Global Latvian Home School
November 9th, 2008 — Latvia
Riga, Latvia, January 21, 1991.
Soviet OMON (police specnaz) attacks Latvian Ministry of Interior Affairs, eventually killing 5 persons (including by-standers - one schoolboy and two cameramen (pictured)) and wounding more.
Footage from documentary “Krustcels”.
Director: Juris Podnieks, Latvia.
Uploaded for educational purposes.
Duration : 0:3:26
October 7th, 2008 — Latvia
Several decades ago, Latvian filmmaker Albert Jekste produced a grim, gripping documentary entitled “My Latvia” depicting the Soviet conquest and occupation of the Baltic States.
A documentary featured of the illegal Soviet military occupation of the three Baltic states in 1940. This unusual film, which illuminates communist methods of internal subversion and conquest, includes rare scenes of Stalin and other Soviet leaders attending closed Kremlin meetings, and examines the criminal background of the Latvian nationals who “invited” the Soviets into that country and subsequently umed high communist government posts.
In August 1939, Hitler and Stalin signed a treaty called the “Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact” to make Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union allies and divide Europe between them.
In September 1939, Hitler invaded Poland from the west and Stalin invaded Poland from the east, starting World War II.
In late September 1939, Stalin threatening to invade and occupy Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania if they did not permit him to maintain military bases there. He promise to honor their sovereignty. After Poland’s fate, the three Baltic countries saw no alternative but to yield.
In June 1940, the Soviets broke their promises, took over the Estonian, Latvian and Lithuanian governments, and killed or deported virtually all political and business leaders. Stalin subsequently declared that the Baltic countries had “volunteered” to become part of the Soviet Union.
Duration : 0:7:58
October 3rd, 2008 — Latvia
Several decades ago, Latvian filmmaker Albert Jekste produced a grim, gripping documentary entitled “My Latvia” depicting the Soviet conquest and occupation of the Baltic States.
A documentary features of the illegal Soviet military occupation of the Baltic states in 1940. This unusual film, which illuminates communist methods of internal subversion and conquest, includes rare scenes of Stalin and other Soviet leaders attending closed Kremlin meetings, and examines the criminal background of the Latvian nationals who “invited” the Soviets into that country and subsequently umed high communist government posts.
In August 1939, Hitler and Stalin signed a treaty called the “Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact” to make Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union allies and divide Europe between them.
In September 1939, Hitler invaded Poland from the west and Stalin invaded Poland from the east, starting World War II.
In late September 1939, Stalin threatening to invade and occupy Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania if they did not permit him to maintain military bases there. He promise to honor their sovereignty. After Poland’s fate, the three Baltic countries saw no alternative but to yield.
In June 1940, the Soviets broke their promises, took over the Estonian, Latvian and Lithuanian governments, and killed or deported virtually all political and business leaders. Stalin subsequently declared that the Baltic countries had “volunteered” to become part of the Soviet Union.
Duration : 0:9:58
September 26th, 2008 — Riga
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The first episode will show the viewer the old Latvian Riga. Various pictures and historical video footages showing the everyday life in the old republic of Latvia from her birth till her death caused by the Soviet annexation in 1940.
Duration : 0:5:50
September 22nd, 2008 — Latvian
This unit had its origins in the Estonian SS Legion which was first formed on the 28th of August, 1942.
Wikipedia:
Division - Battles at Narva
In January 1944, the 20. Estnische SS-Freiwilligen-Division began formation. The majority of the troops were drawn from the 3. Estnische SS-Freiwilligen Brigade, however elements from Ost Battalions Nr. 658, also known as Pups of Rebane (=”Fox”) and Nr. 659, the 287.Polizei-Füsilier-Bataillon and the returned Estonian volunteers of the Finnish army unit Infantry Regiment 200 were also absorbed into the division.
On 8 February 1944, the division was attached to SS-Gruppenführer Felix Steiner’s III SS (Germanic) Panzer Corps, currently defending the heavily pressured Narva bridgehead. The division was to replace the remnants of the 9. and 10.Luftwaffe-Feld-Divisions, which were struggling to hold the line against a Soviet bridgehead near Siivertsi. Upon arriving at the front on 20 February, the Estonians were immediately ordered to eradicate the threatening Siivertsi Soviet bridgehead. In nine days of heavy fighting, the division had pushed the Soviets back across the river, and restored the line. The division remained stationed in the Ssivertsi sector, being engaged in heavy combat. In May, the division was pulled back and reformed as the 20. Waffen-Grenadier-Division der SS (estnische Nr.1), and the returned Narwa battalion was absorbed into the division as the reconnaissance abteilung. By that time active conscription of Estonian men into the German armed forces was well under way, in violation of the international law of war. By spring 1944, approximately 32 000 men were drafted into the German forces, with the 20. Waffen-Grenadier-Division der SS (estnische Nr.1) consisting of some 15 000 men.
When Steiner ordered a withdrawal to the Tannenbergstellung on July 25, the division was deployed on the Kinderheim-höhe, the first line of defence for the new position. Over the next month, the division was engaged in heavy defensive battles on the Kinderheim and Grenadier-höhe. In mid-August, the division’s 45th Estland and 46th regiments were formed into Kampfgruppe Vent and sent south to help defend the Emajogi river line, seeing heavy fighting.
When Hitler authorised a full withdrawal from Estonia in mid September, all men who wished to stay to defend their homes were released from service. Many chose this offer, fighting the Soviets alongside other Estonians and then withdrawing into the forests to become the Forest Brothers. Severely weakened by this, the division was withdrawn to Neuhammer to be refitted.
Vistula-Oder Offensive - Final battles
Eventually, the reformed division numbered roughly 11,000 Estonians and 2,500 Germans. It was returned to the line in late February, just in time for the Soviet Vistula-Oder Offensive. This offensive forced the German forces back behind the Oder and Neisse rivers. The division was pushed back to the Neisse, taking heavy casualties. The division was then trapped with the XI. Armeekorps in the Oberglogau - Falkenberg - Friedberg area. On 17 March, the division launched a major escape attempt, but despite making headway, the attempt failed. On 19 March, the division tried again, this time succeeding but leaving all heavy weapons and equipment behind in the pocket.
In April 1945, the shattered remnants of the division were moved south to the area around Goldberg. After the final Soviet offensive, the division attempted to break out in the west, in order to surrender to the western Allies. After marching over the Reichenberg and Annaberg mountains, the division was encircled by Russian forces and capitulated on May 8. Some of the Estonians who had reached the western allies were handed back to the Soviets. The survivors could, at best, expect a lengthy stay in the Gulags.
In contrast, some veterans of the Estonian Legion served as guards under American leadership at the Nuremberg Nazi war crimes trials.
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The Baltic Schutzmannschaft found themselves in a unique situation, they saw the Germans as liberators from Bolshevism. Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania were occupied by the Soviet Union for slightly over a year and had experienced the brutality of the Soviets hence a passionate zeal against Bolshevism.
The fighting in and around Narva, Estonia was also known as the “Battle of the European SS” since it involved a great number of foreign members in the Waffen-SS.
Duration : 0:3:17
September 11th, 2008 — Latvian
Two divisions were to be formed on the Latvian soil during the Second World War. They were to form the core of the Latvian Legion which was created in order to prevent a new Soviet occupation. The 15th — Latvian 1st Division and 19th — Latvian 2nd Division along with the other Latvian military units it had a combat strength up to 165,000 men at its peak.
The Latvian Legion was an unique battlegroup what was built on what stood on patriotism and high fighting moral. The legionaries continued the fight till the bitter end — some dedicated their entire life fighting against the Soviet occupation.
The Western countries yielded to the pressure of the Soviet Union and did not object to Latvia and other Baltic States remaining part of the Soviet Union. Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia found themselves the only occupied states, whose independence was not restored after the Second World War. Only in 1991 it became possible to eliminate this historical injustice and the Baltic States regained their national independence.
In the end, the Latvians were vindicated - they were cleared of any war crimes in 1950 by the US Congress statement which recognized the difference of the Baltic SS Legions from the German SS. Not many surviving members of the Latvian Legion are left today in Latvia. But each year the veterans, meet to remember their suffering and sacrifices. They see themselves as Latvian patriots who believed that they were fighting for the restoration of a free Latvia. For this reason, March 16th, the anniversary of a major Latvian Legion battle in Russia, was chosen as a day of solemn remembrance.
This video is about the soldiers and legionaries who gave everything to save their own country. It also describes a nation whose independence and youth was violently taken away. It is about a country who suffered after the war 50 more years. A country to whom the Second World War did not end on the 8th of May 1945.
The matter of the Latvian SS is still hotly debated. In Latvia and Estonia they are officially recognized as freedom fighters.
Duration : 0:5:6