| Latvia: Year of Horror | ON THE NIGHT OF JUNE 14, 1941 |
ON THE NIGHT OF JUNE 14, 1941
On this night, Latvians discovered fully the fate assigned to them. On this night, they recognized the real face of communism. Women, children, the aged -- none was spared. On this night, the Soviets arrested the cream of Latvian families, delivered them to railroad stations, and, in cross-barred cattle cars, shipped them to the Soviet Union. Thus, on this night alone, 14,693 of Latvia's best sons and daughters were torn from the heart of the nation.
With these horrible deportations, Latvians entered the worst stage of their tribulations and sufferings.
Room from which a Latvian family was dragged and taken on an untraceable
route of torture.
In an archive left by the Bolsheviks is a map showing plans for collection and loading (!) locations for Latvian deportees. The designations are a circle for a collection location and the triangle for a loading location. Cattle cars were provided for transport.
FEW PHOTOGRAPHS WERE TAKEN TO SHOW THE CONDITIONS DURING THE DEPORTATIONS OF LATVIANS. RAILWAY CARS AT OGRE STATION
Relatives of the unfortunate deportees crowd the doors of one of the cars. CHEKISTS forbad relatives to give the deportees food, drinking water or warm clothing.
The unfortunate people arrested had to endure many days and nights without food and water over a journey of thousands of kilometers.
THE DOOR IS CLOSED
The unfortunate deportees for the last few moments gaze at a country many will never see again. The armed CHEKA guards take care of security. How could women, children and old people put up any resistance? What threat did the communists see in Latvian men armed only with a nationalistic spirit and a determination to endure?
Found by the railside, dropped out of a window, is a deportee's description of their fate, handwritten in a printed book. Carved into an aluminium drinking cup is a deportee's last wish: MAY LATVIA LIVE FOREVER!
