** war and social upheaval: World War II -- the Holocaust in Latvia








The Holocaust in Latvia (1941-44)


Figure 1.--The NAZIs dug an emense ditch at Skede beach. Here a group including children are being lined up to be shot. They are arraged so they will fall into the ditch after being shot and the next group can quickly be lined up. Those who were already shot lie below in the ditch. Notice how the victims weremade to face away from the firing quad which was on the other side of the ditch. This killing action took plce near Liepaja during mid-December, 1941.

The holocaust in Latvia began with the NAZI invasion of the Soviet Union. Within days the Wehrmacht swept through Lithiania and reached Latvia. Both Germans and Latvians participated in the murder of Jews. Many of the The Latvian Jews were killed before the NAZI death camps in Poland were opened. Jews at Rumbula were killed November 30, 1941. The Jews in Riga were killed December 8, 1941. The SS Einsatzgruppen entered Latvia with clear orders to kill as many Jews as possible. Einsatzgruppe A commanded by Brigadefuhrer Walther Stahlecker entered Latvia. In Latvia the Einheimische (locals) playeda major role in the killing. Heydrich ordered Stahlecker to instigate local pogroms, this desguised the NAZI holocaust as local actions against Jews and Bolsheviks. After the pogrom policy failed to produce the desired results, the NAZIs took more direct measures. The Arajs SD Commando was organized by Brigadefuhrer Stahlecker to kill Jews. Numerous other Latvian auxiliary police units also played a role. Most of the Latvian Jews were killed by the Arajs unit. Not all NAZI government agncies had identical plans for the Jews of the Soviet Union. Reichskommissar of the Ostland, Hinrich Lohse ordered Jews to be concentrated and used for slav labor. Stahlecker and the Einsatzgruppen began killing Jews in lage numbers as soon as they entered the Soviet Union.

Latvian Jews

German knightly orders ruled Latvia (1201-1561). Policies wee different in neighboring Lithuania which combined with Poland. There a substantial Jewish population developed beginning in the 13th century. The Teutonic Knights banned Jews from even entering Latvia (1306). Only with the fall of the Teutonic Knights did Jewish settlement become possible. Modern Latvia is composed of four regions (Courland, Latgale, Livonia, and Vidzeme). The history of the Jews in each province varies somewhat because of the varying policies of different rulers. Poland seized Livonia and Latgale (1561), but Courland which neigbored Lithuania became an independent Duchy (1562-1795). Although loosely tied to Poland, there was a strong German influence in Courland. This meant that Courland Jews had closer ties to German Jews than the neigboring Jewish community in Lithuania. The first Jewish settlements in Latvia were reported in Courland (1570s). The Duchy was absordbed by Russia as part of the Polish partitions (1792). It was, however, not part of the Pale of Settlement. The Order in Livonia forbade Jews from persuing commerce or owning farm land. This was widely regarded as prohibiting any Jewish presence. Nobles thus levied a range of restrictions on Jews, including residence restrictions, license fees, and other measures. Livonia passed to Poland (1561), Sweden (1621) and Russia (1710). Restrictive measures were persued by loval authorities throughout this period. A modern Jewish community began to develop (1840s). Poland seized Latgale (1562). It was subsequently acuired by Russia as part of the First Polish Partition (1772). The Russians include the region in the Pale of Settlement (1804). Latgalia Jews were Yiddish speaking. The Jewish intelligentsia spoke Russian as was the case in Lithuania-Byelorussia. The Latvian Census reported a Jewish population of 93,479 people in 1935.

Independent Latvia (1918-40)

The ndependent Latvia that emerged from Russian control was a parlimentary democracy. That democracy was unvle to survive the strains of the Great Depression. Prime Minister Karlis Ulmanis seized control of the country a year after Hitler's rize to power (1934). He ruled as a dictator and dissolved the Saeima (parliament). There were political arrestts, including Communists and Fascists. Ulmanis censorsed the press. One consequence of this was that many Latvians were poorly informed of the growing danger from both the Soviets and Germans. Economic policies included Latvianization, mening largely the break up of large German-owned estates. Ulmanis was not, however, a fasist or NAZI sympthizer. He supressed the Baltischer Brudebund, a political group that achieved some influence among ethnic Germans in Latvia. This was a NSI-affliated organization which demanded that Latvia be incorpated into the Reich. Ulmanis became president (1936). He persued economic policies that brought the country out of the Deoression. Ulmanis did not, however, give any major attention to military modernizaion leaving the country virtually undefended. Ulmanis and other Latvian leaders were unable to decided on whether it was the NAZIs or Soviet Unin that most threatened Latvan indendence making it difficult to persue a coherent defense strategy. [Lumans] There were also Communists in Latvia. Peteris Kuzeris lead a batallion of volunteers fighting with he Republic in Spain (1936). Stalin honored his service with the Order of Lenin (1937). Only a few months later the NKVD arrested him in Moscow durng the Great Terror. He was tried as a spy, sentenced, and shot. As Europe moved toward war, Latvia desired nothing more than to be "left alone to follow its own destiny'. [Lumans] Wedged between Germany and the Soviet Union, however, Latvia as an accident of geography was caught in the middle of the most destructive war in history. The people of Latvia would pay a heavy price.

Jewish Refugees

Many Jew in Germany sought refuge in foreign countries. This increased as repression gradually increased. One problem they faced was finding countries that would accept them. A Latvian historian writes, "Independent Latvia was a state that respected human rights, that gave asylum also to the Jews persecuted by Hitler (who were turned away by humanitarian Sweden)." [Germanis] German Jews for their part preferred to go west to America, Englnd, and France, but in desperation Latvia was an alterntive. We do not have details at this time on how easy it was to get Latvian visasb or how many Jewish refugees entered the country.

Soviet Seizure of Latvia (1940)

After the outbreak of World War II (September 1939) Latvia was in an impossible position. The NAZI defeat of Poland destroyed the olny buffer in the region. Unbeknownst at the time, the NAZI-Soviet Non-Aggression Pact had assigned Latvia and the other Baltic Republics to the Soviets. The Soviets immediatelt began making demands on the Latvian Government. Latvia was forced to sign a 10-year mutual assistance treaty leasing Latvian bases to the Soviet Union (October 5, 1939). The treaty allowed the Soviets to garison Latvia with 30,000 troops. After Hitler called the Baltic Germans home to the Reich, Latvia also signed a repatriation treaty with the NAZIs covering the return of 60,000 Baltic Germans. After two decades of independence, Lativia was invaded first by the Soviet Union. The fall of France appears to have been the immediate cause of Soviet action. The Soviets accused the Latvians of colluding with the Estonians to form an anti-Soviet alliance. The Soviets demanded the establishment of a pro-Soviet Givernment and permission to garrison additional Soviet military forces in the country. Before the Latvian Government could react, the Soviet Union occupied the country (June 17, 1940). The Soviets then staged a closely supervised election which resulted in a Communist Government. The new Goverment proceeded to Sovitize the Latvian Government and military. The newly elected parliament petition the Soviet Goverment for admitance to the Soviet Union (July 21) which was granted (August 5).

Barbarossa (1941)

The holocaust in Latvia began with the NAZI invasion of the Soviet Union. Within days the Wehrmacht swept through Lithiania and reached Latvia.

Einsatzgruppe A

Einsatzgruppe A commanded by Brigadefuhrer Walther Stahlecker entered Latvia. The Einsatzgruppe were especially trained Security Police commandos. There methods had been developed in Poland during the 1939 invasion. The SS Einsatzgruppen entered Latvia with clear orders to kill as many Jews as possible. Stahlecker and the Einsatzgruppen began killing Jews in lage numbers as soon as they entered the Soviet Union.

Latvian Paricipation

Both Germans and Latvians participated in the murder of Jews. In Latvia the Einheimische (locals) playeda a major role in the killing. Heydrich ordered Brigadefuhrer Stahlecker, the commander of Einsatzgruppe A, to instigate and support local pogroms, this desguised the NAZI holocaust as local actions against Jews and Bolsheviks. After the pogrom policy failed to produce the desired results, the NAZIs took more direct measures. The Arajs SD Commando was organized by Brigadefuhrer Stahlecker to kill Jews. Numerous other Latvian auxiliary police units also played a role. The active participation of the Latvians was a key factor in the rapid murder of most Latvian Jews. Most of the Latvian Jews were killed by the Arajs unit. Many of the units at first acted with considerable iniative, but by October 1941 were firmly under central German control. Some of the Latvian police units were eventually brought under SS control.

Latvian Motivations

The motivation of the Latvians who assisted the NAZIs in killing Jews is difficult to assess in detail at this time. Basis anti-Semitism was a factor. This existing motivation was undoubtedly intensified by the Soviet occupation of Latvia (1940-41). There were extensive Societ attrocities involved with the arrest, execution and expulsion of Latvians from their country. Many Latvians felt that Jews supported the Soviet takeover. Latvians joined police and military units to help fight the Soviets. Many undoubtedly were all to willing to kill Jews. Others may have primarily been interested in freeing their country from Soviet control.

Concentration Camps

The NAZIS set up concentration camps at: Riga-Salaspils (Kurtenhof), Riga-Kaiserwald (Mezaparks), Dundaga, Eleje-Meitenes, Jungfernhof (Jumpravmuiza), Lenta, Manor of Strazdu, Poperwahlen (Dundaga II), and Spilwe.

Ghettos

Not all NAZI government agncies had identical plans for the Jews of the Soviet Union. Reichskommissar of the Ostland, Hinrich Lohse ordered Jews to be concentrated and used for slave labor. The NAZIS established ghettos at Riga, Dvinsk, and Liepaja.

Killing Operations

Many of the The Latvian Jews were killed before the NAZI death camps in Poland were opened. The major killing sites were: Akniste (near Lithuanian border), Bikernieki Forest (outside of Riga), Daugavpils/Dvinsk, Gogol Street Synagogue (Choral Synagogue of Riga), Jelgava (Mitau), Liepaja (Skede), Rumbula Forest (outside of Riga), and Valmiera. There were many other sites were smaller numbers were killed. The killing took place in two destinct phases. The first period occured during the summer of 1941 in the wake of the German invasion, primarily in rural areas.

First phase (July-August 1941)

The Germans launched Operation Barbarossa (June 21, 1941). Soviet border defenses were anailated and the Whrmacht rapidly moved east. They soon reached Latvia (July). The NAZIs and local auxileries almost at once began the mass murder of Jews in rural areas where the bodies were easier to dispose of and the selected killing of men in cities. About 5,000 Jews were killed in Riga at this time. By the fall the killings had reached anout 35,000 Jews. These killings do not appear to have been coordinated. Einsatzgruppe A appears to have carried actions on the basis of orders given in preparation for Barbarossa. Actions were conducted at Jelgava, Riga, Daugavpils, Rezekne, and other towns. The killing operations were not limited to the Einsatzgruppe and other SS formations. The Wehrmacht was directly involved. The largest number of Jews were killed by a local Latvian volunteer killing unit (the Arajs commando) formed by the NAZIs. These actions were supported by the Wehrmacht, German marines (in Liepaja), and units of the 9th, 13th, and other Latvian police battalions. The rapid destruction of Latvian Jews was possible largely because of the complicity of local Latvian self-defence units which were subsequently formed into police units. Local assistance made in possible to rapidly find and kill Jews in rural areas.

Second phase (November-December 1941)

The second phase of the NAZI killing was much more centralized and organized and involved most of Latvia's Jews. The killing was organized by Higher SS and Police Leader in Ostland following his orders. The Germans suprevised the Latvian police and Schutzmannschaft. The destruction of Latvia's Jews was quickly achieved in late-November and December 1941. This was possible because in the interim Latvian auxileries had helped concentrate Jews in concentration camps and ghettos where they could be easily accessed for mass killing operations. Jews at Rumbula were killed November 30, 1941. The Jews in Riga were killed December 8, 1941.

Third phase (1942-45)

The only Jews in NAZI hands to escape anililation carried out in 1941 were some 6.000 Jews in the "Small ghetto" of Riga and in small comcentration camps located in Liepaja and Daugavpils. About 1,500 of these Jews died from starvation nd disease before being transferred to the "Kaiserwald-Riga" concentration camp (autumn 1943). The survivors who by this time had declined to were finally deported. At the time the Red Army was moving into Poland so some of these Jews wound up in German camps. About 1,000 of these Jews were still alive when the Soviets and Americans finally liberated the camps.

Hiding

Given the support of the local population, the NAZIs were able to find and kill most Latvian Jews. It was thus very difficult for the Jews to hide or escape. It was also very dangerous to hide Jews. Individuals who did so were putting themselves and their families in jeporady. Sympathetic Latvians are believed to have hid about 350 Jews. A Latvian police seargeant saved a Jewish boy who he named Alex Kurzem and kept as a Russian war orphan mascot.

Results

The NAZIs ahnd their local allied succeed in killing about 70,000-75,000 of Latvia's 93,000 Jews or 75-80 percent. An unknown number of Lithuanian, Hungarian, and Western European Jews were also killed in Latvia. Most of the killing took place in December 1941 and was conducted or overseen by Einsatzgruppe A. The speed and pervaisness of the killing meant that entire families were titaly destroyed with no survivors to report on the killing. About 70 per cent of the Latvian Holocaust victims arec unidentified.

Sources

Ezergailis, A. (1997). This is the most definitive general history of the Holocaust in Latvia.

Germanis, Uldis.

Levin, D.

Wilhelm, H-H

Schneider, G..





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Created: 9:35 PM 8/21/2007
Last updated: 9:27 AM 12/10/2011



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