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The Other in the Perception of Latvians during World War II
tion with the Soviets and eliminate collaboration with the approaching Nazi re¬
gime (Cina, no. 134, 1941: 6). A knight on horseback, reminiscent of a character
from a mask parade, is represented by two Wehrmacht soldiers. His approach brings
hunger, terror, war and slavery.
Older people all remembered very well what the Germans had done in the First
World War. The forces of Bermondt had also stolen and murdered, and had
done all manner of villainies (...) If Soviet power had not been established and if
[Soviet representatives] hadn’t behaved the way they did and done such abomi¬
nations—murdered, imprisoned and deported to Siberia, then we wouldn't
have welcomed the Germans with flowers (...) but after the horrors perpetrated
by the Soviet system, we indeed welcomed the Germans as liberators. Although
after that we saw that it was nothing better (E 74 247)."
They [the Germans] were perhaps more polite. Intelligent, in any case. [The
Russians] came in all violent, but these... But there was arrogance from one side
and the other. [The arrogance] could certainly be felt (E 74 329).”°
Due to the historical situation and through the efforts of Nazi propaganda the
images of the Black Knight and the German baron were replaced by the image of
the German soldier, who positively shines in comparison with the Red Army sol¬
dier in the background. This image is not present in caricatures, but can be found
on posters (Fig. 75). In addition, in photographs of soldiers from both armies the
visual superiority of the German soldier is clearly shown (thorough and accurate,
corresponding to the image of the military, Fig. 76).
The Nazi propaganda focused on “liberation from Soviet tyranny’. A priority
propaganda slogan was “The German Army—liberator” (Fig. 75). The same show
that was staged by Wehrmacht propaganda in all the major cities of the Soviet
Union was also staged in Riga. This show was filmed and photographed and later,
during the occupation years, was tirelessly repeated to the Latvians. July 1% was
declared a day of celebration in the calendar of the occupying regime, and as this
day approached new posters appeared to explicitly express gratitude for liberation.
Conclusion
In conclusion, we must first say that the huge propaganda machine, covering all
channels, even such a form of interpersonal communication as rumours, inevitably
made an impression on individual perceptions.
In the last six years before the country was occupied, an authoritarian system
had existed in Latvia. The absence of the opportunities offered by democracy dis¬
9 M 1927 Bauska.
20 F 1935 Valmiera.
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