The Latvian Soviet Socialist Republic (Latvian SSR; ; , Latviyskaya Sovetskaya Sotsialisticheskaya Respublika) was a republic of the Soviet Union. It was established on 21 July 1940, during World War II, as a puppet state in the territory of the previously independent Republic of Latvia after it had been occupied by the Soviet Army, in conformity with the terms of 23 August 1939 Molotov–Ribbentrop Pact, on 17 June 1940. The annexation of Latvia into the Soviet Union (USSR) on 5 August 1940 was not recognised as legitimate, and recognition of it as the nominal fifteenth constituent republic of the USSR was withheld. Its territory was subsequently conquered by Nazi Germany in 1941, before being retaken by the Soviets in 1944–1945. The first freely elected parliament of the Latvian SSR had passed a declaration "On the Renewal of the Independence of the Republic of Latvia" on May 4, 1990, restoring the de facto independence of the Republic of Latvia. The full independence of the Republic of Latvia was restored on 21 August 1991.