna Ministry School. After that, he studied at the Gorku School of Agriculture. In 1898, he finished his military service.
In 1899, Hugo Celmiņš started studying at the Polytechnic Institute of Riga. He graduated in 1903 with a top degree in agronomy. This means he was an expert in agriculture. In 1900, he helped start a student group called Talavija.
Later, he worked as an agronomist and a teacher in Russia. In 1913 and 1914, he studied in Switzerland. He was working on a special paper for a doctorate degree. However, he could not finish because a war started, and he had to join the army.
In June 1919, he joined the Jānis Balodis brigade. He fought against a group led by Bermondt. He became a captain and received a special award called the Order of Lāčplēsis.
Becoming Prime Minister
Hugo Celmiņš served as the Prime Minister of Latvia two times. The Prime Minister is the leader of the government.
First Time as Prime Minister
The previous Latvian government resigned in December 1924. The President of Latvia, Jānis Čakste, chose Hugo Celmiņš to form a new government. Hugo Celmiņš was a member of the Latvian Farmers' Union. His new government started on December 19, 1924.
When Hugo Celmiņš's government began, they made a promise. They said that protecting the country was a top goal. They increased the size of the army and how much money was spent on it.
In terms of money, the government wanted to balance the country's budget. They also wanted to help farmers and businesses. Their main goal was to sell more goods to other countries (exports) and buy fewer goods from them (imports). Farming was seen as the most important part of Latvia's economy.
The government also wanted to help people. They aimed to lower the cost of living and support those who were struggling. In foreign policy, they worked to make Latvia's relationship with Estonia stronger. They also wanted to create a union of Baltic states. They made trade agreements with many countries, including Lithuania, France, Sweden, and the Netherlands.
Second Time as Prime Minister
Hugo Celmiņš became Prime Minister for the second time on December 1, 1928. This happened after new elections for the Saeima, which is Latvia's parliament.
In 1928, Latvia faced big floods. These floods damaged a lot of farmland. This bad harvest made the country's economy worse. More people lost their jobs, and there were fewer farm animals.
To fix these problems, Hugo Celmiņš's government suggested cutting government spending. They planned to get money through loans instead of raising taxes. One of their main goals was to help farming become more productive. Farmers received special money from the government. The government also made sure that prices for farm products stayed high in Latvia. They also offered cheap loans and other help to farms.
In Latvia, the government wanted to keep peace and order. They also focused on having a strong and patriotic army. In foreign policy, they continued to work closely with other Baltic states. They also played an active role in the League of Nations, an international organization.
After his time as Prime Minister, Hugo Celmiņš became the Head of the City of Riga. This happened on April 23, 1931. During his time in this role, several important landmarks were built in Riga. These included the Freedom Monument and the Brothers' Cemetery.
Awards and Honors
Hugo Celmiņš received many important awards and honors during his life. These show his service and achievements.
- Order of Lāčplēsis (3rd Class)
- Order of the Three Stars (1st Class, 2nd Class, 3rd Class)
- Order of the Cross of the Eagle (1st Class)
- Order of the Lithuanian Grand Duke Gediminas (1st Class)
- Order of the White Rose of Finland (1st Class)
- Order of Polonia Restituta (1st Class)
- Legion of Honour
