Myths
Myth: Latvian legionnaires were
volunteers
Fact: Only 15-20% of legionnaires enlisted
voluntarily. They did so to protect Latvia from a second
Bolshevik occupation and save civilians from the terror and genocide of
the USSR. The rest 80-85% of soldiers were drafted involuntarily. However, the
majority of them were highly motivated and, since the independent Latvian state
de facto no longer existed, the only opportunity to defend Latvia with arms was
gladly taken. The name ‘Voluntary SS Legion’ was used so that Nazi Germany
would not formally violate the Hague Convention which prohibits the mobilization
of inhabitants of an occupied country.
From key documents on
Latvian legionnaires
Saeima declaration “On Latvian legionnaires in
World War II”
“The aim of soldiers who were drafted into the Legion
or who joined it voluntary was to protect Latvia from
the restoration of Stalin’s regime.”
Report of US High Commissioner in Germany John
McCloy of 13 April 1950 to US Secretary of State
„they were not to be seen as "movements", "volunteer", or "SS."
Myth: Latvian legionnaires participated in murders of Jews and are
guilty of Holocaust crimes
Fact: The formation of the Latvian legion began in March of 1943, when the Nazis
had already eradicated nearly all of the Latvian Jewish population, therefore the
participation of the Latvian legion in the Holocaust was impossible as
such. All young Latvian men fit for service were recruited to the legion. Claiming
that all men of a certain age are murderers contradicts common sense. Latvian
legionnaire Kārlis Grīnerts saved several Latvians and Jews from the gestapo by
instructing them what to say during interrogation.
UK Foreign Office report of April 1946 to the
commander of British armed forces in Germany
tells, that
“… cannot consider the citizens of the Baltic states
war criminals or traitors when the only accusation is
that they have fought against Soviet armed forces.”
Myth: Latvian legionnaires supported Hitler
Fact: Considering the crimes committed by both communists and Nazis in Latvia,
it is safe to assume that Latvian legionnaires were opposed to both Hitler
and Stalin, as evidenced by thousands of legionnaires' memories and
legionnaire song lyrics.
Declaration of US Displaced Persons Commission
of September 1950
“The Baltic Waffen SS Units (Baltic Legions) are to be
considered as separate and distinct in purpose,
ideology, activities, and qualifications for membership
from the German SS.”
Myth: Latvian legionnaires were Nazis
Fact: Only ethnic Germans could become members of the Nazi Party. The Latvian
legionnaires prosecuted by the German war tribunal were imprisoned in the same
Salaspils concentration camp that was used to hold Jews during the Holocaust in
the first years of the German occupation.
Myth: On 16 March, Nazism is being resurrected, people
glorify Hitler and neo-Nazis march in the streets of Riga
Fact: On 16 March, the old Latvian Legion soldiers and their
supporters go with Latvian flags to the Freedom Monument to
honour the fallen soldiers who gave their lives to protect
Latvia from the Soviet occupation and communism.
Myth: On 16 March, anti-fascists protest the
glorification of Nazism
Fact: The activities of Latvian Anti-Fascist Committee and Anti-Nazism
Union are supported by World Without Nazism – a movement sponsored by
the Russian Federation and involved in the information war against the Baltic
states. The leader of so called anti-fascist organizations of Latvia, Russian-speaking Josifs Korens is under the observation of Latvian Security Police as an agent
of Russia’s compatriot policy. Criminal proceedings have been initiated against
the active legionnaire slanderer Vladimirs Lindermans for attempting to recruit
people to the Ukrainian separatist cause. Tatjana Ždanoka, a former member of
the Communist party, actively fought against Latvian independence from USSR
occupation in the late 1980s. For 16 March 2015, Russia's Compatriot fund has
allocated EUR 25,000 to cultivate the myth of resurrection of fascism in Latvia.
Remember!
! Latvian legionnaires did not give the SS oath
! The Latvian Legion has never participated in
the repressions against civilians
! The Latvian Legion has never fought in any
!
battles against the Western Allies; it only
fought against the USSR
In 1945-46, the former Latvian legionnaires
guarded the Nuremberg trials where Nazi
leaders were tried
THE LATVIAN LEGION
in the Light of Truth
Our fates shall meet again, Latvia, hold on,
freedom shall come to you, so precious to us!
One idea in our hearts - for Fatherland we stand.
(lyrics from the anthem of the
19th Division of the Latvian Legion)
As spoken by Latvian legionnaires…
Oskars Baltputnis,
Non-commissioned officer of
the Latvian Legion, 19th
Division, 44th Regiment, 8th
Company
Oļģerts Mentelis,
Reconnaissance Officer of the
Latvian Legion, 19th Division,
Artillery Regiment 3rd Battalion, 7th Battery
In the Courland Pocket Christmas battles of 1944, the
Latvian legionnaires showed
the true power of their love of
homeland – there is no weapon
as powerful as a man’s confidence that he is fighting for
his land and his people. There
were more than 140 thousand
refugees from all over Latvia
in Courland at the time, who
would face persecution in
case of a repeated Soviet
occupation. By delaying the Red Army we gave
them a chance to seek refuge abroad. We sang the
national anthem at midnight of 31 December 1944;
ever since that day I feel like bursting into tears
whenever I sing the anthem…
I was a student during the first
Soviet occupation when in
1941 in Koknese I saw the first
echelon of Latvian deportees
to be sent to Siberia: the
people were rounded up in
cattle wagons. Among them I
saw my Jewish classmate
Frenkel, who called at me to
bring him water. I brought a
bucket of water from the train
station but the Chekists took it
from me and spilled it right in
front of the thirsty prisoners... After the madness
experienced in the Year of Horror, when I was
drafted on 31 March 1943, it was clear: the Red
Army must be banished!
Latvian legionnaire
Kārlis Grīnerts
saved several
Latvians and Jews
from the gestapo by
instructing them
what to say during
interrogation.
Visvaldis Lācis,
writer and historian, Platoon
Leader, 19th Division, 44th
Regiment
The goal of the Latvian legionnaires was to re-establish an
independent Latvian state. To
reach that goal, it was necessary to help Germans defeat
the Red Army before the Allies
in Europe defeated the
Germans. The goal was never
reached as the Allies refused
the principles set forth in the
Atlantic Charter.
Former legionnaires, wearing
black uniforms
with blue helmets
and white belts,
guarding Hermann
Goering, Rudolf
Hess and other top
Nazis during the
Nuremberg Trials