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TL:DR: General goal of Landeswehr was to ensure, that Baltic nobility will remain the ruling class of the former Livonian lands via establishment of Germany's satellite state.

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Well, let's began with more detailed look on what is Couronian and Livonian nobility (I will further refer to them by commonly used term- Baltic nobility or Baltic barons) and what they wanted at this point.

Most important trait of this nobility to have in mind is that they were ethnic Germans. The ruling class of the Old Livonia was founded during the Livonian Crusades and was always a minority among ruled Latvians and Estonians, even if we count in German bourgeoisie (technically not nobility).

Second, probably equity important thing is that Germans were never able to control Livonia by they own strength. Livonia was on the brink of collapse as early as 1237 (after crushing defeat at the Battle of Saule) and survived only by becoming part of the Teutonic state. I will not dabble in numerous reasons why Germans rule was so anemic- that would be large off-topic. Suffice to say that this remained a leading trend up until 20th century: to maintain rulership over Livonia, Baltic barons had to look up for the overlord to support them. And as long as they found one willing to maintain nobility's old rights and privileges, they were not to picky.

Then the Teutonic state collapsed in the 16th century, Baltic nobility first looked up at Lithuania for protection (Treaty of Vilnius, 1561) but finally found a warm place at the side of the tsar.

Russian empire took over Livonia in 1721 and Courland in 1795 and common ground was soon found: barons only wanted to be left in charge of of Livonia and Russia was quite willing to grant that in exchange for political loyalty and support. The large number of the Germans surnames found in the Imperial Russia's leadership across 19th and early 20th centuries can be seen as direct result of this agreement. Livonian autonomy, known as Ostsee Right (Остзейское право) ensured Baltic nobility's domination and even then Russia began to push program of Russification (since 1874), the agreement remained largely unbroken (albeit it pushed some Baltic Germans towards German nationalism).

The largest threat come not form St. Petersburg but ethnic majorities in Livonia. By the end of 19th century peasants began to have strange ideas about having rights and given that it was not only ethic, but also class conflict, emotions were boiling and exploded in open violence in 1905.

Still, the largest challenge for Baltic nobility came in 1918.

While many Baltic Germans continued- at this time already traditional- service in Russian Empire, as a whole Baltic German community sit tight for most of the war, and sprung in to action only after it was clear that Russian Empire is gone and done.

First were nobles of Courland, declaring independent Duchy of Courland march of 1918 and in April the Joint Land Council of Livonia, Estonia, Ösel and Riga (Der Vereinigte Landesrat für Livland, Estland, Ösel und Riga) declared establishment of the United Baltic Duchy and immediately requested status of the protectorate from Germany.

Just to give an understanding how out-of touch with the times and rigged against Latvians and Estonians the Vereinigte Landesrat was, it will suffice to say that Baltic Germans made up about 3.5 percents of population, but held over 50 percents of seats. The feat was achieved by assembling members by medieval rules: to represent they social class or profession (seats for landlords alone outnumbered seats to towns representatives 3 to 1).

So, this United Baltic Duchy was recognized by Germany in September and here Baltische Landeswehr comes in to play: it was assembled as military force for the new state.

Life was good, but then the fire nation... Germany capitulated and soon Bolshevik forces began to roll west rolling over disorganized remains of German Army.

United Baltic Duchy was effectively over. First and foremost in Estonia. In November of 1918 Germany formally handled authority over Estonia directly to the Estonian Provisional Government and Estonian Germans fallowed, providing a sizable number of volunteers and in general expressing loyalty to the new republic. By January of 1919 Estonians already had and army of 13 000 men that was able to stop Soviet advance and began to counter attack.

Things were different in Latvia. By early March, most of Latvia is under Soviet control and in remaining unoccupied territory, Latvian government (under K. Ulmanis) have to struggle with animosity of Germans, who have all real power.

Latvians at this point had single battalion for a military and even that was part of Baltische Landeswehr, who was not only Baltic-German-dominated but also German-Army-officers-commanded unit at that point. Naturally, Landeswehr felt more inclined to cooperate with Freikorps units (such as Bischoff's Iron Division) assembled from the remains of the 8th army rather than with Latvian countrymen.

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Things began to turn then general Rüdiger von der Goltz arrived in February of 1919. He was sent by German government to prevent Bolsheviks from pushing in to Germany. He took over the command of all forces in Latvia, reorganized them from it to the affective fighting force and military-wise, things did began to turn for the better, but politically....

Suffice to say, that it did not last long for the von der Goltz to find out about the whole "German dominated Baltenland"* idea and he come to the conclusion that it is not only a quite promising notion, but it would be the best for him personally to lead the effort. From the backstage, off course.

So, on April 16 of 1919 a battalion of Baltische Landeswehr successfully overthrew Ulmanis government and installed puppet- cabinet led by the some provincial pastor.

Ulmanis however, was not yet defeated. He, and most of this cabinet escaped and found refuge in the British naval vessel, were he brooded (presumably) and plotted revenge**. As Germans effectively had control of the little what Latvians had for military, Ulmanis send few officers to organize another Latvian army in Estonia.

Next few months, Germans were pushing Bolsheviks from the souths (Baltische Landeswehr effectively just a unit in the Goltz's army at that point), Estonians from he north, Latvians fighting alongside. By the summer Bolsheviks controlled only the eastern part of Latvia (Latgale region). So, Goltz's forces- Baltische Landeswehr specifically-began to push...north. This was clear enough warning sign for the Estonians and after short fighting, joint Estonian-Latvian force scored a major victory at the battle of Cesis (June 23). Allies soon interfered and forced ceasefire of Strazdumuiža. Von der Goltz was told to go back to Courland and prepare for the evacuation to Germany and Ulmanis was reinstated as the head of the Latvian state.

That was not the end of the von der Goltz's schemes. He tried again to take Ulmanis down in the autumn of the same year, this time using unscrupulous cossack officer Bermond- Avalov as a disguise for his intentions.

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But that's another story. We talking about Baltische Landeswehr who did not survived much longer after the defeat at Cesis.

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One of the stipulations of the ceasefire of Strazdumuiža was to take Baltische Landeswehr out of the German control. To ensure "that this time for realsies", a British officer was appointed as a new commander. Under command of the future Field Marshal and Governor-General of Canada Harold Alexander the unit was renamed in to the Latvian Homeguard (Lettländische Landeswehr. Latvian name was Latvijas vācu zemessargi- Latvian German Homeguard) and send to fight Bolsheviks as part of the new Latvian Army.

Under Alexander's leadership unit was relieved from the most unruly and anti-Latvian elements ( many of whom soon joined Freikorps units under Goltz's command) and reorganized in to he fighting force that played and large and important role in liberating Latgale. Much larger achievement of the Alexander's reorganization was taming Landeswehr politically. To everyones surprise, the spirit of the old Landeswehr was uprooted and killed-off and the unit was never a political liability to the Republic of Latvia.

After Alexander resigned in the early 1920, Landeswehr was reformed in to 13th Tukums Infantry Regiment and many of its officers were transfered in to the other units (this was not so much political, but purely logistical move- due to many German officers having a good education and experience, they were much more needed it he more specialized and technical units like artillery, aviation, armored forces etc). However, Latvian government did not felt to comfortable with the idea of non-Latvan units existing in the army and in April of 1922, 13th Tukums Infantry Regiment was disbanded with most remaining personnel being transfered to 7th Sigulda Infantry Regiment .

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* Baltenland is the name for the new German-dominated country in the former Livonia used in the plans of the coup d'etat Ulmanis government exposed in February of 1919.

** In fact, whole this affair seriously helped Ulmanis, in a sense. Before the coup he made some very unpopular agreement with Germany to ensure military help against Bolsheviks and was getting a lot of notoriety for being to friendly with Germans. April 16 effectively restored his prestige and authority among Latvians.

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Sources:

Latvijas brīvības cīņas 1918-1920. Enciklopēdija. Rīga, 1999

Łossowski Piotr, Między wojną a pokojem. Niemieckie zamysły wojenne na wschodzie w obliczu traktatu wersalskiego. Warszawa 1976.

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Sadly, I was not able to find much that would cover the topic in English. There seems to be a rather recent work on topic, but it I have not seen it, hence can't really comment. This article here is rather well researched, at least as much as strictly-military matters (unit sizes and actions) goes. There is some statements I would argue with, but generally its well researched and detailed paper, and quite probably the best thats available in English.