Today is 65 years since the great Victory of Soviet forces over German Nazis during the Second World War. A lot of people gathering next to the Monument of Victory, lay flowers and commemorate people fallen in the war. P.S. Do no forget that today is Mother's day as well :)
Tank is being sculpted in Ilguciems, most probably, will be devoted to Latvian war of Independence (5 December 1918 - 11 August 1920). Did you know that Latvia had produced their first tanks during the First World War already? At that time it was absolutely new product, which still was not available in the most of the world states.
During early Soviet times more than 50 000 people living in Latvia were deported to Siberia and Central Asia in such wagons. It was about 2% of country population and all of them were classified as enemies of workers. Deportation of Latvian people was just a little part of something much bigger. Total more than 3 millions of people were transferred in USSR for 8 years between 1941 and 1949. It was a big crime against freedom and human being in general.
This wagon is forever parked at Tornakalns station, which is infamous because of such events. See also another memorial to deported children. BTW, Ozols has a great rap song about this events called Deportacija.
Today the Russophones of the world commemorate the victory over German Nazi in the Second World War. It is the greatest day for most of Russian-speakers in Latvia too and tens of thousands of people come to Victory Monument to lay flowers. This is the day which unites national minorities of Latvia and being intensively used by left wing parties as well.
С Днём Победы! (S Dnem Pobedy means Happy Victory Day)
Swastika is flying over Riga buildings because Latvian Legioners got approval for their new event. A joke! :) Miss Irena's Children movie is being filmed in Riga this days. This movie tells the story about Polish jews during Second World War, and will be released in 2009.
This sad monument located in Mežaparks area reminds people of brutal regime. Writing on granite stone means Deportētajiem, ceļā un svešumā mirušajiem Latvijas bērniem To deported children of Latvia died on the road and in strange lands During years 1941-1949 about 35 thousands of people were deported from Latvia as part of the procedure for carrying out of Anti-Soviet Elements.
9th of May is the Victory Day which marks the end of The Second World War for the Soviet Union and Germany in 1945. Nowadays it isn't official holiday in Latvia, but despite this thousands of people gather by the Victory Monument in Riga. Most of them are Russians and Russian-speaking people. Latvians don't celebrate this day, because most of them take that day as the beginning of Occupation of Latvia by USSR.
Uzvaras Piemineklis (Victory Monument) is a large military monument in Pardaugava Victory Park. The monument was erected in the spring of 1985 to commemorate the victory over the fascism during the 2nd World War. The central Obelisk symbolizing salute volley, statue on the left is the statue of the Mother Motherland, and on the right are soldiers representing different types of forces.
Victory Monument is always in the middle of enmity between Russian and Latvian communities. Obelisk was blown up several times during the last 15 years. Latvian patriots say that monument is symbolizing Soviet Occupation, but not the Victory.
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