Latvian President Says His Nation Should Bow In Respect To Latvian Waffen-SS Vets

[CelticViking]

Latvian President Andris Berzins said on Tuesday the nation should bow to its Waffen-SS veterans, many of whom died for their fatherland, the LNT TV channel reported.

The announcement came ahead of March 16 celebrations of the anniversary of the Latvian Waffen-SS Legion’s founding in 1943. The date is marked by a parade of former Latvian Legion members in Riga...

http://en.ria.ru/world/20120228/171590510.html

[Styggnacke]

Soldiers serving in the Legion did not share Nazi ideology and upon conscription were not required to swear loyalty to Germany or Hitler. A report by the commander of the 15th Division, Oberführer Adolf Ax on 27 January 1945 stated: "They are first and foremost Latvians. They want a sustainable Latvian nation state. Forced to choose between Germany and Russia, they have chosen Germany, because they seek co-operation with western civilization. The rule of the Germans seems to them to be the lesser of two evils." This perspective was largely the result of the Soviet occupation between 1940 and 1941, called "The Terrible Year" (Latvian: baigais gads) during which tens of thousands of Latvian families were executed or deported to Siberia with men separated from the women and children to break down resistance.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Latvian_Legion

They were freedom fighters, not Nazis. But that's how RIA Novosti will portray it and use it in the Russian propaganda against their Baltic neighbours. It's just disgusting.

[Magyar the Conqueror]

Latvian President Andris Berzins said on Tuesday the nation should bow to its Waffen-SS veterans, many of whom died for their fatherland, the LNT TV channel reported.

http://en.ria.ru/world/20120228/171590510.html

[Talvi]

Why would you even read news from a site that ends with .ru and moreover.. why would you believe it?

[Magyar the Conqueror]

Why would you even read news from a site that ends with .ru and moreover.. why would you believe it?

To show the lengths Russian propaganda goes to.

[Magyar the Conqueror]

To be honest I hope its true, Latvia had the highest decorated foreign SS division, and fighting for freedom against Moskal scum is nothing to be ashamed of.

[Waidewut]

Well, this news report seems informative and doesn't contain anything false.