Latvia commemorates the end of the Second World War / Article

The highest officials of Latvia started the commemorative event at the gates of the Riga Brothers’ Cemetery, from where, accompanied by church bells, they went through the large linden alley to the Heroes’ Terrace, where they placed flowers and wreaths. Musical accompaniment during the memorial event was provided by the National Armed Forces Headquarters Orchestra. After that, the chaplain led the memorial service for the fallen, and the national anthem of Latvia was sung.

The President of the Republic Edgars Rinkēvičs, Speaker of the Saeima Daiga Mieriņa (Union of Greens and Farmers), Prime Minister Evika Siliņa (“New Unity”) and Minister of Defense Andris Sprūds (“Progressives”) took part in the moment of remembrance. Also the leadership of the armed forces, namely the commander of the National Armed Forces (NBS) Lieutenant General Leonids Kalniņš and the commander of the 1st Riga Brigade of the National Guard, Colonel Normunds Baranovs, as well as other ministers, deputies, soldiers, national guardsmen and youth guards.

Why is it important to remember this day and the events related to it and to commemorate the victims of the Second World War, the President said: “Taking into account what is happening in Europe right now, where the war is raging, where there is Russian aggression against Ukraine, where we are perhaps more than any other year, we suspect that peace is fragile, and what once seemed impossible – war, as it was almost 80 years ago, is possible again. Honoring the fallen, honoring all those who fought and fell for Latvia, fought in the Second World War, fought against Nazism, somewhere we remind ourselves that, unfortunately, history can repeat itself. Our task is to prevent it.”

Since 1995, May 8 has been a day of remembrance – the day of commemoration of the victims of the defeat of Nazism and the Second World War. 78 years ago on this day, Germany signed the act of capitulation and the Second World War ended in Europe, so commemorating the tragic events and victims of the war, on Wednesday, as every year, several commemorative events are held throughout Latvia.

As the NBS commander Kalniņš explained, the events of recent years make us look at this day in a different way: “Through May 8, we can look at the events that are happening now in Ukraine. Through May 8, we can certainly present and, in principle, set goals for ourselves, to what extent we we are ready to prevent such a tragedy from happening again. I think that the National Armed Forces, together with Latvian society, are maximally involved in achieving this goal. in activities that, in principle, contribute to the development of the personality of every person here in Latvia.”

After honoring the victims of the Second World War, the Defense Minister and the NBS commander will also visit the graves of the Lestene brothers, where there will also be a memorial event dedicated to the fighters of the Second World War. It is organized by the Latvian Soldiers’ Memorial Society “Lestene”, and during it the musical accompaniment will be provided by the Naval Orchestra of the National Armed Forces.

During the Second World War, the Christmas battles took place in the vicinity of Lestenes and Džukste, which ended at the beginning of January 1945. In these battles, Latvian units fighting on opposite sides fought against each other for the first time: the Latvian 19th Grenadier Division and the 106th Grenadier Regiment, which were part of the German Armed Forces, and the 130th Latvian Rifle Corps with two divisions, which were part of the Red Army of the Soviet Union.

Also in Daugavpils, the victims of the Second World War are commemorated on Wednesday. Flowers and wreaths are being laid at several graves and memorials.