Current Latvia THEME IN FOCUS No. 2, April 2000 Latvia's History Commission, Holocaust remembrance, EVENTS
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EVENTSSeminar on Teaching of Contradictory Issues of the World War II HistoryApril 1 - 2, a seminar "Teaching of Contradictory Issues of the World War II History in Schools" was held in Ligatne, central Latvia. The seminar was organised by the Latvian History Commission and the Latvia's History Teachers' Association. It was aimed at promoting co-operation between historians and history teachers, developing the awareness of history teachers on contradictory 20th century history issues and discussing the methodology for teaching history in schools. The two-day seminar was attended by teachers from different schools (with Latvian or minority languages of instruction) in various regions of the country. The seminar featured lectures and workshops on research work and teaching on Holocaust and contradictory World War II issues (collaboration and resistance to occupation powers). The lectures were delivered by Latvian and international members of the Latvian History Commission as well as by other historians. Regular Meeting of the Latvian History CommissionApril 3, the regular meeting of the Latvian History Commission with participation of its international members was held. The members of the commission discussed the planned activities for 2000 and the main tasks for the coming years. The participants proposed to establish a gallery of rescuers of Jews and to commemorate Zanis Lipke, a Latvian who saved many Jews in World War II.
"The Sunflower", a Book by Simon Wiesenthal Presented in Latvia April 3, "The Sunflower", a book by Simon Wiesenthal about sufferings of a Jew during the Holocaust, was presented in the book-store of "Jumava" publishing house in the Latvian capital Riga. The book was translated by Reverend Guntis Dislers. The preface to the Latvian edition of "The Sunflower" was written by Latvian President Dr. Vaira Vike-Freiberga and Lutheran Church Archbishop Janis Vanags. "The Sunflower" is the first book by Simon Wiesenthal that has been translated in the Latvian language. The book "The Sunflower" was also presented during the seminar in Ligatne on "Teaching of Contradictory Issues of the World War II History in Schools" with the President of State in attendance.
Latvia Unveils Commemoration Plaque for Rescuers of Jews April 21, the commemoration plaque to the Lipkes family who were rescuing Jews during the Holocaust was unveiled in Riga in an official ceremony joined by Latvian President Dr. Vaira Vike-Freiberga, Foreign Minister Mr. Indulis Berzins and Riga Mayor Mr. Andris Berzins. The plaque is located in Riga's residential area Kipsala and honours commemoration of Zanis Lipke, his wife Johanna Lipke and their sons Zigfrids and Alfreds who rescued several dozens of Jewish people during the WW II. "In this building lived righteous of the world Zanis Lipke, his wife Johanna, their sons Zigfrids and Alfreds. Illumined by divine light, they extended a hand of rescue. 1941 - 1944," reads the plaque hung outside the building where the family used to live. The plaque unveiled in Kipsala is the second in Riga. Another plaque in commemoration to the victims of the Holocaust and Zanis Lipke is placed at the building at 21 Sadovnikova Street in Riga - in a place regarded as the boundary of what was the concentration camp during the war. That plaque was opened in 1995. Zanis Lipke was born on February 2, 1900 and passed away on May 14, 1987. For his heroic deed rescuing the Jewish people Lipke was granted the status of the Righteous Among the Nations. A notice on the medal granted to Lipke by the State of Israel says, "He who saved life of one man, has saved the whole world". Presentation of the Documentary "Zanis and Others"March 29, presentation of the documentary "Zanis and Others" was held in Riga. The film is devoted to the Latvian rescuer Zanis Lipke who had saved the lives of dozens of Jewish people during the Holocaust and to "Others" who had supported Zanis Lipke in his heroic deeds. "I don't know why he did that," one of the rescued survivors reiterates in the documentary. Zanis Lipke, a simple worker who could not rely on the support from his state as it was occupied, did not save the lives "for something" - he was acting according to his understanding of humanity. "Zanis and Others" is the first part of the trilogy of documentaries. The other two will be devoted to various Latvian people who had extended the hand of rescue to Jewish people during the Holocaust. ACCENTSExtracts from the Address by the President of State at the Seminar on "Teaching of Contradictory Issues of the World War II History in Schools", Ligatne, April 1, 2000 In her address to the participants of the seminar Latvian President Dr. Vaira Vike-Freiberga noted that the World War II is one of the most tragic periods of Latvia's history. "During this period of history Latvia was trampled down by two totalitarian occupation powers: Communist power from the East and Nazi power from the West. Both powers have left bloody traces", the President said. During the long after-war Soviet occupation period the Communist propaganda rested on biased interpretation of history. "Only after regaining of Latvia's independence it became possible to freely and objectively address the historic events and study them with the help of the intellectual resources that have been developed by history as science in democratic countries of the Western world", the President noted. Dr. Vike-Freiberga underlined the importance of these studies for developing teaching aids and other publications so that every child and adult of the country would be fully aware of the tragic pages of the history. President's Press Service
Extracts from the Foreword by President Dr. Vaira Vike-Freiberga to the Book "The Sunflower" "The Sunflower" is an astonishing personal message from a person, who has been a victim of an indescribable inhumanity and who through this book gives a testimony on behalf of himself as well as millions of his brothers and sisters, who have been killed. [..] This book has grown from the sorrow of the author and the pain for his destroyed and tortured nation. [..] It is important that the generations, which have not witnessed these events of the past [the Holocaust], would draw conclusions and ensure that nothing of that kind would ever be repeated. [..] This is not just the grief of the Jewish people, but the grief of the whole mankind." MFA
President Thanks International Members of the History Commission for Their Contribution and Support April 3, Latvian President Dr. Vaira Vike-Freiberga held a meeting with the Latvian History Commission and its international members from Israel, Sweden and the United States. The President highly evaluated the work of the Commission and thanked its international members for their contribution and support. Dr. Vike-Freiberga expressed her satisfaction over the current work of the Commission on several important studies related to contradictory World War II issues. The President approvingly assessed the proposal to establish a memorial plaque in the honour to Mr. Zanis Lipke, Latvian rescuer of Jews during the World War II. President's Press Service
Latvian President Praises to Reporters the Work by Latvia's History Commission April 3, speaking to reporters Latvian President Dr. Vaira Vike-Freiberga expressed her belief that the work by the Latvian History Commission is very effective. The work by the commission has great future prospects, the President said after the meeting with commission members during which the history conference last weekend in Ligatne, central Latvia, and future activities were discussed. She noted the commission was doing a very important job by studying the two occupation rules in Latvia with emphasis on the Holocaust and teaching of these history events at schools. The Latvian President and historians also talked about the suggestion to open a museum about the Holocaust and Jewish culture heritage in Latvia. BNS FACTSInformation on the Latvia's History Commission Composition The Latvian History Commission was established on November 13, 1998 upon the initiative of the former President of Latvia Mr. Guntis Ulmanis. The Commission includes professional historians from Latvia (the University of Latvia, Latvian State History Archive, Occupation Museum) and officials from the Chancery of the President, as well as international members - foreign scientists and public figures. The international members of the Commission are as follows: Carl Bildt, Special Advisor in Kosovo to the Secretary General of the UN Tasks and activities The main task of the Commission is to organise research and preparation of a concluding report on crimes against humanity committed in the territory of Latvia under the occupations from 1940 to 1956. The work of the Commission embraces four separate task forces. They have been established in order to co-ordinate research on the following issues: 1) crimes against humanity committed in the territory of Latvia during the occupation, 1940 to 1941, The practical research work is conducted by 25 professional historians. The Latvian government has earlier this year allocated to the Commission financial resources for this specific research work. The studies will take several years as the experts have to examine new materials from the archives and obtain as impartial information as possible. In the long run the objective of the commission is to contribute to history teaching at schools by creating a basis for development of new teaching aids, as well as to promote the community's knowledge about historical events, as well as to explain aspects of Latvia's history abroad. Co-operation The President of Latvia Dr. Vaira Vike-Freiberga has attached great importance to and expressed support for the activities of the Latvian History Commission. On December 13, 1999 the Chancery of the President appointed a special Adviser to the President on the History Commission, Dr. hist. Elga Zalite. The Adviser is responsible for co-ordination of the work of the Latvian History Commission. The Commission has developed successful co-operation with the Ministry of Education of Science and Latvia's History Teacher's Association. The History Commission has established contacts with the Task Force for Holocaust Studies, which has been created upon the initiative of several European states and includes representatives from the governments of Germany, Israel, Sweden, United Kingdom and United States. The first step of co-operation was participation of Latvia's delegation, which included members of the History Commission, in the Stockholm International Conference on Holocaust Education, Remembrance and Research on January 26 - 28, 2000. In co-operation with the government of Sweden the work on translation and publication of the book on the Holocaust "... tell ye your children..." is under way. With the contribution of the Latvian History Commission September 28 - 29, 2000 international conference on Holocaust research problems will be held in Latvia.
CONTACT INFORMATION The Latvian History Commission Chairman: Professor Andris Caune
Contact person of the Commission in Sweden Dr. Elga Zalite, Adviser to the President of State on the History Commission
USEFUL LINKS
Speeches and Statements http://www.am.gov.lv/en/?id=3449 - "Remembrance and Understanding of the Holocaust in Latvia" Speech by Dr. Vaira Vike-Freiberga, President of Latvia at "The Stockholm International Forum on the Holocaust Education, Remembrance and Research"; Stockholm, January 27, 2000 http://www.am.gov.lv/en/?id=3450 - Announcement by Dr. Vaira Vike-Freiberga, President of Latvia, to Mass Media Concerning Investigation of War Crimes, Crimes Against Humanity and Genocide; Riga, 19 January 2000 http://www.am.gov.lv/en/?id=3451 - Address by Dr. Vaira Vike-Freiberga, President of Latvia, at the presentation of Steven Spielberg's film "The Last Days" at the "Riga" movie theatre; Riga, 5 January 2000
Press Releases http://www.am.gov.lv/en/?id=1456 - Conclusions of the international meeting on the investigation of Konrads Kalejs and other participants in Nazi-sponsored crimes committed during World War II; Press release, 18 February 2000 http://www.am.gov.lv/en/?id=1442 - Nazi crimes. Information from the General Prosecutor's Office; Press release, 9 March 2000 |
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