Latvian Legion Day
Encyclopedia
Latvian language
Latvian is the official state language of Latvia. It is also sometimes referred to as Lettish. There are about 1.4 million native Latvian speakers in Latvia and about 150,000 abroad. The Latvian language has a relatively large number of non-native speakers, atypical for a small language...
) is a day on March 16, when front soldiers of the Latvian Legion, part of the Waffen SS, are commemorated. It was made an official remembrance day in Latvia
Latvia
Latvia , officially the Republic of Latvia , is a country in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by Estonia , to the south by Lithuania , to the east by the Russian Federation , to the southeast by Belarus and shares maritime borders to the west with Sweden...
in 1998 and has since sparked a controversy as parts of Latvian society see the Legion as Nazi and the Legion Day itself as Nazi festivities, while other parts of society hold that the Legion was a purely military unit fighting back the Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
that had taken over Latvia in Soviet occupation of Latvia in 1940
Soviet occupation of Latvia in 1940
The Soviet occupation of Latvia in 1940 refers, according to the European Court of Human Rights, the Government of Latvia, the State Department of the United States of America, and the European Union, to the military occupation of the Republic of Latvia by the Soviet Union ostensibly under the...
and it was not responsible for any of Nazi war crimes
Nuremberg Trials
The Nuremberg Trials were a series of military tribunals, held by the victorious Allied forces of World War II, most notable for the prosecution of prominent members of the political, military, and economic leadership of the defeated Nazi Germany....
. In 2000, the Latvian government abolished the day as an official commemoration day.
Origins
Latvian Legion Day was established in exile by the Daugavas Vanagi veterans' organisation. March 16 was chosen as the most appropriate date because in 1944 both divisions of the Latvian Legion, the 15th15th Waffen Grenadier Division of the SS (1st Latvian)
The 15th Waffen Grenadier Division of the SS was formed in the Waffen SS's drive for manpower in the wake of Operation Barbarossa; Nazi Germany's invasion of the Soviet Union in June 1941...
(1st Latvian) and the 19th
19th Waffen Grenadier Division of the SS (2nd Latvian)
The 19th Waffen Grenadier Division of the SS was an Infantry Division of the Waffen SS during World War II. It was the second Latvian division formed in January 1944, after its sister unit, the 15th Waffen Grenadier Division of the SS...
(2nd Latvian) fought together for the first time.
Controversy
As a part of the Waffen SS, the Latvian Legion is seen by some as being Nazi, yet others point out that it fought only the Soviet UnionSoviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
which had occupied and annexed Latvia, it is not responsible for Holocaust (since it was founded more than a year after Latvian Jews were executed or sent to concentration camps) or Nazi war crimes and should be viewed as a separate entity (being recognized as such by e.g. USA) without Nazi indoctrination and not sharing Nazi beliefs. Some of the Latvian Legion soldiers such as the Arajs Commando
Arajs Commando
The Arajs Kommando , led by SS-Sturmbannführer Viktors Arājs, was a unit of Latvian Auxiliary Police subordinated to the Nazi SD...
were, however, part of death squads prior to them joining the legion. The legion was engaged in punitive actions against guerrillas and civilian population on the territory of modern Latvia, Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
, Belarus
Belarus
Belarus , officially the Republic of Belarus, is a landlocked country in Eastern Europe, bordered clockwise by Russia to the northeast, Ukraine to the south, Poland to the west, and Lithuania and Latvia to the northwest. Its capital is Minsk; other major cities include Brest, Grodno , Gomel ,...
, Ukraine
Ukraine
Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It has an area of 603,628 km², making it the second largest contiguous country on the European continent, after Russia...
and Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
. Although officially named Volunteer Legion, it was primarily formed by draft to circumvent the international law prohibiting drafting inhabitants of occupied territories by the occupier.
History
Latvian Legion Day has been observed in Latvia since 1990 and was set as official remembrance day in 1998. In 1998 traditional procession to lay-flowers at the base of Freedom monument draw attention of foreign mass media and in the following year the Russian governmentRussia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
condemned the event as glorification of Nazism
Nazism
Nazism, the common short form name of National Socialism was the ideology and practice of the Nazi Party and of Nazi Germany...
. In 2000 Latvian government abolished the day as official commemoration day, however the day is still observed unofficially and has since evolved in political fight between leftist protesters and Latvian nationalists. In 2005, counter-demonstration was dispersed by police, arresting tens of its participants; the march itself was condemned by Simon Wiesenthal Center
Simon Wiesenthal Center
The Simon Wiesenthal Center , with headquarters in Los Angeles, California, was established in 1977 and named for Simon Wiesenthal, the Nazi hunter. According to its mission statement, it is "an international Jewish human rights organization dedicated to repairing the world one step at a time...
. The Latvian government tried to bring situation under control by going so far that in 2006, not only the events planned by nationalist organizations were not approved, but the Freedom Monument
Freedom Monument
The Freedom Monument is a memorial located in Riga, Latvia honoring soldiers killed during the Latvian War of Independence . It is considered an important symbol of the freedom, independence, and sovereignty of Latvia...
was fenced, as it was announced by Riga City Council
Riga City Council
Riga City Council is the government of Riga City, the capital of Latvia. It is located in the Riga Town Hall at the Town Hall Square in the very heart of Riga....
, for restoration, however this statement was later questioned, as politicians named various other reasons for the move and the enclosed area was much larger than needed for restoration, and the weather didn't seem appropriate for restoration. The Freedom Monument is one of the most important symbols of Latvia, therefore the move caused discontent in general society. The government was criticized for being unable to ensure public safety and freedom of speech. Latvian mass media compared the actions of government officials with actions of Soviet officials in late 80s and reported that no other government before had fenced the monument for political reasons. It was also speculated that actual reason for actions of government was preparation for upcoming NATO Summit 2006 in Riga. The unapproved events took place despite the ban and 65 participants were arrested by Latvian police, reportedly among the participants were foreigners as well, two of the arrested participants were citizens of Estonia
Estonia
Estonia , officially the Republic of Estonia , is a state in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by the Gulf of Finland, to the west by the Baltic Sea, to the south by Latvia , and to the east by Lake Peipsi and the Russian Federation . Across the Baltic Sea lies...
. In 2006, the law provisions that called for approval to arrange gatherings were ruled out as unconstitutional
Constitution of Latvia
The Constitution of Latvia is the fundamental law of the Republic of Latvia. It was adopted by, as it states itself, the people of Latvia, in a freely elected Constitutional Assembly, on 15 February 1922 and came into force on 7 November 1922. It was influenced by ideas of the Weimar Constitution...
. On March 16, 2007, government mobilized the police force to guard neighborhood of the monument and the day went by relatively peacefully. It should also be noted that the veterans' organizations Daugavas Vanagi and Latvijas Nacionālo karavīru biedrība have announced that they dissociate themselves from ultra-radicals who organize processons at the monument and advised patriotic Latvians to attend other events and help elderly veterans. In 2008 the confrontation was limited to verbal arguments and insults.
Traditions
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Participating organizations
Organizations whose members have been seen to participate in events:- All For Latvia!All For Latvia!All For Latvia! was a nationalist political party in Latvia.All For Latvia! started as a political youth organization in 2000 and became a political party in January 2006, running in 2006 elections. It won 1.48% of vote and no seats in the parliament...
- Latvian nationalist political party. Traditionally members of "All For Latvia!" flag alley at the Freedom Monument at the time when procession arrives at it. - Gustavs CelmiņšGustavs Celminš-Biography:Born in Riga, he was educated at the commerce school of the Riga Stock Exchange, and graduated in Moscow. In 1917, he began studies at the Riga Polytechnical Institute which had been evacuated to Moscow...
Centre – an organisation seeking to revive the fascist PērkonkrustsPerkonkrustsPērkonkrusts , was a Latvian political party founded in the 1930s. This group adapted fascist ideology to the situation in independent Latvia after 1918. It was the largest and longest-lived organisation of its kind in Latvia...
movement.
Organizations that support veterans of the Legion and participate in events:
- National Power UnityNational Power UnityNacionālā Spēka SavienībaCurrent Leader:Viktors BirzeFounded:June 26, 2003Headquarters:A. Pumpura 10- 315 kab.Liepāja, LatviaPolitical ideology:Nationalism...
- Latvian nationalist political party. - Club 415 - Latvian nationalist youth organisation.
- National Front of Latvia - Latvian nationalist organisation.
Parties whose members have been seen to participate in events
- Union of Greens and FarmersUnion of Greens and FarmersUnion of Greens and Farmers is a green/agrarian and conservative political alliance in Latvia. It consists of two political parties: Latvian Farmers' Union and the Green Party of Latvia . It is the third-largest party in the Saeima....
- For Fatherland and Freedom/LNNK
- New Era PartyNew Era PartyThe New Era Party , abbreviated to JL, was a centre-right political party in Latvia. Founded in 2002, the party merged with Civic Union and Society for Other Politics to form Unity in 2011....
- People's PartyPeople's Party (Latvia)The People's Party was a centre-right political party in Latvia. It described itself as a conservative party.Tautas partija was founded in 1998 by Andris Šķēle, a businessman and former prime minister, who was the chairman of the party until 2002. Because of Šķēle's powerful personality, many...
Organizations that have demonstrated against the events:
- National Bolshevik Party - Unofficial Russian radical organisation.
- National Democratic Party of Latvia
- Antifascist Committee of Latvia
- For Human Rights in United LatviaFor Human Rights in United LatviaFor Human Rights in United Latvia is a left-wing political party in Latvia, supported mainly by ethnic Russians and other non-Latvian minorities. Co-chairpersons of its Ruling Board are Tatjana Ždanoka, Jakovs Pliners and Miroslav Mitrofanov....
- Night WatchNochnoy Dozor (pressure group)Nochnoy Dozor is a group of mostly Russophone political activists living in Estonia. It was set up in the summer of 2006, with its original declared goal of defending the Bronze Soldier, a monument grave marker in Tallinn, near the Estonian National Library and next to a trolleybus stop, against...
External links
- Latvian Legion Day, 2008
- http://vip.latnet.lv/LPRA/16m2004.htm