The foundation of the Latvian War Museum was originally connected with the events of the First World War in Latvia and with the development of the national military units of the Latvian Armed Forces in the Imperial Russian Army in 1915. The museum was opened in September 1916 as a museum of Latvian marksmen. The aim of the museum is to bring Latvia's intricate military-political history to the public. The focus is on the 20th century, during which the Latvian people had to fight for independence twice.