The heroes of the time of the barricades, Đirts and Zigfrida Ozoliņi, who later participated in the founding of the National Guard, are now spending their old age in the family estate in Neret. There they hatch plans for non-violent resistance in the event of a Russian invasion. They encourage more involvement of the public, as it is already provided for in the national defense plans, reports “Neka personala”.
Girts and Siegfried met during the Revival. Đirts participated in the Environmental Protection Club, Zigfrīda was a member of the Latvian People’s Front Council. During the barricades, she took it upon herself to run the defense post at the Council of Ministers. She worked as a dispatcher at the tram terminus and was able to get some useful equipment.
SIGFRID’S OAK
Head of the Association “Defenders of the Fatherland Barricade”.
I could get the phones, the trolley and so on, I was ready. I said we could and they believed me. Of course, the next day Đirts went to take part in a demonstration in Daugavmala, I went to the management of the tram workers and said that I needed it and a walkie-talkie. And that meant me.
After the restoration of Latvia’s independence, Ęirts and Siegfrīda participated in the founding of the National Guard and worked in the National Armed Forces. After retirement, both moved to the property of the Đirtas family in Slekai, Nereta. Đirts remembers that Jānis Jaunsudrabiņš used to visit here on market days as a child. He was a friend of my grandfather. In the “Green Book” Jaunsudrabiņš dedicated a whole chapter to Slekai, about the murder that happened there. In the memories of Jaunsudrabins, the owner of Sleķi was found thrown into the river, in the stories of the family, the crime took place in the basement of the house. Now, in the 200-year-old house, Đirts on Siegfried keeps his library and work tools, but he built a new one for living.
Both of them work in the association “Defenders of the Fatherland Barricades” founded by members of the barricades in the late 1990s. In the beginning, there were many members, but some hoped that the organization would turn into a party. When this did not happen, the interest also disappeared.
SIGFRID’S OAK
Head of the Association “Defenders of the Fatherland Barricade”.
We had about a hundred, but many have died, many have quit, two we have eliminated in 27 years.
Now members regularly hold online meetings, send proposals to state authorities, help organize military games for children.
The official goal of the association is to promote the organization of a defense movement if Latvia is threatened by another country. Now that moment has come.
SIGFRID’S OAK
Head of the Association “Defenders of the Fatherland Barricade”.
You want peace, prepare for war. It was during the time of Latvia, until the 2nd World War, in many barracks there was this inscription on the wall – “Want peace, prepare for war”. Yes, we fully agree that NATO members will come to our aid, will automatically activate. But our goal is to ensure that this Article 5 does not have to be automatically triggered. And how to achieve this – that everyone, not only a citizen, but every inhabitant is ready to protect Latvia.
DRUNK OAK
Member of the board of the Association “Defenders of the Fatherland Barricade”.
The most important phase – Gene Sharp particularly emphasizes this – is in the preparatory phase, when the opponent has not yet entered.
Scientist Gene Sharp has been called the guru of nonviolent resistance. He studied resistance movements all over the world and his conclusions served as a basis for revolutions and underground movements, including in the Baltic countries.
DRUNK OAK
Member of the board of the Association “Defenders of the Fatherland Barricade”.
Gene Sharp was during the Revival, I don’t remember now 1988 or 1989, he also came to Riga. I had a conversation with him at that time. It was all something new for me.
Girta and Siegfried are worried that the public’s preparation is not felt, all questions run into the secrecy of the plans. According to them, the enemy must know that preparations are underway and must expect that the population will resist.
DRUNK OAK
Member of the board of the Association “Defenders of the Fatherland Barricade”.
It can even be played a little, that’s the game. At the same time, you can’t completely bluff, only maybe increase it a little.
The concept of total protection assumes that the whole society is involved. This means that people need to be trained – face to face and through the media. Yes, specific plans should be secret, but everyone should know how to transfer information to the Latvian army in encrypted form so that it can be trusted, what information should be transferred and at the same time how to do it safely, protecting yourself. However, the booklet on action in the event of war currently available to the citizens of Latvia does not provide such information. Not to mention signaling when to dig up roads or distort road signs.
SIGFRID’S OAK
Head of the Association “Defenders of the Fatherland Barricade”.
You know what a lot of people call this bag? For the escape bag. Good inscription – “Resistance”. “Evacuates to the part of the country controlled by NBS” . Is it resistance then? It’s running away with your own.
What’s up with that paper? With paper, maybe I can beat that opponent. Training system, notification system and people identification.
Đirt, Siegfried and the members of their organization really care about national defense and public preparedness. Đirts has developed his own concept of rear security. It was handed over to a well-known lieutenant general. They have also written to the defense minister, asking for a meeting.
DRUNK OAK
Member of the board of the Association “Defenders of the Fatherland Barricade”.
Yes, we incorporated your thoughts and your opinion into such and such documents. I say – give it here. So secretly – in the safe. But this already means that if they end up in the safe, then they will never work. There they will sleep while overgrown with fungi.
It is at this point that I am most afraid that many good things are being developed and are being kept under wraps. At the moment, Latvian citizens have not begun to familiarize themselves with the necessary methods, what they can do, how they can do it, what is the provision of the law, whether they do not become criminals by doing something.
SIGFRID’S OAK
Head of the Association “Defenders of the Fatherland Barricade”.
I have a lot of respect for the defense minister, Mr. Sprude, he is very knowledgeable, but if he writes me a letter like this. And it really hurt my patriotic feelings.
“I hope for your understanding, Ms. Ozoliņa, that in the conditions of today’s threats and uncertainty, the Ministry of Defense cannot disclose information in the public space about all national defense plans and measures.” A person who has served in the army, was a clerk of the special records and a normal thinking person, I am one of the … think that I want to get state secrets out? I would have at least written – sorry, we don’t have time, we would understand that you cannot accept.
Officials have inadvertently somehow detached themselves from the mass of ordinary citizens, and they see it as some kind of mass, they do not see a single human face in that mass. “We will protect you, you calm down.” But how can I fulfill my civic, patriotic feelings, if my opponent is right behind the gate. How far is Königsberg? Will Lithuania protect? But I want to help Lithuania so that it doesn’t get that far.
Siegfried emphasizes that all national defense plans must be completely secret, but everyone who has a role in it must know their responsibilities. Due to lack of communication and uncoordinated action, colonel Oskars Kalpak was probably killed by his own bullets.
SIGFRID’S OAK
Head of the Association “Defenders of the Fatherland Barricade”.
We must not repeat Kalpak’s move. In the conditions of war, the decisive factor is the army, this should be the cooperation model. And here it cannot be that one person will call me and tell me something, this is not a cooperation model developed.
There should be no chaos. There was a bit of chaos during the barricades. We understand this – civilians and for the first time, and so on. There was a bit of chaos, we can’t allow that.
You should not judge a person by his years, but by his abilities. An old woman, 70 years old, she can’t do anything anymore, she’s already so weak. Well, I’m not weak. The husband cannot run, but he can work in another field. For example, as a veteran, he can sit in the warehouse, distribute cartridges, even spread the same bread.
The concept of national defense states that comprehensive national defense is possible only with the involvement of the public, so it is especially important for citizens to take greater responsibility for national defense. Siegfrieda and Đirts invite you to start implementing what is written in the documents in life.
One of Įrts Ozoliņš’s proposals for rear security is the training of hunters, fishermen, rangers and other groups to recognize suspicious things, such as reconnaissance of landing sites. They also need to know who and how to report it, so that the information is believed and reaches its destination immediately.
Tags: National Guard veterans preparing plan nonviolent resistance event Russian invasion
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