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A large number of [[Latvians]] resisted the [[occupation of Latvia by Nazi Germany]].<ref>[http://www.li.lv/index.php?Itemid=1096&id=27&option=com_content&task=view Occupied Latvia During World War II]. Li.lv. Retrieved on January 6, 2012.</ref> The Latvian resistance movement was divided between the pro-independence units under the [[Latvian Central Council]] and the pro-[[Soviet]] units under the Central Staff of the [[Partisan (military)|Partisan]] Movement in [[Moscow]]. Around 22,000 deserted both from the [[Red Army]] and [[Heer (1935–1945)|German Army]] during 1943–45 in [[Latvia]].{{Fact|date=March 2008}} [[Daugavpils]] was the scene of fierce [[Jewish resistance during the Holocaust]].<ref>[http://www.eilatgordinlevitan.com/dvinsk/dvinsk.html Dvinsk]. Eilatgordinlevitan.com. Retrieved on January 6, 2012.</ref> Armed [[combat]], behind the German Front lines was done by left [[Latvian Riflemen]], [[Extermination Battalions|people guards]] and [[Red Army]] soldiers. Activity picked up in 1942, one year after the first winter war, but real work by the partisans in Latvia started only in 1943 after the German [[Army Group B]] [[Battle of Stalingrad|stalled at Stalingrad]] and [[Battle of Kursk|Kursk]].<ref>[[Mark Healy]], Zitadelle: The German Offensive Against the Kursk Salient July 4–17, 1943.</ref> The partisan regiment "To padomju Latviju" was organized and started training June 1942 in [[Leningrad]] and from [[Staraya Russa]], three small Latvian partisan units (about 200 men) headed for Latvia. July 7, the regiment with combat reached Latvian [[Kārsava]] [[Ludza District|region]], but there the German found and [[disperse]]d them with great losses and only several partisans escaped.<ref>[http://latviansonline.com/news/article/4498/ Andris Straumanis, Human rights court overturns war crimes ruling]. Latviansonline.com (2008-07-25). Retrieved on January 6, 2012.</ref> Next partisan unit was formed September 1942 by Moscow from volunteers, from [[201st Latvian Riflemen Division]] and Latvian partisan regiment "To padomju Latviju" combatants. These units commander was [[Vilis Samsons]]. This partisan regiment combat began East of Latvian borders and only 1943 winter started to fight in Latvia. March this unit renamed to [[Latvian Partisan Brigade]].<ref>[http://www.axisglobe.com/article.asp?article=470 Simon Araloff, AIA European section, Documents of the Soviet Intelligence Testify: Abrene Region is Latvian Territory.]{{dead link|date=January 2012}}</ref> Better organized and led the partisan movement in Latvia from January 1943 until October 1944 fought all of Latvia.<ref>[http://www.historia.lv/publikacijas/gramat/mangulis/09.nod.htm JULY 1941 TO MAY 8, 1945]. Historia.lv. Retrieved on January 6, 2012.</ref> From January 1943 the [[Soviet partisans|Red Partisans]] in Latvia were under the leadership of [[Arturs Sproģis]]. Another prominent commander was Vilis Samsons, who later became a historian.<ref>[http://www.theeasternfront.co.uk/thepartisanwar.htm The Partisan War]. Theeasternfront.co.uk. Retrieved on January 6, 2012.</ref> His 3,000-man unit is credited with the destruction of nearly 130 German trains.<ref>[http://dic.academic.ru/dic.nsf/enwiki/959522 Soviet partisans]. Dic.academic.ru. Retrieved on January 6, 2012.</ref> Altogether Latvia had 24 partisan units, as also 33 smaller groups. From March 1944 until July they formed 4 partisan brigades: 1st Brigade with about 3000 men (commander V. Samsons) fought Northern and Northeastern Latvia. 2nd Brigade (about 1500 men, commander [[P. Ratins]]) fought Latvian center. 3rd Brigade (about 500 men, commander [[Otomars Oškalns]]) fought [[Zemgale]], and 4th Brigade, also with about 500 men. Leningrad partisan brigade, which consisted only of Russians (commander [[M. Klementjevs]]) fought around [[Lake Lubāns]].<ref>[http://turisms.latgale.lv/en/latgale/routes/Viducis2 Friendship barrow]. Turisms.latgale.lv. Retrieved on January 6, 2012.</ref> In 1944 and 1945 in [[Courland]] they formed many small partisan units (2 to 12 men each) but very active. Most noted was "Sarkana bulta". The Latvian Red partisan suffered great losses, and many from smaller groups were completely [[Elimination|eliminated]]. The Red partisan movement in Latvia ended in October 1944.<ref>[http://www.lacplesis.com/LATVIAN_UNITS_IN_THE_RED_ARMY.htm Red Partisans]. Lacplesis.com. Retrieved on January 6, 2012.</ref>
A large number of [[Latvians]] resisted the [[occupation of Latvia by Nazi Germany]]. The Latvian resistance movement was divided between the pro-independence units under the [[Latvian Central Council]] and the pro-[[Soviet]] units under the Central Staff of the [[Partisan (military)|Partisan]] Movement in [[Moscow]]. Around 22,000 deserted both from the [[Red Army]] and [[Heer (1935–1945)|German Army]] during 1943–45 in [[Latvia]].{{Fact|date=March 2008}}


The Latvian commander of the pro-Soviet units was [[Arturs Sproģis]]. However, Moscow failed to create pro-Soviet units on a large scale in 1941–1942. In the beginning of 1944 Sproģis reported to Moscow that only 1500 [[Soviet partisans]] were transferred to Latvia. Because of lack of local support to Soviet partisan units they were based in woods in [[Belarus]] and [[Russia]] and only made raids into Latvia, afterwards retreating to their bases across the border.{{Fact|date=March 2008}}
The Latvian commander of the pro-Soviet units was [[Arturs Sproģis]]. However, Moscow failed to create pro-Soviet units on a large scale in 1941–1942. In the beginning of 1944 Sproģis reported to Moscow that only 1500 [[Soviet partisans]] were transferred to Latvia. Because of lack of local support to Soviet partisan units they were based in woods in [[Belarus]] and [[Russia]] and only made raids into Latvia, afterwards retreating to their bases across the border.{{Fact|date=March 2008}}

Revision as of 10:18, 29 March 2012

A large number of Latvians resisted the occupation of Latvia by Nazi Germany.[1] The Latvian resistance movement was divided between the pro-independence units under the Latvian Central Council and the pro-Soviet units under the Central Staff of the Partisan Movement in Moscow. Around 22,000 deserted both from the Red Army and German Army during 1943–45 in Latvia.[citation needed] Daugavpils was the scene of fierce Jewish resistance during the Holocaust.[2] Armed combat, behind the German Front lines was done by left Latvian Riflemen, people guards and Red Army soldiers. Activity picked up in 1942, one year after the first winter war, but real work by the partisans in Latvia started only in 1943 after the German Army Group B stalled at Stalingrad and Kursk.[3] The partisan regiment "To padomju Latviju" was organized and started training June 1942 in Leningrad and from Staraya Russa, three small Latvian partisan units (about 200 men) headed for Latvia. July 7, the regiment with combat reached Latvian Kārsava region, but there the German found and dispersed them with great losses and only several partisans escaped.[4] Next partisan unit was formed September 1942 by Moscow from volunteers, from 201st Latvian Riflemen Division and Latvian partisan regiment "To padomju Latviju" combatants. These units commander was Vilis Samsons. This partisan regiment combat began East of Latvian borders and only 1943 winter started to fight in Latvia. March this unit renamed to Latvian Partisan Brigade.[5] Better organized and led the partisan movement in Latvia from January 1943 until October 1944 fought all of Latvia.[6] From January 1943 the Red Partisans in Latvia were under the leadership of Arturs Sproģis. Another prominent commander was Vilis Samsons, who later became a historian.[7] His 3,000-man unit is credited with the destruction of nearly 130 German trains.[8] Altogether Latvia had 24 partisan units, as also 33 smaller groups. From March 1944 until July they formed 4 partisan brigades: 1st Brigade with about 3000 men (commander V. Samsons) fought Northern and Northeastern Latvia. 2nd Brigade (about 1500 men, commander P. Ratins) fought Latvian center. 3rd Brigade (about 500 men, commander Otomars Oškalns) fought Zemgale, and 4th Brigade, also with about 500 men. Leningrad partisan brigade, which consisted only of Russians (commander M. Klementjevs) fought around Lake Lubāns.[9] In 1944 and 1945 in Courland they formed many small partisan units (2 to 12 men each) but very active. Most noted was "Sarkana bulta". The Latvian Red partisan suffered great losses, and many from smaller groups were completely eliminated. The Red partisan movement in Latvia ended in October 1944.[10]

The Latvian commander of the pro-Soviet units was Arturs Sproģis. However, Moscow failed to create pro-Soviet units on a large scale in 1941–1942. In the beginning of 1944 Sproģis reported to Moscow that only 1500 Soviet partisans were transferred to Latvia. Because of lack of local support to Soviet partisan units they were based in woods in Belarus and Russia and only made raids into Latvia, afterwards retreating to their bases across the border.[citation needed]

Many local Latvians were actively involved in the resistance movement against the ethnic policies of the German occupation regime. Žanis Lipke risked his life to save more than 50 Jews.

Civic circles in Latvia were dissatisfied with the German occupation regime and secretly plotted to reinstate democracy. An underground organization was established called the Latvian Central Council, which published the outlawed publication Brīvā Latvija (Free Latvia). The periodical propagated the idea of renewing democracy in Latvia after the war.[citation needed]

After the end of World War II, resistance continued against the Soviet regime. From 1945 to 1956, around 100,000 were involved in the Forest Brothers resistance movement.[citation needed] After the war some partisans have been accused of war crimes.[11]

References

  1. ^ Occupied Latvia During World War II. Li.lv. Retrieved on January 6, 2012.
  2. ^ Dvinsk. Eilatgordinlevitan.com. Retrieved on January 6, 2012.
  3. ^ Mark Healy, Zitadelle: The German Offensive Against the Kursk Salient July 4–17, 1943.
  4. ^ Andris Straumanis, Human rights court overturns war crimes ruling. Latviansonline.com (2008-07-25). Retrieved on January 6, 2012.
  5. ^ Simon Araloff, AIA European section, Documents of the Soviet Intelligence Testify: Abrene Region is Latvian Territory.[dead link]
  6. ^ JULY 1941 TO MAY 8, 1945. Historia.lv. Retrieved on January 6, 2012.
  7. ^ The Partisan War. Theeasternfront.co.uk. Retrieved on January 6, 2012.
  8. ^ Soviet partisans. Dic.academic.ru. Retrieved on January 6, 2012.
  9. ^ Friendship barrow. Turisms.latgale.lv. Retrieved on January 6, 2012.
  10. ^ Red Partisans. Lacplesis.com. Retrieved on January 6, 2012.
  11. ^ The Telegraph: Ex-Soviet partisan Vasily Kononov fights his last World War Two battle

See also

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