Latvian Legion Day
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Latvian Legion Day ("Latviešu leģiona atceres diena" - "Latvian Legion remembrance day" in Latvian) 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 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 that had taken over Latvia in Soviet occupation of Latvia in 1940 and it was not responsible for any of Nazi war crimes.[citation needed] In 2000, the Latvian government abolished the day as an official commemoration day.
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[edit] 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 15th (1st Latvian) and the 19th (2nd Latvian) fought together for the first time.
[edit] 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 Union 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 were, however, part of death squads prior to them joining the legion. Russia alleges the legion was engaged in punitive actions against guerrillas and civilian population on the territory of modern Latvia, Poland, Belarus, Ukraine and Russia[1]. Although officially named Volunteer Legion, it was primarily formed by draft[2] to circumvent the international law prohibiting drafting inhabitants of occupied territories by the occupier.
[edit] History
Latvian Legion Day has been observed in Latvia since 1990[citation needed] In 1993, MP J. Dobelis had invited his colleagues to commemorate the anniversary of the Legion, supported by the Chaiman of the Parliament, Anatolijs Gorbunovs.[3] It was set as official remembrance day in 1998.[4] 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 government condemned the event as glorification of Nazism.[2] 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.[5] In 2005, counter-demonstration was dispersed by police, arresting tens of its participants[6]; the march itself was condemned by Simon Wiesenthal Center.[7] 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 was fenced, as it was announced by Riga City Council, 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.[8] 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.[9] In 2006, the law provisions that called for approval to arrange gatherings were ruled out as unconstitutional[10]. On March 16, 2007, government mobilized the police force to guard neighborhood of the monument and the day went by relatively peacefully.[11] 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.[12] In 2008 the confrontation was limited to verbal arguments and insults.[13]
[edit] Traditions
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Traditionally a memorial service is held in Riga Cathedral, after which the participants go in procession to the Freedom Monument where they lay flowers. The participants then travel to the Legionnaires' cemetery in Lestene.
[edit] Participating organizations
Organizations whose members have been seen to participate in events:
- All For Latvia! - 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 Celmiņš Centre – an organisation seeking to revive the fascist Pērkonkrusts movement.[13]
Organizations that support veterans of the Legion and participate in events:
- National Power Unity - 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
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 Latvia[9]
- Night Watch[13][14]
[edit] External links
[edit] References
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Latvian Legion Day |
- ^ "Involvement of the Lettish SS Legion in War Crimes in 1941-1945 and the Attempts to Revise the Verdict of the Nuremberg Tribunal in Latvia". Permanent Mission of the Russian Federation to the United Nations. http://www.un.int/russia/other/latv1941.htm.
- ^ a b 16. marts Latviešu leģiona vēstures kontekstā by Antonijs Zunda, professor of Latvian University, retrieved on 2006-03-16
- ^ Minutes of the Supreme Council, March 16, 1993(Latvian)
- ^ Law "On holidays and remembrance days" with amendments, retrieved: 2007-05-10
- ^ Latvian Police Stops Unauthorized SS March The Moscow News, 2006-03-16, retrieved: 2007-03-17
- ^ У памятника Свободы произошла стычка(Russian)
- ^ Wiesenthal Center Condemns Marches in Riga and Liepaja, Latvia of Latvian SS Veterans
- ^ Brīvības pieminekļa koka mētelītis Politika.lv 2006-03-14, retrieved 2007-03-18
- ^ a b Latvijas jaunāko laiku vēsturē ierakstīta jauna 16. marta lappuse Archived press coverage regarding 2006-03-16 (Neatkarīgā; Diena; Latvijas Vēstnesis; Latvijas Avīze; Nedēļa), retrieved on 2007-03-17
- ^ Constitutional Court's judgment in case 2006-03-0106 (Latvian)
- ^ Policija Rīgas centrā gatavojas 16.marta pasākumiem Delfi.lv 2007-03-16, retrieved: 2007-03-19
- ^ 'Daugavas Vanagi' un Latvijas Nacionālo karavīru biedrība: Nepolitizēsim 16.martu delfi.lv 2007-03-13, retrieved: 2007-03-19
- ^ a b c Leģionāru piemiņas pasākums noritējis bez starpgadījumiem Delfi.lv 2008-03-16, retrieved: 2008-03-16
- ^ ""Ночной дозор" пробирался в Латвию группами" (in Russian). DELFI.lv. 2008-03-16. http://rus.delfi.lv/archive/article.php?id=20520852. Retrieved 2008-03-21.
