Latvians what they are. Appearance of Estonians: features and distinctive features, photos, culture. Latvians and their language

Hello, dear readers (and readers :)) site site! I want to tell you my story of marriage with a foreigner.

My spouse is from the Baltic States [a region of Northern Europe, which includes Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia. Approx. site edition].

Once I - a student of the Dnepropetrovsk Institute, could not even think about marriage with a Latvian.

First meeting with Dainis

Our meeting was not romantic, but rather funny. Winter, wind and twenty-five degrees of frost. I go down the avenue and, having decided to take a shortcut, turn into the courtyards. As I stood with my heel on the ice hidden under the snow, I first slipped, then rode, and at the end I fell. A tall guy with a pleasant boyish voice strictly stated the fact: "Girl, you fell," but he gave his hand and helped to get up.

He was very serious, he was reluctant to maintain a dialogue with an unfamiliar girl, and he spoke with a bright accent, sometimes putting emphasis in the wrong place.

Strange date

This weekend Dainis and I met again. When I approached my new acquaintance, the first thing he did was: "You are late." I was surprised: I was only 10 minutes late! The mood did not deteriorate, only I put the first "tick" on myself - I am very punctual.

And then the "ticks" began to grow exponentially: instead of seven minutes by tram and six kopecks for two - half an hour on foot in a cafe. The order took a very long time - everything was calculated to the smallest detail. Having seen off to the entrance (thank you very much!), He said goodbye dryly and left. I decided to cross these checkboxes and forget this terrible acquaintance forever.

Dear ring

Latvians are not greedy, but simply economical. I have met, of course, a careless attitude to money, but this is the exception rather than the rule. In Russia it is called "a wide soul", and Latvians motivate by the fact that they live once.

The beautiful town of Jelgava

In the summer, we went to get acquainted with Dainis's parents: at first it was 17 o'clock to Riga, then we moved to another train to Jelgava.

When we got down to the platform, I was immediately struck by the extraordinary amount of greenery in the city. Everything seemed to be planted with trees, bushes and flowers. People in Latvia love their land very much, take care of environment and nature.

Probably, the location on the Lielupe River makes Jelgava so fresh, with clean air and huge amount greenery. I was immediately struck by the streets and houses. The streets were not even, but winding, reminiscent of a river, the houses were like dollhouses, with red and brown roofs.

Jelgava is a rather big city - the 4th largest city in Latvia, but very measured, with a leisurely and moderate life.

On the threshold of the apartment we were met by Dainis's mother - and at the first glance in her eyes I realized that now this is my house too. Dainis's mother did everything very slowly, sometimes it seemed that she was just standing in one place. But in the end, she did everything on time: everyone was fed, the linen was washed and ironed, the house was cleaned.

Having got acquainted with several more families, I realized that the head of the family in Latvia is a woman, the family rests on her. Men are earners. They just do work and male duties, while all family affairs are entrusted to their wife.

In general, Latvians have a more matriarchal society: as proof, one can even refer to Latvian mythology (the main ones were goddesses, not gods - Mara, Laima, Zemesmate, Jurasmate) and the unusually bright coming to power of the woman-president Vaira Vike-Freiberga.

And their mentality has pronounced feminine characteristics, among which, in my opinion, emotionality stands out (rare outbursts against the background of general calmness and restraint), which they put under control in every possible way and the need for protection. Roughly speaking, they need someone who will control and protect them. Latvians themselves do not strive for leadership, they are flexible, tolerant and loyal. By the way, do not confuse Latvians and Latvians. Latvians are the titular nation in the country, and Latvians are all citizens of the Republic of Latvia.

My first sklandrausis and a lot of fish on the Latvian table

The main part of the dishes on the Latvian table is fish. I really liked the pie with a heap of vegetables and legumes - this is sklandrausis - the national dish of Latvia. I have never eaten such fishy delicacies as here in my life. I did not think that something like that could be prepared from herring, Baltic herring and sprat. And my friends from the "country that sings" are very fond of caraway cheese, pork and potatoes with cottage cheese.

In Latvia, they are not content with potatoes with herring and olivier festive table... The choice of dishes here is very large: it is not even clear what Latvians love most of all. One thing is clear - there is always cheese, fish and legumes in the refrigerator.

Latvian wedding

A year later, we celebrated our wedding with Dainis. Latvians who do not like extravagance, threw a “mountain feast” so that the young would live in prosperity. In the center of the table, an obligatory dish is aromatic broth and small pies with meat.

For me, what was happening was unusual, I don’t remember much from excitement at all. At first I sat in a wreath, and at midnight two friends tied me a beautiful openwork kerchief and put on an apron - now I am the mistress of the house and wife.

Everything related to family, country, culture and traditions is sacred and categorical for Latvians. They know and value their history, remember and respect their ancestors. Despite the regularity, the inhabitants of Latvia are very cheerful: they know a lot of songs, anecdotes, folk dances.

The best husband and dad

After the wedding, Dainis has changed a lot - now he is a husband, a breadwinner in the family. We didn't need money. It happened that Dainis went out with the fishermen at night and worked as a loader in the shops. After the birth of the baby, part of the worries passed to her husband: he bathed her, put her to bed and sang lullabies.

In Latvia, it is not customary to borrow money or go to ask neighbors for an onion or salt. The family should have everything of its own. Men devote a lot of time to children, but they do not pamper, do not praise in the presence of strangers, and do not show their love for them openly. Babies from the cradle are taught to control their emotions .

Thirty years together

For thirty years Dainis and I have been living in Dnepropetrovsk. We have two daughters and two grandchildren. All the flaws that I didn’t like about Dainis became for family life huge advantages.

My conclusions: punctuality and seriousness helped to become an assistant professor and teacher at the Academy, excessive frugality grew into the construction of a two-story house and the purchase of an apartment youngest daughter... And silence and prudence over the years ceased to annoy me and became very important for family life.

Elena, specially for the site site

On December 18, a series of comic book brochures was presented at the National Integration Center, designed to better understand the essence, habits and distinctive features of the Latvian people, as well as to understand how Latvia attracts migrants from the Third World countries.

The event was timed to coincide with International Day migrant, therefore immigrants from Azerbaijan, Pakistan, Georgia, permanently residing in Latvia, also became its guests.

According to the author of the text of the comics, poet Andris Akmentins, his work in a light and unobtrusive form makes it clear what Latvians think of themselves. The comic is divided into two parts - "A Guide to Latvian Thinking" and "A Guide to the Success of Newcomers to Latvia". I wonder what, on this moment comics are published only in Latvian.

“The hardest part was working on the first part -“ thinking ”, - said Akmentins during the presentation of his creation. - Here the real Latvian essence woke up. We always argue about who we really are - we don't even really know ourselves. it was very difficult to show Latvians in one comic. "

Akmentins said that, in general, the entire Latvian people is characterized by self-irony, which, with a deeper study, even becomes a kind of engine of progress.

"We love to praise and praise everything that we have. There are few speakers of the Latvian language in the world, but the language itself is the oldest in the Indo-European group. The highest point of the country (Gaizinkalns - approx. Delfi) is 311 meters, but in our minds - This is a whole mountain, and you can ski from it. So, Latvians already consider themselves a nation of skiers, build trails ... If there is no snow, they blow it up with a special cannon. Many truly Latvian features are built on this contradiction, "says the poet.

Andris Akmentins also mentioned ice hockey, Song Festival and other cultural events as connecting factors of the Latvian people. Didn't forget about the village, rural life... "We are all from the village, and this certainly has an impact on our worldview, culture. Even the most" Riga resident of Riga ", if you dig deeper, still came from the farm. Therefore, our connection with the countryside, nature is the closest," the poet noted, stressing that he managed to show this feature in his work.

The solemn event was also attended by the adviser to the Minister of Culture on integration issues, soloist of the Latvian Opera, tenor Nauris Puntulis, who noted that the Latvian society should be as open as possible and disposed towards those who want to integrate. At the same time, in no case should we forget about our own national and cultural identity, but it is necessary to preserve our values.

“Our problem is that for 22 years of independence we have not learned to play the first number in matters of language, culture. We must be like a strict, but beloved school teacher - friendly, open, but, if necessary, tough , "- said Puntulis. And he added that the formula for those who want to successfully integrate into the Latvian society is known - "loyalty + tolerance".

In general, the representatives of this nation are not characterized by a violent manifestation of emotions, they appeal to reason, not feelings. Therefore, restraint and self-control are especially appreciated among Latvians.

To the main features national character Latvians also include industriousness, perseverance, endurance, capacity for work, thoroughness and diligence [Karpova 1993: 216 - 217].

For historical reason

m representatives this ethnic group is characterized by a heightened sense of national identity and a tendency towards knowledge and observance of national traditions. In addition, Latvians are quite conservative.

As noted by all researchers and respondents, the Latvian national character is characterized by such negative qualities as envy, selfishness, quarrelsomeness, ill will, lack of initiative and pettiness.

The main psychological types are melancholic and phlegmatic.

Based on all of the above, the "portrait" of a typical Latvian seems to us as follows:

1. Individualism

2. Restraint

3. Closure

4. Diligence

5. Nationalism

6. Conservatism

7. Workability

8. Thoroughness

9. Diligence

10. Tenacity

11. Endurance

12. Selfishness

13. Quarrelsomeness

14. Jealousy

15. Malevolence

16. Self-control

17. Passivity

18. Pettiness

Perhaps, it should be especially said about how Russians and Latvians understand the category of politeness, which, being international, is also nationally specific. AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

As noted by Iolanta Chikhanovich, from the standpoint of a Russian person, politeness is manifested in an immediate desire to help, support a person who is in a difficult situation. From the point of view of Latvians, politeness is, first of all, tactful behavior. Representatives of this nation consider it indecent to impose their help. As a result, Russians perceive “Latvian” politeness as cool, Latvians perceive “Russian” politeness as violence [Rīgas Balss 1998 13.09: 16].

In addition, Russian and Latvian cultures belong to different types of cultures. TG Stefanenko says that there are significant differences in how the means of communication are used in interpersonal communication among representatives of individualistic and collectivistic cultures [Stefanenko 1999: 156]. Representatives of individualistic cultures, to which we refer Latvian culture, pay more attention to content messages. On what is said, and not on how, their communication is weakly dependent on the context. Such cultures are called low-context cultures.

In highly controversial cultures, which include Russian culture, when communicating information, communicants tend to pay more attention to context messages, with whom and in what situation the communication takes place. This feature is manifested in giving special significance to the form of the message, to how, and not to what is said.

The socio-psychological "portraits" of the representatives of the Russian and Latvian nations, cited by us, allow us to draw the following conclusions.

Possessing such universal values ​​as patriotism, industriousness, perseverance, kindness, hospitality, politeness and others, Russians and Latvians acquire different priorities.

So, for example, Russians are welcoming, sympathetic, friendly, open towards absolutely everyone - from strangers to relatives. Latvians, on the other hand, show these qualities only in relation to close friends. With strangers or unfamiliar people, they are cold, withdrawn, restrained, and often unfriendly.

In this regard, in the communicative process, Russians show themselves more emotionally. They are actively involved and act in the process of communication, strive to dominate the conversation. Latvians in communicative communication take a passive position, strive to maintain a distance between communicants and are reluctant to enter the communication process.

Both peoples are characterized by a high degree of patriotism, but it is understood in different ways.

For Russians, patriotism is, first of all, loyalty and attachment to the Motherland. Moreover, they do not depend on the nationality of those inhabiting the territory of Russia. Latvians understand patriotism first of all as a heightened sense of national belonging, pride in the consciousness of this belonging, as well as knowledge and observance of national traditions.

The main differences between the Russian and Latvian nationalities are attitudes towards work and interpersonal relationships.

Representatives of the Latvian nation are distinguished by a high degree of hard work, workability, diligence, thoroughness and perseverance. In contrast to them, Russians, despite their hard work, are characterized as lazy, careless and irresponsible people who quickly get tired of monotonous work.

Concerning interpersonal relationships, then here the representatives of the Russian ethnos manifest themselves as kinder, hospitable, generous, sympathetic and compassionate people. However, their desire to help, the desire to be needed and useful to others, by representatives of other nations is often perceived as an obsession.

Latvians, on the other hand, are distinguished by a high degree of individualism, the desire to rely only on themselves, the fear of being dependent, as well as selfishness and pettiness. Therefore, their understanding of politeness is often perceived as coldness.

Based on the study of the features of the national characters of Russians and Latvians, we can formulate the following hypothesis.

Differences in the traits of national character determines national specifics compliment. Nationally specific can be:

¨ the frequency of use of this rhetorical genre;

¨ its addressees;

¨ the purpose of the compliment;

¨ main addressees;

¨ objects of compliments;

¨ the degree of development and expressiveness.

We tested the validity of this hypothesis using the questionnaire method.

Chapter 2

Analysis of the speech structure of a compliment

2.1Analysis of the results of the questionnaire.

In order to test our hypothesis, we have developed a questionnaire, the statistical results of which are summarized in diagrams (see Appendix).

Observing the process of questioning, we drew attention to the fact that the decisive role in the choice of answers could be played by the factor that the main functioning of the individual takes place in a non-native linguocultural community, i.e. if he spends most of his time with representatives of another nation.

The poll was attended by 200 people - 100 Russians and the same number of Latvians.

The analysis of the results of the survey showed that out of the total number of respondents, Russians (61%) give compliments much more often than Latvians (41%). Attention is drawn to the fact that the percentage of those who rarely give compliments is quite large - 36% of Russians and 43% of Latvians. However, despite this, only 3% of respondents, whose native language is Russian, say that they do not give compliments at all. Among Latvians, 16% responded in the same way. (see table№ 1).

Are Latvians another parasitic nation?

... a Latvian is an extremely stubborn, stupid sheep. This is the most striking example of cattleism at the national level. You cannot be on an equal footing with cattle. You give him the opportunity to speak out and feel like a person, and in return they use this opportunity to behave like cattle.
(generalized image of a Latvian through the eyes of Russians)

The coast of the Baltic Sea - present-day Livonia, Estonia and Courland. "Latvia" was inhabited by 4 peoples: the Livonians, the Estonians (the Finnish tribe), the Latgalians and the Lats (the Lithuanian tribe). Until the 13th century, one cannot speak of any general political organization of "Latvia". Individual tribes lived in it quite independently; their cultural level was low. Their religion was the worship of natural phenomena. Their main god was the god of thunder - Perkun, to whom the old age-old oaks were dedicated. Sacrifices were customary; the horse was considered the most noble sacrifice. In the war, the inhabitants showed great ferocity and mercilessly quartered their prisoners. The dead were burned; the ashes from their corpses were kept in urns. At present, many such urns have been found. Behind the deceased, his favorite pets, horses and dogs were often burned; weapons, bread, honey, coins were placed in the grave. Remember, the ancient Egyptians did not know what to do with the prisoners (it was expensive to feed them) and, therefore, the prisoners were killed. And only then, they came up with the idea of ​​using them as free labor. They were even called - "talking cattle". So the slave system arose and civilization began. Apparently, it turns out that in the 13th century, in the center of Europe lived a people who, in terms of savagery, were still in the fifth millennium BC. For comparison - in Russia, by that time, the "Tale of Bygone Years", "The Tale of Igor's Campaign" had already been written, thus, an independent Russian (non-Greek) literary tradition already existed.
The main role in the creation of a single people was played by a culture based on folk songs - understandable to everyone, they largely shaped both the language and common views and beliefs. After the collapse of the Livonian states, this unity suffered noticeably - in Latgale, for example, the language and religion experienced a strong Polish-Catholic influence. In addition, since the real political power from the end of the 13th to the beginning of the 20th century was in the hands of the Germans (regardless of the formal state power), what was happening in their midst also influenced what was happening in the country. Germans in Latvia made…. Well, how could I put it more delicately, in general, everything. Just everything. They built cities. Churches. Universities. Established a trade. Industry. Roads. Sewerage (they would just fuck up their entire territory). Electricity. Literature. Writing. Religion. Medicine. Education. Army. Well, in general, everything that is possible.

Therefore, for a Latvian, it does not matter at all, under whose rule his country was considered five hundred years ago - it is still the country of only his and his ancestors, and strangers have always remained nothing, albeit a dangerous nothing that has to submit, but which does not acquire any rights from this. For an ordinary Latvian, both Livonia and the Russian Empire in Latvia are just governance structures, not states. This is how Latvians looked at them 300 and 600 years ago, and this is how they look now.
Contemporary historians of "Latvia" such as E. Jēkabsons, In Šerbinskis try to present the history of Latvians in a different light, namely as active participants white movement in Russia after the October 1917 coup, however, these are the very few representatives of Latvians who thought adequately and were genetically representatives of the Nordic race.
But let's look at the activity of this locust in the most understandable period for modern humans in the 20th century. Latvian riflemen are geeks on the Russian land. The starting point for Latvians in the destruction of the Russian Empire was


The second congress of delegates of the Latvian rifle regiments, held in Riga in mid-May 1917. 226 delegates almost unanimously adopted a resolution which stated that the Provisional Government was the result of an attempt by the petty bourgeoisie and one section of the workers to enter into an agreement with the imperialist bourgeoisie and landowners. The war in the resolution was characterized as imperialist, so the revolutionary forces must fight for peace without annexations and indemnities, they must drive out their imperialist governments. On the most important issue for the revolution - about power - the congress declared: "Our slogan is the appeal of revolutionary democracy: all power to the Soviets of Workers', Soldiers' and Peasants' Deputies!" Here is what A. Koch writes about that situation: “... Even the leaders of the Bolsheviks did not expect such convincing support for their aspirations. So P. Stuchka wrote, recalling that day: “I saw only an enthusiastic almost unanimous vote. I must admit that I was deeply impressed by this determination. A day later, speaking at a separate meeting of one of the regiments, I became convinced that this is the thoughts and inspiration of the masses, and not just the elected elite. "
The resolution of May 17 meant the transition of the Latvian riflemen to the side of the Bolsheviks, and 40 thousand Latvian riflemen became the nucleus of the Bolshevik military forces in the revolution. O political views The following fact speaks for the Latvian riflemen: in the elections to the Constituent Assembly held in November 17th, 95 percent of the votes were cast for the Bolshevik candidates.
Two months later, in February 1918, German troops, including the 12th Baltic Infantry Division of Major General Rüdiger von der Goltz, broke through the front and occupied the entire territory of Latvia. 40 thousand well-trained and armed Latvians did not defend their Motherland, but went to "fight for freedom and consolidation of Soviet power" on the vast Russian expanses. On their bayonets, they carried revolutionary terror, or simply the death of millions of Russian people.
Here is how L.D. Trotsky (go find an expert on the Civil War in Russia, all the same, the People's Commissariat for Military Affairs - more importantly, no!) Described the role of Latvian riflemen in the outcome of the civil war: , were created by the tsarist government in 1915, the predominantly proletarian composition of the units was the reason that shortly after the February Revolution, in May 1917, the Latvian riflemen declared themselves to be supporters of the Bolsheviks.


From that time on, they linked their fate with the fate of the revolutionary proletariat of the Soviet republics, each time appearing on the most dangerous sectors of the front and inflicting heavy defeats on the enemy. The Latvian corps, created on December 14, 1917, was subject to demobilization, according to the Treaty of Brest. In order to preserve the Latvian units, it was decided to rename the corps to the Latvian Soviet Rifle Division (April 13, 1918). I.I. Vatsetis was appointed head of the division. Even before they were brought into the corps, the Latvian regiments took part in the fight against the Polish corps of Dovbor-Musnitsky, and in the south - with Kornilov.
In 1918, the Latvian units took an active part in the defeat of the anarchists and the suppression of the Left SR revolt. During the period of the Czechoslovak rebellion, 7 Latvian regiments were transferred to the Eastern Front. For the valiant two-day defense of Kazan (August 5 and 6), the 5th Latvian regiment is awarded a red banner by the All-Russian Central Executive Committee. At the end of 1918 and the beginning of 1919, Latvian units cleared Latvia of German barons and Russian White Guards: (Here they are, here they are - Latvian units! These are the same units of the Red Army that first captured Riga, and then von der Goltz kicked them back to Russia! This is how they saw their native Latvia - Bolshevik! Well, where, well, where are thanks to the Germans for saving Latvia from brutal Latvians?)
In the fall of 1919, we see the entire Latvian rifle division with its cavalry (damn it, they had cavalry, plus 40 thousand more riflemen, plus at least 10 thousand) near Orel, where it was transferred by Commander-in-Chief Vatsetis in order to cover the path to Moscow ... Here she had to be placed in the center of the shock group against General Denikin's Volunteer Army. Primakov's brigade and Pavlov's brigade of hearts were attached to the Latvian division. The collision took place in the area of ​​the city of Kroma. Here is one of the bloodiest battles between the Latvian division with the units attached to it, on the one hand, and the 1st corps of the Volunteer Army, on the other. The forces were equal. The battle lasted for about two weeks, from 11 to 27 October 1919. Both sides exerted all their strength. The last and decisive effort was made by the 1st Latvian brigade and the 7th Latvian regiment on the night of October 27, defeating the enemy's rear and capturing the city of Kromy, where the headquarters were located. The Kromskoy victory was the first step towards victory over Denikin's army, which, retreating, turned into scraps of separate military units. At the same time, the 5th Latvian regiment was fighting against General Yudenich, who was advancing on Petrograd. Together with the 87th and 88th regiments, he makes up a shock group, which near Pavlovsk inflicts a decisive defeat on General Yudenich.
The front of General Yudenich was torn in two; this was the beginning of the universal flight of Yudenich's army to Estonia, where it was eliminated. For valiant actions near Petrograd, the 5th Latvian regiment received the 2nd red regimental banner.
In the spring of 1920, the Latvian rifle division operates near Perekop, which it takes by storm, but, not being supported in a timely manner, is forced to withdraw. In the summer and autumn, we see the Latvian division in the front ranks of the troops fighting against the gene. Wrangel "(LD Trotsky" The Soviet Republic and the Capitalist World. Part One ").


Thus, we can safely say that the victory of the Reds in the civil war was largely due to the participation of Latvian units on their side. Everyone knows that the turning point in the civil war began after the defeat of the Volunteer Army at Orel. Now we know who provided it.
If we add to this the enthusiasm with which the Latvians went to the Cheka, with what pleasure they took part in the executions, how energetically and businesslike they later built the GULAG. All these Vatsetis, Peters, Stuchki, Latsis, Berzins. Probably, it's time for us to present an account to Latvia, and not vice versa.
This is how the well-known Latvian professor Aivars Stranga estimates the quantitative participation of Latvians in the formation and retention of Soviet power in Russia (Vestnik Evropy. 2001, No. 2): “184 thousand Latvians, more than 10% of our nation (to be precise, 20%. Where did they come from? But these are not my numbers. Although with family members, maybe.), remained in Soviet Russia after the revolution, did not return to Latvia, did not take advantage of the conditions of the Riga Peace, did not participate in the construction of an independent, free Latvia. 70 thousand of them signed their own verdict, which was carried out in 1937 (dogs - death of a dog). This figure - 184 thousand who remained here in leadership work, including in the GRU, in the NKVD - is evidence of how socially and ideologically our nation was split. " So the robber, maniacal freakiness of the ball-ball Latvians becomes clear. I will not dwell on the atrocities of the Latvian bastards on the territory of my country during the period of the formation of the Jewish-Bolshevik regime, but I will immediately be transported into the conditions of the liberation war of 1939-1945. And so, after the NSDAP came to power in Germany, the government actively proceeded to organize the consolidation of Volksdeutsche on the original German lands. Including the territory of "Latvia" which has been actively developed over the centuries. At that time, the population of the territory of "Latvia" was about 2 million people of various nationalities, and about 60 percent were actually Latvians. That is, by and large, there is nothing about anything compared to Russia or Germany, so the area in Berlin or Moscow. But how many dirty tricks they do ... Pro-German sentiments have traditionally been strong in Latvia. Although before the war the German population was only about 3 percent, its society called the Latvian Brotherhood, after Hitler came to power, officially declared its goal of joining the Third Reich. After the signing of the Versailles Peace Treaty and the Brest Peace Treaty (the Brest Treaty remained in force for 3 months. After the revolution in Germany in 1918-1919, the Soviet government unilaterally canceled it on November 13, 1918), the Entente countries decided to equip their outpost on the territory of “ Latvia ”and that is why they decided to grant“ independence ”to Latvians. And apparently not in vain. It should be noted that the Latvian army of that time was perhaps the most efficient part of the "Baltic Entente". The Ulmanis government spared no expense for its armed forces. So, in 1936 in the UK, aircraft were ordered for the Air Force, in 1939 in Sweden - anti-aircraft guns. In Valga, at the beginning of December 1934, the Estonian and Latvian commanders held joint command-staff exercises, during which plans for military action against the USSR were developed. In May-June 1938, a similar field exercise took place. In addition to a mobile, well-armed army, the republic had a number of national paramilitary organizations. The youth were involved in the analogue of the Hitler Youth - Mazpulka. The adult part of the population, including women, united in the organization "Aizsargi" ("Guards"). Existing since 1919, this militarized structure took an active part in the coup d'état in May 1934, as a result of which its former leader Karl Ulmanis became the head of state. The organization was built according to the territorial principle, covering all the counties of Latvia, and by 1940 it numbered up to 40 thousand people (21 regiments) in its councils. Members of the organization united in platoons, companies, battalions and regiments. The management of "Aizsargi" was carried out by the headquarters, headed by the former Minister of Public Affairs of Latvia Alfred Berzins. Each member of the organization had a rifle, pistol and ammunition supply. In addition to small arms, there was also artillery. Each "guard" enjoyed a number of privileges, while at the same time being a reservist of the national armed forces. Helping the police, during the revolutionary holidays, the "guards" gathered at certain points to suppress possible protests. They studied the tactics of street fighting, carried out the protection of the striking enterprises and strikebreakers. "Aizsargi" living in the border zone carried the border guard. Aizsarg could also be a Russian resident of Latvia. Thus, I. Selivanov was the head of the anti-partisan group at one of the volost administrations. His group consisted mainly of Russian agents. (S. Chuev Damned soldiers. Traitors on the side of the III Reich. Moscow. Publishing houses "Yauza", "EKSMO", 2004). After the signing of the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact in 1939 and the annexation of the territory of Latvia to the USSR, the organization was formally disbanded, but a number of its members went underground and joined a number of underground armed formations - Guardian of the Fatherland (Tevijas Sargs), "Latvian National Legion", "Military Organization for the Liberation of Latvia".
In 1931, the national organization "Thunder Cross" ("Perkonkrust") was created. By the fall of 1934, it numbered about 5 thousand people. In 1940, after the Red Army entered Latvia, the Perkonkrusta asset group recommended its members to join the Latvian Communist Party in order to retain valuable personnel.

Latvijas Sargi (Defenders of Latvia) was founded in May 1941. The organization set itself the task of restoring the former Latvia with the help of Germany. After the occupation of Latvia by the Germans, the "Defenders" were disbanded, but most of them went into the service of the new owners. In 1944, at the initiative of German intelligence, the organization was restored and its personnel were used to conduct subversive work in the Soviet rear.
At the end of June 1941, Wehrmacht soldiers entered the territory of the Baltic republics, a significant part of the local population welcomed them as liberators. The Germans entered Riga in early July. Not wanting the return of Soviet power to the Baltic states, many inhabitants of "Latvia" were not opposed to joining the German army in its "crusade against Bolshevism." The Baltic republics and Belarus were united by the Reichskommissariat for the Occupied Eastern Territories (headed by Alfred Rosenberg) into a single administrative territory called Ostland. Gauleiter of Schleswig-Holstein Heinrich Lohse was appointed Reichskommissar of the Ostlandia.
In turn, the RSHA within the boundaries of this territory was formed by the main SS district under the leadership of SS Obergruppenfuehrer and Police General Friedrich Eckeln with headquarters in Riga.

On the territory of "Latvia" the security service was headed by SS Brigadefuehrer and Police Major General Walter Schroeder. Schroeder arrived in the Latvian capital in August 1941 and headed the command of the Latvian city and rural police, which by this time had been formed by SS Brigadefuehrer Franz Walter Stahlecker.

Schroeder needed reliable national police units that could free German military units from the need to maintain public order in Latvia.


He gave the order to begin the formation of the so-called security battalions, called noise battalions. The Germans intended to use these battalions exclusively for performing police functions as part of the SS. Reference: “Hitler was extremely unfriendly towards the population of Ostland. At first, he was resolutely against the conscription of the population of these regions into the army and their use at the front. This manifested itself especially sharply ... in his response to the proposal of the "Latvian self-government" on the creation of 1-2 army corps, which was transferred to me through the imperial leader of the SS: after the war, this would have led to political demands on their part. In addition, there are no weapons for these purposes. However, it should be formed, perhaps large quantity security battalions to serve in the occupied Russian territory. " However, the heavy losses suffered by the German army during the winter (1941-1942) counteroffensive of the Red Army near Moscow forced Heinrich Himmler to transfer the noise battalions to the German military command as "cannon fodder" - reserve units. Subsequently, the Germans used Latvians as tampons - plugs, i.e. they plugged gaps in the front line, where the use of regular SS units was impractical. And since the plans of the leadership of the Third Reich did not include the formation of independent Baltic states, Alfred Rosenberg sent the Ostland Reichskommissar Heinrich Lohse instructions on how to deal with the population of the occupied regions. It, in particular, said: “... The purpose of the activities of the Reichskommissariat of Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania is to form the Reich Protectorate here, and then to turn this territory into a part of the Greater German Reich by attracting racially viable elements and resettlement measures to cooperation. The Baltic Sea should become an internal northern sea under the rule of Germany ... The Reichskommissariat of Ostland should prevent any attempts to create an Estonian, Latvian and Lithuanian state independent of Germany. It is also necessary to constantly make it clear that all these areas are subordinate to the German administration, which deals with peoples, not states ... As for the cultural life, it is necessary to suppress from the doorway attempts to create our own Estonian, Latvian, Lithuanian universities and colleges. There is no need to object to the opening of vocational schools and small technical educational institutions. " A. Rosenberg from the very beginning and quite clearly ordered to suppress any attempts to obtain any independence of the Baltic states. However, the instructions specifically emphasized that the inadmissibility of the creation of independent states "should not be publicly announced." Unsuspecting local nationalists, after the arrival of German troops, enthusiastically took up the formation of various governments. Rosenberg, as a former citizen of the Russian Empire, knew firsthand about the mentality of the Latvians, as well as other Balts, and that is why he was categorically against the existence of such peoples. Pay attention to the difference in the approaches of the Third Reich to the development of statehood and the people of Russia and the Baltic territories. On the liberated territory of Russia were restored Orthodox churches, universities and theaters, museums and libraries were resumed ... the structure of self-government was actively restored without the presence of military units of the Wehrmacht, whole divisions were formed as part of the Waffen SS and the Wehrmacht. However, some will object to me and remember the 15th and 19th SS divisions at the end of 1943, brought together in the VI SS Volunteer Army Corps (Latvian). And this is true, but the divisions were originally formed from Volksdeutsche. Subsequently, when in 1943 - 1944 the divisions were fragmented into separate parts and devoted to other military formations of the SS. by this time, due to a lack of manpower, the division began to accept Latvians and this led to serious defeats in the divisions' defense sectors and the death of their German commanders. Not knowing what to do with the Latvians, the Germans from the personnel of the 15th division formed three construction regiments, well, what could they do because the soldiers from the Latvians are useless. As a result, the 15th division generally ceased to obey the leadership of the SS and, long before the end of the Berlin operation, surrendered to the Americans, and the 19th division fled through the forests, finding itself in the Courland cauldron. Realizing the chain essence and pathological reckless cruelty of the Latvians, the leadership of the RSHA made a decision not to interfere with the self-cleaning of the territories from the Bolsheviks and Jews. On June 29, 1941, the head of the RSHA (Main Directorate of Imperial Security) G. Heydrich sent a directive to all the commanders of the Einsatzgruppen, which instructed "not to interfere with the aspirations of self-purification on the part of anti-communist and anti-Jewish circles in the occupied territories." The flywheel of murders and robberies was already spinning, and the direct executors would hardly have paid attention to this directive. It should be noted that the addressing and wording of the directive varies greatly with the use of the word "self-purification", emphasizing that the actions of robberies and executions were pure water self-activity on the part of unbelted thugs, and Heydrich asked his governors - "just not to interfere with them" ... They killed everyone, both their own and others. Cruel and no less cynical.

Russian ethnographer Svetlana Ryzhakova suggests that Russians and Latvians could get along better if they understood what is commonly called national characteristics.

Doctor of Historical Sciences, Leading Researcher at the Institute of Ethnology and Anthropology. N. N. Miklouho-Maclay Russian Academy Svetlana Ryzhakova has been researching Latvian culture, history and language for over 20 years. Based on the results of her scientific research, Svetlana wrote several books and dozens of articles.

Her latest work is Historica Lettica: national history and ethnic identity. On the construction and cultural referencing of the past of Latvians ”- is devoted to the question of how the Latvian national historiography models and perceives its history and how it is reflected in modern life.

It is curious that the second field of interest of Svetlana Ryzhakova lies at the other end of Eurasia - this is the history and culture of the peoples of South Asia. She is a specialist in Indian ethnography, Indian art ... and a professional Kathak dancer.

“Saturday” met with Svetlana and tried to understand why everything is so difficult for Russians and Latvians.

Where did you get such a passionate love for the Baltics?

As for Latvia, I was almost born here. As a child, grandmother and grandfather rented a summer cottage in Latgale every summer - many representatives of the St. Petersburg and Moscow intelligentsia rested in our neighborhood. At that time I practically did not hear the Latvian language, but I remember well the Latvian books in the small rural library Vertuksne not far from Malta. I liked looking at them and trying to understand what was written there. Later, having already started studying at the university, when I heard Latvian speech, I fell in love, I really liked its sound.

I had wonderful teachers. Academician Vladimir Nikolaevich Toporov, a representative of the famous Moscow-Tartu school, who knew all the Baltic (and not only) languages, taught us to be attentive to details, but to look at everything broadly. My other teacher, an outstanding Russian ethnographer, Japanese scholar, Eskimo scholar, and Caucasian scholar Sergei Aleksandrovich Arutyunov, called this the ability to alternate “looking through a microscope” with “looking through a telescope”.

I, too, have always paid a lot of attention to trifles, material culture, everyday life, specifics: this is an endless field of possibilities for understanding history and culture.

How do ethnic cultures arise? They do not exist forever, but appear, self-determine, disappear, re-form ... In a word, they live. It became interesting for me to trace how the originally peasant Latvian culture was gaining themes, outlining the configuration and facets: history, language, literature, religion.

Was the Latvian language easy for you?

Quite. I absorbed it in live communication with friends, polished it in courses at the Latvian Culture Society, sang and lived. By the way, my first teachers of Latvian and Hindi had the same name - Gita. Common name for Latvians and Indians.

The fact that the Latvian language is close to Russian does not even need to be proved. All language groups Indo-European family"Relatives", and Slavic and Baltic - generally "sisters". It is obvious from vocabulary and grammar that they diverged later than others.

Technically speaking, it is not difficult for Russians to learn Latvian. English and German are much more difficult. Everything is connected with personal desire and psychological attitudes.

Let's say Serbian and Croatian are practically the same language. But in a situation of ethnic tension, people perceive this language as two different ones and sometimes manage to “not understand” each other. I am sure that many attitudes exist only in consciousness or politics. Sometimes we can connect very distant things if we wish, and in very close things we can feel the boundaries.

However, if linguistically, the Baltic and Slavic spaces are very close, then culturally they differ somewhat more.

Latvian peasants and the Russian empire

What are the fundamental differences between Russian and Latvian cultures?

It is necessary to understand that Russian culture is essentially imperial, it has absorbed and assimilated many ethnic origins. Anyone who accepted the imperial consciousness became a Russian. In this sense, there is no difference in the concepts of "Russian" and "Russian". And in this, Russians are like the British, who also include many different ethnic cultures.

The Latvian culture, although it was under the influence of Russia for a long time, took shape and modeled outside the imperial model. The fact is that the Latvians were a peasant people for a long time, their intelligentsia began to emerge mainly in mid XIX century - then the nation began to be built. Russia as an empire had already existed for a long time.

In the era of young Latvians, several possible concepts of Latvia were played out (this can be seen from the biographies and works of Krisjanis Valdemars, Andrey Pumpurs, etc.). The idea of ​​detachment from Russian Empire and the local German noble government.

The Latvian ethnic culture was formed, relying on its own - the peasant and the new that was created. In the second half of the 19th century, the Latvian language was enriched with a significant layer of vocabulary. However, the Latvian peasant culture was also created in many contacts. Here, for example, the culture of the Protestant movement of the Hernguthers turned out to be very significant, and the movement of choral groups found powerful support.

Of course, Latvian culture was formed as Western (in comparison with Russian), under significant Catholic and Protestant influence. A lot of new things were created here, often with the participation of Russian capital and entrepreneurs, but it was here, and not somewhere else. There has always been a meeting place - although sometimes these meetings were tragedies (if you remember the wars). And sometimes - a blessing, if you look at what was created here.

What exactly do you like about Latvian culture?

Personally, I admire the ability of Latvians to explore cultural and social space. How do they know how to organize holidays, be together, clean cemeteries beautifully, honor the memory of their ancestors.

An interesting Latvian phenomenon is the desire for education. It is a known fact that Latvian riflemen, whose historical role is now assessed in different ways, in fact, in their Everyday life they loved to sing in choirs, go to museums. One of my colleagues, a historian from Izhevsk, discovered that one particular unit of Latvian riflemen did not create the horrors attributed to them there, in the Ural region, but they regularly wrote applications to the center: send us such and such a selection of books. Although in history there were all sorts of things, of course.

The cyclone of nationalism: surviving like chickenpox

The past year has become a year of particular tension and disagreements between the Russian and Latvian communities in Latvia. How do you explain this?

I am not a fan of Gumilyov's mystical theories, but the waves of nationalism are sometimes of some ... almost geological origin. They have their own ebb and flow, heat and cold, monsoons, cyclones. They suddenly begin, then suddenly come to naught.

With national tensions, something like that. While communicating with a person one-on-one, you can convince him of something, explain your position, agree (it is also very important to hear and understand). But as soon as the mass fad takes effect, the middle background - nothing can be done about it. It is not necessarily related to someone else's malice or the mafia. It cannot always be clearly explained by a specific reason. It must be experienced like chickenpox.

Modern Russia has also not escaped nationalist, even fascist sentiments. It's a good thing that they don't dominate yet. But even at my university you sometimes see a painted swastika. And this is in the heart of Moscow, which defeated fascism ... sad.

Visitors from Asia flock to Moscow - this is a natural process, conditioned by both economics and politics, but it sometimes irritates people who do not want to think about it. Nationalism is, among other things, and psychological phenomenon, shifting their worries to the “other”, “stranger”.

The theme of “others” is expressed in the Baltic region, and “other” may not necessarily be “Russian”, it can be gay, and someone else ... There are many fields of tension in this country, “Russian - Latvian” is only one of them ...

Gentlemen - Germans, Swedes, Poles, Russians

Why are the Germans, under whom the Latvians have suffered for centuries, are valued here, while the Russians are driven by carts?

Because there were Germans before, the theme of those sufferings is almost completely eliminated. You read the publications of the beginning of the 19th century - its relevance is clearly visible there. In fact, the ethnic concepts "Germans", "Poles", "Swedes", "Russians" are very often used as analogs or metaphors for the social stratum of masters, who have always been opposed to "Latvians" in the sense of a working people.

By its geographic location, Latvia has always been like this - a wind rose. It is as if it is pinned to the sea by strong states: Russia, Poland, Lithuania ...

In the words of the philosopher A. M. Pyatigorsky in an interview with the magazine Riigas Laiks, this is a “double periphery”. Wars are going from west to east, from east to west, like the winds that blow through these lands, which is why there is a "sharpening of the rock", which is trying with all its might to keep its shape.

That is why there has always been a heightened sense of "our own" and "someone else's", which gave rise to certain strategies of behavior, which you encounter in everyday life.

How can one be Russian in such an aggravated situation?

Here it is necessary to observe certain laws of life, which are written by history and geography itself.

Typologically, I can somewhat compare the situation in Latvia with India. There in different times came different groups, but not everyone was welcomed with open arms. For example, when the Zoroastrians who fled from Persia from Muslims in the 8th-9th centuries wanted to land in Gujarat, the local ruler sent a full glass of milk to their ship: they say there is no place for themselves. The Parsis sent the glass back, having poured a spoonful of sugar into the milk, thereby answering: we do not need much space, and milk will not worsen sugar!

The Parsis were then accepted, but forced to sign a charter - an obligation to accept the local costume, language, cuisine, not to spread their religion ... And they still carry out these points. They retained their language, but learned Gujarati, their costume is similar and not similar to Indian, the food is very similar to the local one, but has its own features, religion is completely preserved within the community (they marry only their own people and pass on knowledge in religious schools, among the priests).

Parsis are considered the best translators and entrepreneurs (they are very honest), they were the ones who founded the film industry in Bombay, many steel concerns ...

There are no beggars among them - they help each other like Jews. In general, the Parsis have taken their successful niche and have earned a good reputation. They are somewhat similar to Old Believers. They are no longer strangers to India, but still for the bulk of Hindu Indians they are “others”. Although there are a lot of such "others".

In general, in order to fit into any society, a certain strategy is needed. The USSR collapsed - this is a change in the map and landscape in the head. Many people do not yet live in a new map, but operate with the concepts of the past. This is a typical problem of overlapping two cards. It takes two or three generations to clear up the situation. As Mikhail Zhvanetsky said: "Time heals, but when you recover, it will go away!"

What role did the referendum on the Russian language play in this process?

In general, it seems to me that this is in some way an attempt to measure what the temperature is, what the state of mind. Kind of like a hands-on experiment. This kind of thing is very unifying opposite side, in this case Latvians. Compare with the situation in Ukraine. Generally speaking, it is clear that the everyday role of the Russian language is strong in Latvia. It is also clear that the younger generation of Russians knows Latvian.

You just need to understand that a significant part of Latvians are worried about the demographic and economic picture, the outflow of the population. And the only recipe here is respect, a desire to understand and time.