Russia’s self-glorification as a winner in the Second World War and its monopoly on the greatest contribution to the victory is often used as an instrument in geopolitics and wars against those who reject a neocolonial status in the USSR which Putin’s trying to rebuild.
A phenomenon of the Eastern European Waffen-SS volunteers as freedom fighters has been known since the times of active struggle by oppressed peoples against the evil of Bolshevism, which is being gradually revived in the offices of the Kremlin and is preparing for a new attack on the freedom and independence of both its citizens and European nations.
March 16, 2017 in Riga was traditionally held the march of veterans of the Latvian SS Legion who fought against the Soviet occupation of Latvia during the Second World War. This year’s march, in addition to comrades from Estonia and Lithuania, was also attended by representatives of the Ukrainian diaspora from the Congress of Ukrainians in Latvia, as well as Vladyslav Kovalchuk, official representative of the party “National Corps,” and Polish nationalists supporting Ukraine and its fight against the Neo-Bolshevist offensive from the East
It is worth noting that the participants warmly greeted the Ukrainian presence at the march. Local channels and foreign press were eagerly asking questions and disseminating information about Ukraine’s solidarity with the Latvian people on such an important for their history day.
The celebrations began with a memorial service in the Latvian Orthodox Church of St. Prophet John the Baptist, and then people started forming a column. During the preparation for the march they could communicate with foreign press and answer some unclear to the Western audience questions regarding the Legion’s operating as part of the Waffen SS in particular.
It’s worth mentioning that there were representatives of the Latvian press planning to shoot a film about Latvian legionaries. Their goal is to justify the veterans denounced by a variety of liberal foundations. Besides, they plan to refer to the Ukrainian “Galicia” volunteer division of the SS and Polish volunteers who fought side by side with the Latvians.
Since the event falls on the anniversary of the Russian occupation of Crimea, representatives of “National Corps,” Congress of Ukrainians in Latvia and Polish nationalists made a joint photo with the poster “Crimea is Ukraine” and national flags. It was widely covered both by Latvian and foreign media, including Russian. Apparently, Russian media and a pro-Putin audience cannot accept the fact that Eastern Europe is beware of a yoke of Bolshevism and at the first opportunity reminds Russia that the fact that it avoided the Nuremberg Tribunal does not mean that the crimes of the Red Army and NKVD are forgotten.
After the memorial service, the procession marched through the streets of Riga, having united both younger and older generations of Latvians. Vigilance and alertness of the police that silently detained two admirers of the “Russian world” with St. George ribbons, as well as representatives of the German antifa, is also quite praiseworthy.
The march ended at the Freedom Monument where representatives of “National Corps,” Congress of Ukrainians in Latvia and Polish nationalists put flowers in memory of the fallen for the freedom of Latvia.
Further took place a meeting with representatives of the Latvian nationalist party “National Alliance.” Afterwards all together went to the military cemetery of the legionnaires in Lesten.
The cemetery was attended by representatives of the government, society and nationalists. The choir was singing war songs of the legionnaires between their speeches.
It should be noted that Latvia is an exemplary country in terms of resistance and criticism of the liberal discourse of “ubiquitous fascism and a shadow of Hitlerism looming over Europe.” Latvia exists today namely thanks to the legionnaires. They may be called “Nazis” a thousand times, but the Latvians will never renounce those who shed their blood and gave away their lives for the independence of Latvia.
So when someone wants to teach Ukrainians that the “Galicia” division of the SS contradicts the European values, the example of Latvia, a long-time member of the EU, will be more than relevant.