Latvian MEP Calls To Stop Commemorations Of Nazi Legions
From: "MIRSKY Alexander"
To: "MEP-S&D-7th-Legislature"
Cc:
Date:
Subject: Let's stop commemoration of the Day of Latvian Waffen SS Legion
Dear Colleagues,
In Latvia, every year, 16th of March, veterans of "Voluntary Latvian Legion Waffen SS" commemorate the Day of Latvian Legion. The Latvian Legion was created in January 1943 on the order of Adolf Hitler following a request by Reichsführer-SS Heinrich Himmler. Unfortunately, the number of those willing to participate in marches of legionaries, especially young people, has been annually increasing. Former Waffen SS legionaries march towards the monument of Liberty in the centre of Latvian capital, Riga, what causes indignation and condemnation of former prisoners of concentration camps, relatives of those who died by hands of Nazis.
Here is brief information on Latvian Waffen SS legion:
1) The Latvian Legion was created in January 1943 on the order of Adolf Hitler following a request by Reichsführer-SS Heinrich Himmler. The initial core of the force was provided by Latvian Schutzmannschaft battalions, which were formed several years earlier and had been previously engaged in anti-partisan duties, includin Arajs Commando, actively participated in a variety of Nazi atrocities, including the killing of Jews, Roma, and mental patients, as well as punitive actions and massacres of civilians along Latvia's eastern border with the Soviet Union. The Commando killed around 26,000 Jews in total. Most notably, the unit took part in the mass execution of Jews from the Riga ghetto, and several thousand Jews deported from Germany, at Rumbula on November 30 and December 8, 1941.
2) Soldiers and officers of Voluntary Latvian Waffen SS Legion are responsible for War Crimes in Poland, Belarus and Russia.
Poland: 32 captured polish soldiers were closed in the hangar and burned.
Belarus: Operation Winterzauber (1943) 183 country villages burned, 11 383 people shot and burned (including 2 118 children aged under 12) 14 175 were moved away — adult to work in Germany, children to concentration camp in Salaspils.
Russia: (1943-44) - 23 country villages burned, 1300 people shot.
3) After WWII ended the Waffen-SS was rightly condemned at the Nurnberg Trial as a criminal organization.
4) The commemoration of Day of Latvian legion is supported by high level politicians in Latvia, for example Minister of Justice, Gaidis Berziņš.
In 2012 among the participants were members of national parliament:
Raivis Dzintars, Jānis Dombrava, Inara Mūrniece, Kārlis Kresliņš, Dzintars Rasnačs , Inese Laizāne , Vineta Poriņa, Dzintars Kudums and Ilmārs Latkovskis.
I think that such "celebrations" throw a challenge to the world community, as a try to revise results of World War 2.
I am planning to table a Written Declaration on the subject phohibiting any events related to Nazi to be held in public places. I would be very grateful for any support from you.
Please, find attached photos related to the 16th of March.
Sincerely,
MEP Alexander Mirsky
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