Report of researching for archival footage in audiovisual archives about Norwegian soldiers lost and forgotten during the Second World War in Latvia.
INTRODUCTION
During the
Second World War Latvia was occupied by Soviet Union and Germany. When Germany
launched a military attack on Soviet Union in 1941, Latvia was liberated from
the occupation of Soviet Union. The German liberation of Latvia did not last
long. Latvia was again occupied by the German armies- no freedom for the
population of Latvia. The occupation of Latvia by Nazi- Germany was completed
on July 10, 1941. The official policy of Nazi-Germany was not to make Latvia an
independent state. The political situation for Latvia was critical. The main
enemy was Soviet Union. Latvian politicians believed in a military victory for
German like many other politicians in different European countries- even
politicians in Norway. Latvians support
to Nazi-Germany fight against Soviet Union was a political guarantee to
reestablish an independent Latvia state. Approximately 180,000 Latvian soldiers
were involved in German military forces during World War II believing that they
all fought for the liberation of Latvia. Almost one third of the soldiers were
killed in actions fighting the Russian soldiers. No independent Latvian forces
were accepted by the Germans. Latvian men had no choice but to serve in
military formations established and commanded by the Germans. Latvian men were
drafted into the Latvian Legion of the Waffen-SS and other German forces.
LATVIA
1940: THE POLITICAL SITUATION IN LATVIA
In 1940
Latvia was not a democratic country. Even if a parliamentary democracy was
introduced in 1920 after the Latvian War of Independence 1919-1920, all
political parties and the parliament were dissolved in 1934. Prime Minister in
1934, Karlis Ulmanis, with support from the army and units of the national
guard made a coup by proclaiming a state of war. Prime Minister Karlis Ulmanis
ruled the country for four years by decrees without a parliament. He introduced
a personal paternalistic dictatorship. All political parties were outlawed. All
newspapers owned by political parties or organizations were closed. Censorship
of public information and publications were introduced. No free press anymore.
LATVIA 1940
Prime
Minister Karlis Ulmanis did not oppose the Soviet Union’s occupation of Latvia.
On June 17, 1940, Latvia was completely occupied by Soviet Union without any
military resistance from the military forces of Latvia.
THE
RESISTANCE IN LATVIA
The Soviet
Union conscripted soldiers from sections of independent Latvia’s military units
after having occupied the country. When Germany attacked Latvia many Latvians
deserted the army of Soviet Union. The Nazi-Germany army did it too,
conscripted young Latvians.
The
majority of the Latvian people did not accept the forced imposition of
Communist ideology. Resistance against the occupation power began immediately
after the Red Army entered Latvia on June 17, 1940.
THE GOAL
Norway was
also occupied by Nazi- Germany in 1940. Due to the fear of an occupation of
Norway by Soviet Union, many young Norwegians wanted to participate in the
fight against the communist regime of Joseph Stalin. They believed in a
military victory for the Nazi-Germany . The fight for an independent Norway was
not finished in 1940. The Norwegian Royal family and the Norwegian government
elected by the people of Norway left the country to go on with the fight
against the German occupation of Norway by supporting the fight of Great
Britain.
The
Norwegian soldiers had to fight together with Latvians in Latvia during the
war. It was not an official policy to fight for Latvia as a state. No. The
Norwegian soldiers were recruited to wage war against Soviet Union. Therefore the soldiers
were brought to Latvia. The goal of my paper is to evaluate the importance of
the Norwegians soldiers fighting against Soviet Union and at the same time
fighting to support the Latvians .My aim is limited to study the time when the
Norwegian soldiers fought within Latvia from about October 15,1944 to January
26, 1945.The main question is: How to evaluate the political and military
situation for the future history of Latvia? The sources for my study are
published books, newsreels, movies and radio recordings made about the
Norwegian contribution to fight against the Russians included the fight for
Latvia as a state.
A second
question is: Are the Norwegian soldiers killed and buried in Latvia regarded as
war heroes worth a war memorial site in Latvia? A war memorial is set up in
Estonia where the Norwegians soldiers are included.
THE NAME OF
THE NORWEGIAN SOLDIERS KILLED IN ACTION IN LATVIA
LATVIA
DURING THE SECOND WORLD WAR: NORWEGIAN SOLDIERS KILLED IN ACTION IN LATVIA.
The content
of the list: Name, age and the site in Latvia where they were killed in action
or buried.
Harry
Andreas Olsen. Age 20. Priekule, Rudolf Oskar Olsen.Age 23.Riga, Gunnar Kjell
Andersen. Age 21. Vecvagare, Kåre Torleif Bakken.Age 28.Kekava forest south of
Riga, Arne Vilhelm Becker.Age 22. Riga, Anton Jenssen Berg.Age 25. Vecvagare,
Roald Berntsen.Age 19. Vecvagare, Olav Herstad Christiansen.Age 19. Riga,
Magnus Dale.Age 23. Vecvagare(buried at Saldus), Knut Erichsen.Age 27. Stanaskrogs(buried
at Bunkas), Erling Hjalmar Eriksen.Age 34. Vecvagare, Halvard Espen.Age 20.
Mizci (buried at Saldus), Sverre Følstad.Age 23. Paplaken (buried at
Heldenfriedhof Nordland Izriede), John Gahrmaker.Age 27.Vilcini (buried in Riga),
Thomas Hersleb Gurholt.Age 22. Asenberg (buried in Riga), Arild Haugen.Age 19. Riga, Edvard Julius Hermansen.Age 37.
Zarini, Ørnulf Hontvedt.Age 19. Izriede, Povel Huitfeldt.Age 46. Priekule (
buried at Saldus), Kristian Håkonsen.Age 21. Paplaken( buried at
Robezjnieki), Kirill Karpow.Age 18. Priekule,
Ulf Otto Killingmo.Age 26. Kurili, Arne Holger Krogstad. Age 20.
Kurland, Osvald Paulin Langeland.Age 21. Liepaja, Knut Larm.Age 29. Vilcini
(buried in Riga), Hjalmar Wilhelm Larsen.Age 19.
Purmsati, Rolf Singdahl Larsen.Age 33. Lodini,
Harris Lund.Age 18. Vecvagare, Harry Lunde.Age 29. Kurland, John Lyngstad.Age
24. Vecvagare (buried at Robezjnieki ), Thorvald Martinsen.Age 20. Vecvagare,
Nils Meland. Age 30. Kurili, Harald Georg Holter Mokastet.Age 25. Ozoli, Leif
Nilsen.Age 20. Vecvagare, Eugen Viktor Olsen.Age 30. Vecnegari, Harry Andreas
Osnes.Age 20. Indriki, Peter Thomas Sverre Sandborg.Age 37.Baldone/ Riga, Frank
Osvald Sevaldsen.Age 25. Vecnegari( buried on an island in a river close to Priekule),
Eivind Syversen.Age 26. Vecnegari (buried on an island in a river close to
Priekule), Sven Sørensen.Age 18. Kurland ( buried at Saldus), Kjell
Tobro.Age 24. Vecvagare, Stefanus Margido Trusen.Age 20. Priekule, Lars
Værland.Age 19. Liepaja, Rolf Normann Westlie.Age 23. Kurland, Peder
Wetteland.Age 25. Vecnegari, Johan Gustav Jæger.Age 29.
Pilpuki, Rudolf Oskar Olsen.Age 23. Riga, Rolf
Stark Sanne.Age 20.Liepaja (buried at Saldus), Johannes Burckenmejer.Age 44.
Talsi, Bjørn Herwart Endemann.Age 25.Kurland.
THE SITES
IN LATVIA WHERE NORWEGIANS FOUGHT, DIED AND WERE BURIED
Priekule,
Riga, Vecvagare, Saldus, Bunkas, Paplaken, Vilcini, Kurland, Liepaja, Purmsati,
Robezjnieke, Ozoli, Vecnegari, Indriki, Pilpuki ,Talsi, Lodini, Kurili,
Baldone,Ventspils, Dobele,Vainude, and Asenberg.
The final
number of soldiers killed in actions within Latvia depends on the sources used.
With reference to the book written by Harry A. Ellingsen: Regiment Norge.
Historien om en frontkjempernhet.2011., the list of missing Norwegians contents
the following numbers:
38 soldiers
killed, 69 soldiers were reported wounded, 4 soldiers were reported as
prisoners of war by Russians and 2 soldiers deserted to the Russians. The
number of officers killed in action was 6.
REGIMENT
NORGE
Regiment
Norge was set up as a part of III. SS- Panzerkorps, on March 30, 1943. “11.SS-
Freiwilligen –Panzergrenader-Division Nordland” was called Div. Nordland.
Regiment Norge was an infantry regiment within Div. Nordland: “ SS-Panzer- Grenadier-Regiment
23 Norge” that was named Regiment Norge.
The number
of Norwegian soldiers who were conscripted to Regiment Norge were about 621.The
young boys joined the regiment voluntary. The main reasons for joining the
regiment were not to take part in a fight to liberate Latvia from Soviet Union
but to fight the regime of Soviet Union. They all believed that Nazi-Germany
will win the war- like many other professional political observers in many
countries did too.
How was the
quality of the Latvian soldiers evaluated by the Norwegian Front fighters? A public
statement about the issue has been made by the Norwegian Front fighter Bjarne
Dramstad in the book: “ Hitler’s Vikings- The History of the Scandinavian
Waffen-SS: The Legions, The SS Wiking and the SS Nordland , page 160”. Bjarne
Dramstad was of the opinion that the Latvian soldiers fought hard because they
all hated the Russians. The soldiers were very motivated for the battles. The
main motive was hatred towards the Russian soldiers and the Russian occupation
of Latvia.
THE BATTLES
OF KURLAND
Regiment
Norge took part in the battles of Kurland. Six battles took place between
October 27, 1944 to March 28, 1945. The Norwegian soldiers had a hard time
fighting the first and the third battle of Kurland lasted from October 27, 1944
to November 7, 1944 and on the third battle from December 21, 1944 to December
31, 1944.
Regiment
Norge were retreating from the battlefields fighting the Russian soldiers. The
Norwegians arrived in Latvia/Kurland on October 15, 1944 and left Kurland on
January 26, 1945. The soldiers were brought to the seaside city, Liepaja. Then
they were brought by ship to Stettin.
The German
army together with allied forces went on fighting until an official retreat was
decided. This means that the German army did not suffered a final military
defeat fighting the battle of Kurland. The German officers were of the opinion
that the fighting was in vain. The soldiers should have been move to sites
closer to Germany at an earlier stage.
According
to the report of casualties, about 2 132 soldiers were killed or wounded
during the six battles of Kurland.
A SELECTED
LIST OF SOME NORWEGIAN OFFICERS WHO PARTICIPATED IN THE FIGHTING IN LATVIA
“…Treason:
Treachery to one’s king and country; an attempt to overthrow the government of
one’s country by illegal means or to help the enemies of one’s country in time
of war (Source: The Advanced Learners Dictionary of Current English)…”
Anton
Jenssen Berg
Born August
16, 1916. He came from the City of Bodø. On October 27, 1944 he was killed
during the fighting close to Veccvagari. Anton Jenssen Berg was chairing a
direct attack on the Russian soldiers when he was killed. No information of
where he was buried in Latvia.
Peter
Thomas Sandborg
Born September
1, 1907. He lived in the City of Ålesund. He lost his life in the fighting
close to the City of Baldone. He was buried in Riga.
Tor
Svenneby
Born March
6, 1917. He came from Grue. He took part in the fighting in Kurland. Later on
he was killed in Pommern.
Bjarne
Sveen
Born
February 16, 1921. He was living in Rendalen cose to the City of Gjøvik. During
the battle in Kurland, Vecvagari, he was wounded. He was reported killed in
Choszczno in Poland.
Asbjørn
Jager Wiik
Born June
20, 1920. He was living in Børsta. He survived the fighting in Kurland but he
died later on during the final battle of Berlin in 1945.
Inge Håkon
Windingstad
Born May
25, 1924. The City of Fredrikstad was his home town. He took part in the
fighting in Kurland. After the war he was sentenced by the court for three
years and six months for treason.
( Treason:
An attempt to overthrow the Government of Norway by illegal means or to help
the enemies of Norway in time of war)
RalpH
Hansen
Born April
5, 1925. Oslo was reported as his home town. He was taking part in the fighting
at Mitau where he had to get assistance at the hospital.
After the
war he was sentenced by the court for two years for treason.
Harald Røer
Born March
2, 1923. His home town was the City of Oslo.
Few
information about him has been published but he was reported having fought in
Kurland.
Sverre
Linde
Born
December 12,1918. He was living in Fåberg. After having fought in Kurland, he
deserted to the Russians. After the war he was sentenced to one year and eight
months in prison for treason.
Knut
Erichsen
Born August
21, 1917. He was living in Skjeberg. Killed in action in Kurland and buried in
Bunka situated about nine km from Preekulen.
Bjarne Arnt
Olsen
Born
September 22, 1920. His home town was the City of Bodø. On October 23, 1944,
SS- Untersturmfuhrer Bjarne Arnt Olsen was wounded at Vecvagarie. In 1946, he was sentenced for treason.
Odd
Seljelid
Born
February 23, 1921. His home town was Mo I Rana. On January 1, 1945 he was
wounded during the fighting in Kurland. After the war he was sentenced to
prison for four years and six months for treason.
Håkon
Sundby
Born
February 5, 1923. His home town was the City of Oslo. On August 9, 1944,
SS-Untersturmfuhrer Håkon Sundby was reported
killed in action at Talsen .
Christian
Nikolai Lassen Sundlo
Born
January 6, 1919. He was living at
Mosjøen. After having taking part in the battles of Kurland he was captured by
the Russians.
John Peter
Balstad
Born
September 9, 1924. He was living at Koppang. During the fighting close to
Baldone he became famous for having destroyed two Russian tanks. After the war,
he was sentenced to prison for two years and six months for treason.
Njaal
Bjørkelid
Born March
3, 1924. He was living in Marnardal. He took part in the battles of Kurland.
Reported killed in action in 1945 and he was buried in Poland in the City of
Szczecin.
Hallvard
Svelle
Born April
14, 1918. He took part in the fighting n Kurland. He was sentenced to prison
for two years for treason.
Reidar
Riise
Born
February 20, 1920. Oslo was his home town. On October 27, 1944 he was reported
wounded during the fighting in Kurland. After the war, he was sentenced for
treason.
Richard Ole
Nils Børesen
Born January
1, 1922, His home town was the City of Halden. He fought in Kurland. On October
12, 1947, he was sentenced to prison for seven years and six months for
treason.
Thomas
Hersleb Gorholt
Born
January 3, 1922. He was living in Tuddal. He was reported killed at Asenberg on
September 23, 1944. Buried in Riga.
Ole Andreas
Sommerhaug
Born August
14, 1923. His home town was the City of Narvik. He was wounded during the fight
in Kurland on October 16, 1944. He lost one leg. He was sentenced to prison for
seven years for treason.
Olav
Wendelboe Jøntvedt
Born March
27, 1921. He was living in Brevik. He was reported wounded during the fighting
in Kurland on February 2, 1945. He joined the French Foreign Legion after the
war.
Alf Seeberg
Born
November 11, 1895. He was living in Holla/Telemark. He was reported having
taken part in the fighting in Kurland. If he was sentenced for treason, there
was no information reported?
AN
IMPORTANT QUESTION HAS TO BE ASKED CONCERNING THE PARTICITATION OF NORWEGIAN
SOLDIERES FIGHTING IN LATVIA: ANY PUBLIC INFORMATION GIVEN TO PEOPLE IN NORWAY
ABOUT THE POLITICAL AND MILITARY SITUATION IN LATVIA?
When I was
searching for archival footage in the Norwegian newsreels about Latvia, I found
footage dealing with an official meeting in Oslo. The archival footage was
presented in 1944. The meeting took place in Klingenberg Cinema in Oslo. The Norwegian newspaper “
Morgenposten” published a report of the meeting April 11, 1944. Alfred Roja who
was President of the trade union of Latvia and Dr. Wiswald Sanders who was a
former priest in the seaside city of Libau(German), Liepaja , took part in the
meeting. Speeches were given contenting alarming information about the brutal
Russian occupation of Latvia. No information about the German occupation was
given, but negative information about how Russians treated the Jewish
population in Latvia.
The brutal
execution of Jews that took place in Liepajas in 1941 was not on the
information agenda of Alfred Roja and Dr. Wiswald Sanders. The execution of the
Jews in Liepajas was attended by Heinrich Himmler.
The meeting
is a confirmation that information about the threat of the Soviet Union and the
brutal policy of the Russians were given to the soldiers who wanted to fight
the Communist regime in Latvia and Soviet Union.
SOURCES:
A PRELIMARY
REPORT ABOUT RESEARCH AFTER ARCHIVAL FOOTAGE FROM WWII EVENTS ABOUT THE HISTORY
OF LATVIA IN AUDIOVISUAL ARCHIVES, MOVIES, DOCUMENTARIES, OFFICIAL REPORTS AND
SOUND RECORDINGS
I must
admit that I took it for granted that worldwide television series and
documentaries dealing with The Second World War contented information and
archival footage about the historical events of the state of Latvia. I was
wrong. After having viewed the videos published by Thames Video Collection
about the WWII in 1980, I was surprised not to find any archival footage
dealing with the occupation of Latvia of Soviet Union and the occupation of Latvia
made by Nazi Germany and later on the second occupation of Latvia by Soviet
Union. The events were mentioned by the reporter only.
When I
viewed the videos of the international documentary : “ The Century of Warfare
“, 1994, I expected to find archival footage dealing with the history of
Latvia- but again my searching was in
vain. No archival footage used - only some information given by the reporter.
The BBC documentary: “ WORLD WAR II BEHIND
CLOSED DOORS. STALIN, THE NAZIS AND THE WEST”, was released in 2008. Playtime:
Eight hours. No information about the history of Latvia was given. The
documentary was made by Laurence Rees.
The NAZIS-A
WARNING FROM HISTORY : A five hours documentary was viewed searching after
information about Latvia and WWII. The result was negative. No archival footage
available dealing with Norwegian soldiers, Latvia and WWII. The documentary was
produced by Laurence Rees in 2007.
The BBC
documentary : “ WAFFEN SS-GLADIATORS OF WWII”, which was released in 2001
contented no archival footage of the events of Latvia- only information given
by the reporter.
SVT:
KRIGSÅREN 1939-45.GULDKORN FRÅN 1939-45.
A selection
of Swedish newsreels from 1939 to 1946 has been made available for public use.
I approached the newsreels with a positive attitude hoping to find archival
footage dealing with Latvia. The result was negative. No films of Latvia were
presented. The documentary was made in 1995 by Sveriges Television AB. The editor
was Jan Bergman.
The
presentation of the newsreels preserved by SVT was made by Jan Bergman. The
films were released in 2016 as DVD/video contenting three DVDS. The
presentation was made in Swedish.
BUNDESARCHIV-
KOBLENZ 1984
Because I was
working with the search for archival footage for a documentary some years ago,
I was forwarded copies of the catalogue from the archive.
Wochenschauen
und Dokumentarfilme 1895- 1950 in Bundesarchiv- Film archiv.
The result
of study of the catalogue was positive. I found archival footage dealing with Latvia
during the WWII.
DEUTSCHE
WOCHENSCHAU
-16.4.1941:
Deutscher Einmarsch in Riga
-11.6.1942:
Rosenberg in Riga
-10.7.1941:
Angriff auf die Sowjetunionen-deutscher vormarsch- Riga
-DW 743,
50, 1944: Ostfront: Kurland
-DW 743,
50, 1944: Nachschub fur die Kurlandfront
-DW 744,
51, 1944: Ostfront: Abwehrkampfe in Kurland – und auf den Balken
-DW 745 ,52,
1944: Abwehrfront in Kurland
-DW 746, 1,
1945: Abwehrkampfe in Kurland
-DW 748, 3,
1945: Abwehrkampe : Kurland
-DW 754, 9,
1945: Ostfront: Abwehrkampe in Kurland
AUDIOVISUAL ARCHIVES – RESEARCH REPORT
THE RESULT
OF SEARCHING AFTER ARCHIVAL FOOTAGE FROM NORWEGIAN NEWSREELS FROM THE SECOND
WORLD WAR AND DOCUMENTARIES IN AUDIOVISUAL ARCHIVES
FILMAVISEN,
NORSK FILMREVY and UKEREVYEN are the official titles of the German controlled
public newsreels released to the Norwegian people during the Second World War.
The newsreels presented from 1941 to 1945 were German propaganda films made by
the occupation power of Norway. The production was made by Norsk Film A/S.
The
Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation (NRK) has made the collection of newsreels
from the Second World War accessible for public use. The newsreels were given
to Nrk in 1976. The viewing of the films
can be done in your home. I have viewed all the preserved films from 1941 to
1945. I did not find many shots dealing with Latvia. But the fighting between
Russian soldiers and German soldiers in Kurland/Latvia are presented but no
Norwegian or Latvian soldiers are mentioned in the films. Latvian soldiers are
presented in a film in 1944. The soldiers are training in handling
anti-aircraft guns. Besides the official meeting in Oslo that has been
mentioned above.
HITLER – A
CAREER: DOCUMENTARY FILM
The
documentary: “ HITLER-A CAREER” was released in 1977. Archival footage of the
execution of Jews in the seaside city Liepajas in 1941 has been used in the
documentary aiming at making a biography of Adolf Hitler but without any
further information about when and where the killing of Jews took place. At the
end of the war about 1,400,000 of the 2,000,000 prewar inhabitants of Latvia
had left the country. Archival footage dealing with refugees from Kurland at
the end of the war has been used in this documentary. About 30,000 Latvian
soldiers were prisoners of war of Allies in Western Europe.
SISTA BÅTEN
TILL JURKALINE (Eng.title: The last boat to Jurkaline)
In 1991
Sveriges Television AB, 1. Dokumentar , produced and transmitted a very interesting television programme with
the Swedish title: “ Siste båten till Jurkaline “ ( Eng.Title: The last boat to
Jurkaline). The progamme is dealing with the close contact between secret
service of Sweden and resistance groups in Latvia during the Second World War.
Refugees from Latvia were brought by small boats from Latvia to Gotland/Sweden.
Swedish secret agents were set ashore in Latvia by Swedish Secret Service to
give military and political information to the Secret service in Sweden. After
the war, the activities continued in secret. One person lost his lived due to
his espionage work after the war: Edvards Anderson was captured by Soviet
Secret Police (The KGB). He was sentenced to death on August 28, 1946 for
treason and espionage supported by Swedish Secret Intelligence Service. No
Norwegian refugees or soldiers are mentioned in the programme or by Latvians
who were interviewed about the wartime activities- a risky business.
The
National Archives of Latvia has released in late 2018 a full alphabetical index
of some 10,000 people recruited as agents – as informers by Soviet Secret
Police (The KGB). The list of soldiers who were killed and buried in Latvia as
“German soldiers “ contents of about
1700 names . The Norwegian soldiers who fought for Germany might be on the
list?
The television programme used archival footage
about the German invasion of Latvia. Many of the events dealt with in the
programme have been presented by making use of professional actors and actresses. The story
was written by Hans Villius. The editor of the programme was Olle Hager.
In June 22, 1941, Nazi-Germany invaded Soviet
Union. As seen on the above photo, the German soldiers were greeted as friends
arriving to liberate Latvia from the brutal suppression of Soviet Union. Later on Norwegian soldiers took part in the
military and political battles against Soviet Union. Many of the soldiers were
killed in Latvia fighting against the occupation of Latvia but supporting the
Nazi- Germany occupation of the country. But did they all fight for an
independence of Latvia?
NATIONAL
ARCHIVES OF LATVIA
RIGA
On June 18,
2019 I paid a visit to National Archives of Latvia. The reason for my research
visit to the archives situated in Riga was an attempt to search for information
about Norwegian soldiers who fought, died and were buried on unknown sites in
Latvia. Assisted by Deputy Director of National Archives of Latvia, Gatis Karlsons,
I had to read many books contenting lists of soldiers who died during the fight
for Latvia during the Second World War. The research was concentrated on
reports from 1940 and October 1944 to January 1945. Information wanted was not
yet digitalized. The work had to be done in the old way: Viewing papers, books
and written documents which were stored in the archive not situated in the
center of Riga. The archive was not easy to find because no sign was set up for
foreign visitors. I had to view papers about 1.700 names of soldiers from
different countries who lost their lives during the hard fighting against the
Russian soldiers. Each book which I had to study contented a list of those who
had studied the list. I had to put my name on the list too. The staff of the
archive made splendid work assisting me to understand the lists. Even if I did
not find any names of Norwegian soldiers, I got new information about what to
do and how to get more information about my work.
VALKA’S
BRETHREN CEMETRY
Valka’s
Brethren Cemetry in Latvia was built as a monument for all who were killed
during the battles of Latvia – all included: The liberator, the occupier and
the invader of Latvia. Norwegian soldiers killed in Latvia must also be
included in the monument set up in the cemetery?
WINSTON S.
CHURCHILL- MOVIES AND STATEMENTS
The British
Prime Minister Winston S. Churchill was known to make changes in his political
opinions dealing with matters of international interests. But in 1941 he made
statements about the borders of Soviet Union:”…the frontiers of Soviet Union
were acquired by acts of aggression in shameful collusion with Hitler. The
transfer of the peoples of the Baltic States to Soviet Russia against their
will would be contrary to all the principles for which we are fighting this war
and would dishonor our cause. There must be no mistake about the opinion of any
British Government of which I am the head ,namely, that it adheres to those
principles of freedom and democracy set forth in the Atlantic Charter…”. So
far, statement made by Winston S. Churchill in December 1941.
RICHARD
LAMB: CHURCHILL AS WAR LEADER –RIGHT OR WRONG? 1991.
QUOTATIONS
from the book:
“…
Churchill had wanted to insist that Stalin restored these states’ independence
after the war, and had this in mind when he drafted the Atlantic Charter…”.
“… In the
event the States of the Baltic States never appeared on an agenda at Potsdam,
and neither Eden nor Churchill raised it …”.
“…
Successive Labour and Conservative Governments after the war treated the states
as “ de facto” but not “ de jure” part of the Soviet Union and were still doing
so at the time of the dramatic declaration of Lithuania’s independence in
1990…”.
MOVIES : WINSTON
S. CHURCHILL ,LATVIA AND WWII
This is a list
of movies evaluated dealing with WWII where Winston S. Churchill played a
dominated part.
-DARKEST
HOUR. 2017
-CHURCHILL. 2017
-WORLD WAR
II: WHEN LIONS ROADED. 1994
LATVIAN LEGION -INTRODUCTION
The review
is a late study of the book which was published for the first time about
33years ago. The second edition was published about 13 years ago. What is the
main reason for me to wake up the
interest for the report about the Latvian Legion in year 2019, you may ask?
” …to a
great part of the Western World it is still incomprehensive why the Baltic
people- in this particular case- actively participated with the German Army in
the Second World War …”
Quotation
from the introduction of “ Latvian Legion” written by Arthur Silgailis the
author of the book. The question can be asked in year 2019 too about the
reasons for young Norwegian soldiers who fought and died for the freedom of
Latvia and for the support of Nazi-Germany?
THE GOAL OF
THE RESEARCH
I asked
myself some critical questions about why I should read the book at all. Before
I made an attempt reading the book,I contacted a former Norwegian officer who
is making a living publishing new books about the Second World War, about
Norwegian soldiers who join the French Foreign Legion and who had worked with
Latvian soldiers: The Norwegian historian Knut Flovik Thoresen. Then I read the
book searching for information about Norwegian soldiers who fought, died and
were buried in Latvia during the Second World War. While reading the book I
repeated my private questions again and again not wanting to forget the main
reason for my study: The story of those young Norwegian boys who lost their
lives in Latvia
SOME
IMPORTANT QUESTIONS:
-Did the
Latvian soldiers believe in the information given them that they fought for the
freedom of Latvia?
-Did those
who were in charge of the Latvian Legion – the officers- believe in the goal of
the fight making Latvia a free country?
-What about
the Self- Administration of Latvia? Did they all fight for the independent
state of Latvia?
-What was
the main policy of Nazi-Germany towards the wish,the hope and the dream of the
Latvian people to live in an independent state ?
-What about
those Norwegian soldiers who fought, died and were buried in Latvia?
WE BELIEVED
IN THE FIGHT FOR THE FREEDOM OF LATVIA
The author
of book, Arthur Silgailis, has no doubt concerning the reasons for young
Latvian joining the Legion: The majority of the boys believed in the fight
making Latvia free from Russian suppression. “…infantry leader Staf. Lobe made
an ardent appeal to the Latvians to join the Legion for the defense of their
homeland. There was a great response to his appeal. With volunteers and
previous recruits, the VI SS-Corps set up a training camp at Zoseni and named
it “ Feld Rekruten Depot ( Field Recruits Depot). Staf. Lobe was placed in
charge of the depot…” . So far, information given at pages 108-109, by the
author.
THE
OCCUPATIONS OF LATVIA
Latvia was
occupied by Soviet Union on June 17, 1940. Germany invaded the Soviet Union in
1941 and occupied Latvia. The country was re-occupied by the Soviet Union. On
August 21, 1991, Latvia regained independence. The result of the Second World
War and the occupations of Latvia was a tragedy for the people of Latvia. The
country lost about one third of its population. The holocaust, the actions of
political murders, the inhuman conditions in the Gulag and in Nazi
concentration camps reduced the number of Latvian people. Many left Latvia at
the end of the war fearing the brutal regime of Joseph Stalin.
BETRAYED BY
THE POLITICAL LEADERS OF LATVIA, BETRAYED BY THE SOVIET UNION, BETRAYED BY NAZI
GERMANY AND ABOVE ALL: BETRAYED BY THE WESTERN COUNTRIES
The people
of Latvia suffered. Betrayed by all countries. The choice was not easy for the
population. Why did so many young Latvians joined the German Army fighting and
supporting the brutal Nazi regime of Germany and the brutal occupation of
Latvia? The main enemy was the Soviet Union. The author who had joined the
Latvian Legion, gives an honest report of the fight. The Latvian officers knew
that the German generals and politicians misused the young Latvian soldiers
making them all believe in the story of a free Latvia. The official policy of
Germany was not to establish independent states within the German empire. The
Norwegian soldiers were told the same story: Fighting for Norway against the
Soviet Union would make Norway an independent state but ruled by Germany.
The members
of the Latvian Self-Administration made attempts to protect the country from
being ruled by the German political and military leaders of Latvia. But the
result was negative.
The young
Latvian boys joined the German Army hoping to prevent the second Russian
occupation of Latvia. The fight and suffering were in vain. The political
choice was a risky business. Some supported the Russian occupation, some
supported the German occupation and some set up an independent army fighting
them all. They all lost the fight. About 110- 115,000 Latvian soldiers were
involved in German military forces during the Second World War. To set up an
independent Latvian army was forbidden by the Germans.
When the
Russian soldiers invaded Latvia for the second time, many Latvians fled the
country. Small Latvian societies were set up around the world after the war.
Some Latvians went on fighting in the forest of Latvia hoping for a support by
the Western countries. In vain. No support was given. The Latvian legionnaires
who did not surrender to the Red Army continued to fight the Communists as
guerrillas. According to the author, about 4,500 men went on fighting in the
beginning. The guerrilla groups continued the fight at least to 1948
THE
NORWEGIAN SOLDIERS KILLED IN LATVIA
REPORT FROM
GEIR BRENDEN
What about
those Norwegian soldiers who fought together with Latvians making an attempt to
stop the Russian occupation for the second time? Forgotten by all in Norway and
in Latvia? 38 soldiers are reported killed in action, 69 soldiers were wounded,
4 soldiers are reported as prisoners of war by Russians and 2 soldiers deserted
to the Russians. The number of officers killed in action was 6. In May 2019 a group
of people from Norway chaired by Geir Brenden went to Latvia searching for the
forgotten soldiers who are buried in different cities of Latvia. No Norwegian
soldiers are mentioned in the story of the Latvian Legion.
Geir
Brenden has collected photos of Norwegian Front Fighters for many years. He has
made research about the stories of the Norwegian Front Fighters who fought,
were killed and buried in Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania during the Second World
War. Geir Brenden has been consulted by the Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation (NRK)
in connection with documentaries about the Second World War. Photos collected
by Geir Brenden have been published in many books dealing with Norwegian Front
Fighters.
GEIR
BRENDEN - LAST REPORT FROM HIS RESEARCH IN LATVIA
In order to
update the research report of Geir Brenden dealing with lost Norwegian soldiers
in Latvia I arranged a meeting with him in Oslo on August 9, 2019. Geir Brenden
is living in the City of Gjøvik. We evaluated the list of missing persons again
to update the information about the persons. The result of his work so far did
make any change of the list. No persons were found during his last stay in
Latvia searching for Norwegian soldiers. He is going to make new research in audiovisual
archives in Germany. The Norwegian families who lost a member in Latvia were
informed about the event by the German army or by the Norwegian Nazi-party in
Norway. Geir Brenden has digitized his photo and documents archives paid mainly
by himself. No access to his archives without a formal permission granted by
himself .Anyway, historians and those who are working with Second World War
issues have been granted permission to use his archives. He has no plans in
giving his private collections to the National Archive of Norway. During his
stay in Latvia searching for lost soldiers he was treated very nice by people
in Latvia. Geir Brenden told me that few photos were taken during the fighting
in Latvia. No time for private photos of the Norwegian soldiers during the
fighting due to lack of time. It was more important to survive that to take
photos or movies during the hard fighting.
Geir
Brenden(b.1971) has no military or academic education. He has done research
about the life of the Norwegian Front Fighters for years as a private business
only. He is of the opinion that the history of Norway of the Second World War,
needs to be updated by making use of new information stored in audiovisual
archives. Facts about the war are not always positive facts. Photos are important sources for research for historical
facts too.
Geir
Brenden to the left of the photo and Tedd Urnes to the right. Oslo August 9,
2019.
The list of
persons buried in Riga. After the war a civilian graveyard was built on top of
the military graveyard.
Bakken, Kåre Torleif
Becker, Arne Wilhelm
Christiansen,
Olav Herstad
Gahrmaker,
John
Gurholt,
Thomas Hersleb
Gurstad,
Tor
Haugen,
Arild
Larm, Knut
Sandborg,
Peter Thomas
List of
soldiers buried in Saldu
Dale, Magnus (gravlagt under ukjent soldat)
Espen, Halvard registrert grav med gravstein
Huitfeldt, Povel registrert grav med gravstein
Larsen, Rolf Singdahl (gravlagt under ukjent soldat)
Sanne, Rolf registrert grav med gravstein
Sevaldsen, Frank (gravlagt under ukjent soldat)
Syversen, Eivind (gravlagt under ukjent soldat)
Sørensen, Sven registrert grav med gravstein
List of
soldiers who are missed. No graves are recorded in Latvia.
Andersen, Gunnar Kjell savnet Vecvagare Priekule
Berg, Anton Jessen savnet Vecvagare Priekule
Berntsen, Roald savnet Vecvagare Priekule
Erichsen, Knut (feltgrav ved Bunka)
Eriksen, Erling Hjalmar savnet Vecvagare Priekule
Hermansen, Edvard Julius savnet ved Zarini
Håkonsen, Kristian gravlagt Robezjnieki
Hontvedt, Ørnulf gravlagt Izriede
Følstad, Sverre gravlagt Izriede
Karpow, Kirill savnet Priekule
Krogstad, Arne Holger savnet Kurland
Larsen, Hjalmar Wilhelm savnet Purmsati
Lund, Harris savnet Vecvagare Priekule
Lunde, Harry savnet Kurland
Lyngstad, John gravlagt Robezjnieki
Meland, Nils savnet Kurill Latvia
Mokastet, Harald Georg savnet Ozoli
Nilsen, Leif savnet Vecvagare Priekule
Olsen, Eugen Viktor savnet Vecvagare Priekule
Osnes, Harry Andreas savnet Indriki
Tobro Kjell savnet Vecvagare Priekule
Trulsen, Kjell Stefanus Margido savnet Priekule
Wetteland,
Peder savnet Vecvagare Priekule
CONCLUSION
If those
Latvians who joined the German Army making a dramatic attempt to avoid the
second Russian occupation of Latvia get an official recognition by the
Government of Latvia, those few Norwegians who were killed in actions must get
the same treatment as the Latvian soldiers. Above all: All foreign soldiers who
died for Latvia must be treated on equal terms.
For your
information only: The Norwegian soldiers killed, lost and forgotten had joined
the Norwegian Nazi party of Norway, and they supported the German occupation of
Norway. Returning to Norway after the war, the soldiers who fought for German
occupation of Norway and fighting for Latvia , were treated as war prisoners in
Norway according to Norwegian laws.
The
research for more information of the unknown graves of Norwegian soldiers in
Latvia presented on this list of missing
soldiers, is still a task for historians: Harry Andreas Olsen(20),Rudolf
Oskar Olsen(23), Ulf Otto Killingmo (26), Osvald Paulin Langeland(21), Thorvald
Martinsen(20), Lars Værland(19), Rolf Normann Westlie(23),Johan Gustav
Jæger(29),Johannes Burckenmejer(44),Bjørn Herwart Endemann(25) and Tor
Gurstad(20).
MISSING SOLDIERS – NEW INFORMATION 2020
According to new information presented in the book:» Deres
Ære Vor Troskap. Nordmenn drept i tysk krigstjeneste» , the missing Norwegian
soldiers on the list above have been found. Apart from one person, Harry
Andreas Olsen, information about the missing soldiers is public information.The
book was released in 2020 as an updating of the book:»De som falt» which was
published in 2009.
LARS VÆRLAND
Information presented on April 1, 2020 about Lars Værland who is on the list of missing soldiers. Willy Forsberg fought together with Lars Værland on October 27, 1944. Lars Værland was reported wounded during the battle close to Priekule in Latvia.. According to information from Willy Forsberg he could not survived the wounds.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Ulateig, Egil og Geir Brenden: Nordmennene på østfronten.
Deres egen historie i bilder. Foraget Reportasje, Lesja, 2005.
Trigg, Jonathan. Hitlers vikinger. Historien om de nordiske Waffen-SS enhetene i legionene, SS-Viking og
SS-Nordand. Vega forag, Oslo, 2012.
Bay, Eirik Gripp: Himmers valkyrjer. Frontsøstrene på
østfronten. Cappelen Damm,
Oslo, 2017.
Silgaiis,
Arthur: Latvian Legion. Military Literature Publishers Foundation, Riga, 2006.
McNab,
Chris: Hitler’s Armies. A History of the German War Machine 1939-45. Osprey
Publishing Ltd.
(Norsk tittel: Hitlers armeer. Historien om den tyske
krigsmaskinen 1939-45. Ares forlag, 2013).
Brenden, Geir og Tommy Natedal: Norskefrivillige i
Waffen-SS. Vega forlag, Oslo,
2017.
1940-1991:
Latvia under the Rule of the Soviet Union and National Socialist Germany.
Museum of the Occupation of Latvia. Riga 2002.
Norsk krigsleksikon 1940 – 45. Redaksjon: Hans Fredrik Dahl,
Guri Hjeltnes, Berit Nøkleby, Nils Johan Ringdal og Øystein Sørensen. J.W.
Cappelens Forlag, Oslo, 1995.
Lie, Haakon: Hvem kan vi stole på? En dokumentasjon om
Norges Kommunistiske Parti under den tysk-russiske alliansen 1939-1941. Tiden Norsk Forlag, Oslo, 1974.(
Haakon Lie: General Secretary of the Norwegian Labor Party from 1945 – 1969. He
was born in 1905 and died in 2009).
Hunt,
Vincent: UP AGAINST THE WALL.The KGB and LATVIA. Helion & Company Limited.
2019.
THE UNKNOWN
WAR. The Latvian national partisans’ fight against the Soviet occupiers 1944
-1956. The battle and memorial sites of the national partisans. Editor:
Aleksandrs Kirsteins. Historians: Gunars Bluzms, Janis Vilums, Zigmars
Turcinskis, Inese Dreimanis, Raitis Abelnieks, Ritvars Jansons. Latvian
National Partisan Association, “ Domas speks”(The Power of Thought). 2011.
Mønster-Kjær, Espen, Niels-Peter Granzow Bush and Torsten Weper: The Forgotten Soldiers.An essay published in the paper: Historie.Illustrert vitenskap. Nr.1/2020. Page 29 -39.
FEATURE
MOVIE
Defenders
of Riga( Latvian: Rigas sargi).The film depicts the Latvian defense of Riga in
November 1919 during the struggle for independence. The film was released November 11,2007.
DOCUMENTARY
FILM
The Fathers
Over There. A Documentary Film by Dzintra Geka. 2016.
The Latvian
Legion. Film Studio DEVINI, 2000
World War
II. Behind closed doors. Stalin, the Nazis and the West. BBC. 2008.
WAFFEN –SS.
BBC.2001.
The Soviet
Story. A documentary film by Edvins Snore.Perry Street Advisors LLC. 2008
THE NAZIS-
A WARNING FROM HISTORY. BBC. 2007.
Tedd Urnes
Why do I mention the late British poet at all? The main reason
is that Errol Flynn and Lord Byron had a lot in common. They were both public
known. Both were rebels. Both were political radicals and both got engaged in
political matters of the time. The main difference is easy to observe. Errol
Flynn did not sell his house and private estates in support for the Spanish government.
Not all. But Lord Byron did it. Lord Byron joined the Greek War of Independence
fighing the Ottoman Empire in 1824. To raise money for the revolution, he sold
his estate Roch Manor in England.Lord Byron took active part in the fighting
himself even if he had no military experience – only personal courage. He fell
ill and died in Missolonghi on April 19, 1824. The famous Danish sculptor
Bertel Thorvaldsen resculpted his earlier bust of Byron in Greek marble.
