Entente's Allied Commission demanded an immediate halt to combat operations against West Russian Volunteer Army

Following the tactical defeats in Riga and Jelgava, the forces led by P. Bermont-Avalov and R. von der Goltz recognized the failure of the campaign. To preserve the combat capabilities of the troops, a delaying tactic was employed, similar to the one that had previously enabled the conclusion of the Strazdumuiža ceasefire. Within the framework of this strategy, the German government officially declared that it was taking the West Russian Volunteer Army (WRVA) under its protection—a force that included a significant number of German nationals—and demanded an immediate halt to combat operations against it.

On November 25, 1919, in response to this diplomatic and military maneuver, Latvia declared war on Germany.

The situation was complicated by the fact that Germany's demands were initially supported by the Entente's Allied Commission (the so-called Nisel Mission). The Allies' geopolitical interests included engaging the WRVA in the fight against the Bolsheviks on Russian territory, leading to the demand that "Latvian troops must immediately cease offensive actions against the Russian and German forces."

However, the Latvian army's high command—represented by operational leader V. Ozols and commander-in-chief M. Peniķis—rejected this demand. The decision was grounded in historical experience, to avoid repeating K. Ulmanis' error in agreeing to the Strazdumuiža ceasefire, which had previously halted the successful Cēsis offensive and allowed German forces to fortify their positions in Pārdaugava. Military operations continued until the WRVA forces were fully expelled across the historical border of Latvia (the Duchy of Courland–Semigallia).

By December 1, 1919, the western part of Latvia (Courland) was completely liberated from WRVA troops. As they retreated into Lithuanian territory (Žemaitija), the former Bermont army was defeated by Lithuanian forces, with its remnants evacuating to East Prussia.

With the liberation of Courland, Latvian army units could redirect resources toward the final strategic objective—the liberation of Latgale.

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During the initial phase of the Russian Red Army's invasion (from January 4, 1919, to May 22, 1919), the occupation forces were designated as the "Army of the Latvian Soviet Socialist Republic (LSSR)." In the terminology of modern military theory, this entity can be classified as a hybrid warfare element—a formally autonomous but effectively puppet force. Notably, the "LSSR army" was established on January 4, 1919, by a decision of the Revolutionary Military Council of the RSFSR, which directly underscores its subordination to Moscow and occurred only after the Russian Red Army had already captured Riga.

Following the loss of Riga on May 22, 1919, and the subsequent retreat to Latgale, this "facade" structure was liquidated.

By the operational directive No. 2188/op (№ 2188/оп) issued by the Russian Red Army's commander-in-chief on June 7, 1919, the LSSR army was reorganized and reintegrated into the 15th Army of Soviet Russia, with headquarters in Daugavpils. The former army commander, Colonel Pēteris Slavens, surrendered to Latvian armed forces in November 1919. Consequently, the operations to liberate Latgale were conducted not against an internal enemy ("Latvian Bolshevik regiments"), but against a foreign aggressor—the regular army of Soviet Russia.