Latvia topples massive 79-meter Soviet-era monument | DW News
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- Опубликовано: 25 авг 2022
- A concrete obelisk topped with Soviet stars, which was the centerpiece of a monument commemorating the Red Army's victory over Nazi Germany, was demolished in Latvia's capital, Riga, on Thursday. Two diggers with pneumatic hammers brought the 79-meter (261-foot) obelisk down to the applause of numerous onlookers. A number of large-scale bronze statues had already been removed from the monument in the preceding days. In view of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Latvia issued a decree that all objects glorifying totalitarian regimes must be destroyed by November 15. This included the Soviet victory monument erected in 1985.
"This monument was a steady reminder of our occupation and the associated fate of many people: deportation, repression, and so on. We do not need this kind of monument," Latvian President Egils Levits said during a livestream of the demolition. Mayor Martin Stakis called the demolition a "historic moment for Riga and all of Latvia."
Divisive monument
Some members of Latvia's ethnic Russian community had protested the removal of the monument. Every year on May 9, thousands of ethnic Russians gather at the monument to commemorate the victory over Nazi Germany in 1945. Most Latvians see this date as the start of the Soviet occupation, which lasted until 1991. A group of activists attempted to demolish the monument with dynamite in 1997 but the explosives detonated unexpectedly, killing two people. Russia's invasion of Ukraine in late February has prompted authorities in several Eastern European countries to speed up the removal of Soviet-era symbols. Latvia's parliament voted in May to demolish the victory monument, and Riga's city council followed suit.
Russian backlash
Riga's monument was dismantled a week after neighboring Estonia took down a Soviet-era memorial of its own in Narva, a city with a large Russian-speaking minority. Tallinn had accused Russia of using such monuments to stir up tensions. There were concerns that Moscow might try to exploit differences between the Russian-speaking minorities and the national governments in Estonia and Latvia to destabilize the countries. Estonia's removal of the Soviet monument prompted the Russian hacker group Killnet to hit back with a major wave of cyberattacks on public and private facilities last week
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USSR sent many ethnic Latvians to there deaths in Siberia during the occupation and replaced them with ethnic Russians. This was their policy throughout the conquered lands after WW2.
This I learned from a Lithuanian immigrant to the USA who was formerly an Officer in the Soviet Army.
My great grandfather was one of them and survived. Thankfully broke free and hit the guy who tortured them with a chair in the head. The deportations is one of the main reasons this monument was so hated in Latvia.
What did the Soviets call this policy of relocating indigenous populations and replacing them with Russians? It happened so many times that they must have given it a code name or something.
The czars started this process and they called it Russification
@@edgardoacosta591 that’s a terrible name 😂😂
@@TheNimes 🤣🤣🤣
It's not a toppling of a monument, just a special downsizing operation 😂
🤣👏💪
Exactly!
It's just a Good Will gesture.
This monument was devoted to the memory of the Soviet soldiers who died during WWII. And who freed this country from the fascism. It’s not funny.
@@pani2282 Times have changed. Ussr was a dark and evil place. They fought for their own survival, but subjugated millions.
Latvia is a sovereign, independent and democratic law-based society not a Soviet colony, and Putin and his supporters have no right to claim it as theirs.
Russians will remember that.
@@Red-Army1970 pretty sure that's the point, they seem prone to forget.
@@dawsongillies6925 latvia faced with a brutal reality.
Too bad 50% of Latvian population are russians so civil war is close!
@@Red-Army1970 true that. Luckily nato membership means that Latvia will not have to face any millitary intervention alone (if it comes to that).
In Latvia that soviet built 'monument' was called the pole of shame.
cringe
@@aperks 🤓
The real shame is Latvia SS division and neonazism in Latvia.
@@aperks Like the entire red army.
@@aperks cry little baby
The divide mentioned in the video has always been there. And the celebrations shown by the monument have always been calm but with with certain negativity towards latvians. It's not a great sign when you walking through the centre of Riga and see groups of people with Russian flags, shouting in russian while showing that Latvia is part of the occupiers.
Well, such enemy people should get forced to leave the country in my opinion.
If the Russians living in Latvia don't like it they can go elsewhere, another place in Europe to live or back to Russia.
@@iggyblitz8739 No place wants them.
What a insult to Latavians to have Russians living there and enjoying the free world while they holding a Russian flag!!
@@timknin yeah it's not just Latvians. Anywhere you have a large Russian diaspora, you're bound to have things like that
i for one am glad the Latvians destroyed these monuments. I'm stunned they haven't destroyed the communist war memorial near Berlin yet either
Congratulations to the people of Latvia, as well as Lithuania and Estonia - destroy the symbols of the shackles of the past!
You disrespectful brat, this is a monument for the soldiers that died in the war. How disrespectful and ungrateful one should be spit in the face of the people who dies to save people against the vermacht. You must be a SS grandchild.
Pity you people of Lithuania and Estonia, destroying part of your history because of western influence, What is the difference between you and ISIS who go around destroying tombs in Iraq and other parts of the world to erase the historical facts as much as the Egyptian chiselled statures. What wrong with you people!.
@No Thankyou they got EUmoney an are Nato protected an they mistreat russophone as Ukrainian mistreat them
Yes, their right. But the countries have to return all the values of the nobility, either directly or pay large compensations to the nobility. International law will require it if the nobility demands this.
@@louisecorchevolle9241 vatnik 🤡
W Latvia best regards from Poland 🇵🇱🤝🇱🇻
Dziękuje Ci bardzo przyjacielu,long live Poland,long live Ukraine.
Great 👏👏👏 May the Latvian citizens live in peace and freedom ❤️❤️❤️ Greetings from Sweden 🇸🇪
Tack från Lettland
POOR Sweden, like Karachi
Since this event - straight opposit. And our goverment even work on more limitation for russians here in Latvia. Our president just ruined all the peace.
@@HELESPONTify Karachi is at least 1 million times better than Moscow! 😂
And Pakistan is not a dictatorship like Russia! It is at least possible to call a war a "war" in Pakistan.
And btw, I follow the 'Trybals' channel, very nice people!
Dont touch me swedenistan! I dont want imigrants.
We should do the same in Germany and remove all the communist era monuments, those represent as much misery as fascism.
Think about contemporary Monsters in Germany! Corrupt Scholz, evil Von der Layen...
@@fabioasterix750 and what has it to do with his comment?
I agree, these belong in museums just like swastikas, not on the street.
Removing things like that create Happy people for a week and angry people for a life time .
Yes, all the monuments to K.Marx.
Democracy forever erase these symbols of oppression
Nope.
I love democracy so much!
But only when the people are voted in that i like!
Otherwise there is fascism!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Democracy can be just as oppressive if it’s forced on you
In the US, 3 people died shot by the cops everyday.
demoncracy is the largest oppression today 🤡
How about a PEACE and FRIENDSHIP Memorial in its place? Celebrating Long Lasting Peace in Europe and Friendship among European Nations.
Good idea. But that location is not the right one. At least, not now. Because of incresining anger from russians. Any monument will be demolished constantly. I am absolutely sure of it and i even understand it. As long as i remember myself, russians went there on may 9. to put thousands of flowers. Like thousands! It should be added that the flowers at the Latvian Freedom Monument had never even third of it.
No. Let there be latvian victory park which was planned in 1930's
Let's actually win the war first shall we?
haven't you noticed the recent peaceful war in Ukraine?
I wouldn't be celebrating peace just yet with Russian forces close to their doorstep.
Latvians are good people, and we should commemorate their brave resistance against the soviets in the beginning of the 90ies instead.
What brave resistance they were given up independence they didn't have to fight for it
Every day more and more people in the West are turning against their governments, these tiny quasi-nations are begging to be their new bootlickers, I just can’t have any respect for people like that
We should also commemorate the brave resistance of the Eastern Germans that fought for their national re-unification. Particularly, the great German resistance leader, Herr Gorbaschow
@@petarcvele1243 You that unaware? They had the protests and even formed a million person line as a recall. They knew the risks of openly opposing the regime, but they still went out. If russians could do that today, the war in ukraine would be over.
@@petarcvele1243 You may want to recall the coup they thwarted... that doesn't really rhyme with "given up", now does it?
According to Russia, the Latvians didn't topple the monument, but a Russian soldier mistakenly leaning on it. 😂
No my friend, in Soviet Russia, monuments topple you
That’s so true 😂😂😂
))
I heard it was someone smoking with a bottle of vodka
A small earthquake did it !
No, it is the wind!
No ! definitely the heat melt it!
great job latvia! No more friendship and respect for these criminals
lol
They’ll be back next week and beg for energy gas etc
@@samuelgalea7679 Week passed. No begging so far
But fully sell yourself to other criminals 😂
Great job on the 'Special One-Way Repositioning Operation.'
Ethnic Russians in Latvia can always opt to move to Russia, right?
Why would they, being full fledged citizens of Latvia?
@@user-pc4i8ege55 Full fleged "Non-Citizens"
yea thats what latvian government now trying to force them to do
@taj majal they don't want to because it's soo bad in russia and russian culture is making everything around you worse that's why they are ruining latvia too😀😀😀
@@-kenjo-421reminds me something 🤔
Jawohl
It was said that the UDSSR had plans at hand for its demise, which included longterm russian settlement in occupied territory, so that at a later stage should the UDSSR have fallen, russia could more easily regain control in these areas. I imagine Putin would be quite familiar with that strategy.
That's why Latvia has a Russian minority. Stalin included small parts of the Russian Empire within his borders of these now independent states. He never foresaw a day when the Soviet Union would collapse from within. Mr. Putin is simply standing in Stalin's shoes. What a wonderful "leader" to emulate.
Russia has been building it's empire for centuries. They have perfected moving populations to secure ground.
If effectly happened in Moldova.
@@jimthain8777 Putin didn´t really ever make a secret about it... It just had been ignored for buisness reasons...
This tactic is nothing new, as early as 1532 Machiavelli's book "The Prince" mentioned colonial settlements as a favorable means of occupation.
My father is Latvian and we now live in Australia. Build a new monument in the same place to honour Latvia and their lost sons and daughters.
Problem solved.
We already have one of those, so that space can stay empty for the time being
No need! We have a place to commemorate the fallen soldiers and it's called "Brāļu kapi". Normal Latvians go there. But most ethnic russians in Latvia who went to the giant monument choose to commemorate on 9th of May by getting drunk, using forbidden memorabilia, fireworks, leaving garbage and getting confrontational with local population. Covid made restrictions and now, after war in Ukraine, we said - enough. No more glorying of Red Army and occupation, because that's what it was about.
@@FVBmovies From your comment I get the feeling you would like to get rid of those "polluting " Russians. Now's your chance. Nobody will report on a genocide of Russians.
@@FVBmovies I hope it doesnt go down to ethnic cleasing of latvian russians, because thats how it starts
@@mrsam0496 It will also start WW3.
Who knows difrenc between word Russian and Urla knows... That this Monument was nothing about ww2... It was about disrespect, it's wery mental and people who not from Latvia, will not understand it.
👏👏Well done Latvia!! Let Putin's dreams of a new Soviet Union be utterly crushed.
if Putin had not have invaded Ukraine well all these remaining Soviet monuments would probably have stayed in place and would still be tourist attractions. Now the destruction of all remaining Soviet monuments in Eastern Europe is now guaranteed and following that the destruction of any vestiges of Russian imperialism. The Soviet war memorial in Berlin probably not be there much longer either. Nice one Putin
So fool🤣 I would keep it for Turismo🤣
@@pedrojulio1960 go to Moscow Putin bootlicker if you want to see their garbage.
@@pedrojulio1960 you mean tourism? What kind of tourist wants to see that? All those who are interested in that bs aren’t even allowed to go to Lithuania lol
Should have moved it to a museum I do not like seeing history destroyed
Welldone Latvia.
А что ты так печешься, семь раз не латыш, не русский!
@@sz6764 Freedom to express himself, unlike what exists in RF
@@mis4nthr0p3 А что ж тогда конспирируешься, если такая свобода? НЕ побй в колодец из которого пьёшь!
Congratulations to Latvians from Poland!
Thank you Poland from the free world in helping Ukraine.
what about making garbage dump in katyńska
@@RECHOOSENONE what about what about what about blah blah blah what about you GFY terrorbot
@@RECHOOSENONE what about this what about that hows about you get some bitches on your deck
Do you like cousin od John Demianiuk?
Bravo Latvia!! Excellent job!!! 🇱🇻🇺🇲🇺🇦
I HOPE THEY VISIT YOUR MOTHER AND WIFE....
For what???
For freedom away from any RuZZian influence.
@@marvelchuruk7052 For giving you the finger.
Why dont you demolish all European monument in US to make Indians happy. Do you have that courage.
While it is necessary to remember the past, we should not cling to it.
And soviet union may be should of stayed within it borders... or russian empire should never went to Paris. You may not cling to past but always pay respect to people who died to give you your life and freedoms
@@c4USSR72 "always pay respect to people who died to give you your life and freedoms"
Just because the butchers Stalin, Kruschev and Brezhnev finally dying and leaving behind a rotting, dying society gave us our freedoms back, doesn't mean I won't spit on their memory for all the evil they've done.
@@roadent217 my reference was to napoleonic wars, ww2. I mean you can add turkish conflicts too, but those were never about land.
In napoleonic war and ww2 both conflicts were looking to create servants of Easter Europe. In both cases russian empire and ussr could of stayed at the border and never go all the way, which in turn would create waste land that span from Germany to Russia. This monument was to respect soldiers who gave their lives so people in that gap of Europe would continue to live and prosper. People who died weren't just russians.... Ukrainians Kazakh Belarusian Polish Latvians Estonians and many more.
@@roadent217 You are spitting on yourself then.
@@roadent217 finally I found someone who thinks like me, cheers mate 👍🏻
There has to be a way to create a memorial that honors those who died in WW2 without celebrating the Soviet Union.
There's aleady a massive cemetery for them with a memorial. This monument was just exploited to spread Russian ideology.
in Greece we celebrate the 28th of October as national day , Ohi Day commemorates the rejection by Greek prime minister Ioannis Metaxas of the ultimatum made by Italian dictator Benito Mussolini on 28 October 1940.
Strange - Soviet Union won the war with fashists
We have them in Britain and France nothing to do with the Soviet Union
There is. There's one in Torņkalns. Victims of Communist Terror Memorial..
Does anyone remember that the Second World War was started jointly by an attack on Poland, Germany on September 1, 1939, and Russia on September 17, 1939. This was the result of the Ribentrop-Molotov Pact.
Ruzzians and capitalists like to forget those details
Yes everyone remembers. It's all you guys ever talk about.
Dude, this stuff was said about 10 million times just in the last decade...Yes, we know!!!
Russians don't know it. Their history books are fairy tales. They love considering themselves as WWII biggest heroes and liberators and put everything else aside.
@@TOFKAS01 And yet choose to ignore. You fav tankie was fasch.
Better late than never! Great job 🇱🇻
Of course you are right dear friend. Now people in US need to demolish all European monument so that American Indians could celebrate it.
Yes you are right American Indians aslo should think like that.
@@greatgalaxy2118 US government formally apologized for the occupancy of Indian land and has been paying lots of benefits to the local tribes, even though most of the occupation happened during the imperial times when the US didn't exist. The USSR and Russia never apologized for the occupancy of the Baltic countries and never paid any reparation.
Better would be never unless both sides agreed. This was one sided and the contract was broken by the Latvian side.
@@greatgalaxy2118 they should. And they did.
As for you, cope harder. Baltics and Europe are free to do exactly what you CLAIMED they were doing for over a decade. Your surprised Pikachu face is priceless.
Anyone wanting a reminder of the "good old Soviet Russian" times, visit the KGB museums in Tallin, Vilnius and Riga. And remember that Putin grew up as part of the KGB.
Можно ещё американские комиксы про СССР почитать, в них больше правды чем в этом музее.
@@user-gm1dr3kx1u I don't think people read American comics for news, much like they shouldn't rely on Russian state media for the truth!
There are accounts by people who suffered at the hands of the KGB as well as accounts by those who worked for the KGB, and those who dealt with the KGB in other ways. Also, papers released and notorised by the KGB.
Some research with an open mind will help if you're more interested in finding out the facts rather than defending those who invaded.
@@user-gm1dr3kx1u Если вы считаете, что русские не глупы, прочитайте сообщения русских.
@@user-gm1dr3kx1uCould you try using a language that isn't a downgrade of greek? Serf.
Great Latvia God bless you all
No they promote sin The Father it -
@@jorgeabuauad Sin? You do know that the USSR was also largely anti-religious right? lmao
What a beautiful view to see at our brother country.
make a park area out of it, turn the lake into a fountain/pool, where people can swim in the summer.
Richtig so! Ich verstehe generell nicht, warum die nicht früher abgerissen wurden. Dieses Zeichen des bösen muss weg.
Putin hat nichts mit der UDSSR zu tun. Er ist ein Mafia Gangster der Geld und sich selbst liebt, die UDSSR wollte eine bessere Welt erschaffen.
@@llothar68 Das stimmt, aber er nutzt es für sich, die Erinnerungen und es ist ein gutes Zeichen gegen die Unterdrückung durch die UdSSR gegenüber Latvia.
"Those who can make you believe absurdities can make you commit atrocities." Voltaire
It was a pretty atrocious statue
S Winegar : Atrocious like most Soviet Era architecture and atrocious like the whole Soviet Era was.
Is this a comment about toppling the monument or Putins leadership in Russia?
Exactly. "Saving The World from fascism" is unimaginably absurd, when all You need to see is Molotov-Ribentrop pact. That man's grandparents were killed in a war their own leaders wanted and started.
@@paidwitness797 Both.
About time. Could have been made 30 years ago!
Not really. There was an agreement.
Could not, russia agreed to give independence and to withdraw their military bases from Latvia, if Latvia will sign agreement, that all ussr monuments in Latvia will stay untouched and Latvia will take care of them, also we have 25% local russians living in Latvia. And of course threat, that russia would invade in case we start to destroying monuments. We are small country with low population. By the way, that is russias tactics, to send in russians in other countries(they used that when they occupied half europe) and then, to threat nations. They invaded Donbas and Luhansk by saying, that they are saving russians in those regions. I wish that Latvia could send all of russians back where they belongs, because it is a threat to our existence ! Well, it depends who rules the russia of course. In this case, it is a threat !
Wonder if being in NATO will be good enough defence ?
@@Alex-pj8nz imagine being so salty that a country actually decides over it's own territory, that you comment a threat on the internet
@@Alex-pj8nz More than enough! Russia underdoing their own legacy! NATO are very strong, clearly visible in Ukraine
God bless Ukraine and keep her people safe and strong!
GODdog=say10
BEleß?
Ugrain*
PEople=Idiots
Asafe" ISis'aPRI/SonBOX
USSR had more Ukranian leaders than Russians. Trotsky, Ukranian, Kruscherov Ukranian, Breznev, Ukranian. Even Gorbachev was of Ukranian descent.
Stalin who ruled the USSR for 31 years with an iron fist was Georgian.
Europeans have gone brain dead.
USSR had 15 different republics. Russia was just one of them.
@@danwelterweight4137 Russia was the one in control. The rest 14 would have gladly left the soviet union if not Russia. Once there was a right opportunity they all declared independence.
Latvian people can make a lot of money with this monument 🤣 but they destroy. 🤣
Yes. May God's grace and mercy abound in Ukraine. May she be blessed and prosper greatly!
Soviet victory just replaced one brutal dictator with another.
Beautiful.
Dont you want to see more beautiful in America, destroying all European monuments by American Indian, Lol.
@@arturobuco Yes Zombie.....
@@greatgalaxy2118 what does America have to do with that monument getting destroyed?? Didn’t your dog Putin educated u well??
@@greatgalaxy2118 Ah another fascist troll it seems. Drawing false parallels. Notice that the west is in the middle of reconciliation wirh first nations while...russia is in the process of bullying or attempting to bully its former vassal states. But the alleged fascist troll will try to deflect, or project, or spam irrelevnt info, or lie if theory is correct. Not saying its a confirmed russian fascist troll yet though.
@@abcdedfg8340P.S. Friend guess you are now totally enlightened with the FACIST WEST, and its war mongering TENDENCY through out the course of history of Human Civilization.
BTW, If you see the Graph of war/killing, The West ranks in the top position.
We fought the wrong enemy.
That was Patton.
@@alexsilent5603 Molotov was a nonwhite like every other R*ssian, and his memory will be erased just like that of every other R*ssian.
Interesting how many people go:
"Russia is best. Russia will take Latvia"
You don't even know what Latvia went trough to get out of the soviet union
Some will go: "What? Latvia didn't do anything to get independence"
Yes they did Latvians did a lot to try and get their independence
Barricades, The Baltic line. Latvia couldn't start to get a real military because WW2 started
Latvians were sent to gulag's or killed for speaking their own language
so were other country citizens
Some people in this very comment section for some reason love the red army
That monument wasn't a war monument it was a victory monument it staying there made Latvia look like it was still a soviet country
It isn't, Latvia is a independent sovereign country that still stands to this day
And is now around 105 years old from the first time of independence
Long live our country Latvia
I read lots of comments on videos like these. Westerners try to be objective, by hearing out all sides of the story. Some of westerners might think "russian population in the Baltics have good point!" No they don't! Do not be deceived! Those people, living here in European Union, for decades, without even trying to learn the language and worshiping the past, are not right. They did not become second class citizens after the fall of USSR, they were not victims of taking away something from them, as they claim. They had been brought here and settled after WWII by USSR. Thus Orcland is trying to pretend these lands have always been theirs. They have not been orkish! Baltic values, mentality, culture and lifestyle have always been leaning towards the west, even during USSR times. Yet they dirtied our cultures and it is very hard to get rid of it's effects: culture of basic strength, hillbilyism (maroz), alcohol culture, homophobia, misogynism, hatred towards the different, etc. We have to change; take the best from the West, reject their negatives, completely reject soviet past and forge a new future.
Absolutely, well said.
I'm really not seeing many Westerners doing any such thing.
I completely agree with your about the Russians in the Baltic States (and the Ukraine) but slinging mud at your allies is a silly move.
@@edwardkenworthy7013 I do find commentary from them. Unless they are russki, pretending to be yous.
@@exlibrisas There are an awful lot of Westerners buying into and reproducing Russian rhetoric. Even if it's not being flagrantly pro-Russian... just picking up pieces like the complaints about energy or homelessness or 'it's not our business'. Russia are masters at identifying fissures that can be exploited and at muddying the waters. The West (and Ukraine, in my view) have done a really poor job of representing the jeopardy in this situation. The consequence is to not appreciate the pressing relevance of the struggle to each and everyone of us. I think that there have been reasons for playing down the danger, but I also think that they have ultimately been counterproductive and, as such, a different presentation is required.
@@maireboy Feel better?
Love and respect from Poland to Latvia, we respect you. 🇵🇱❤️🇱🇻
Thank you Respect to Poland 🇵🇱 even more! 🇵🇱 🇱🇻
Poland needs to demolish the Palace of culture and Science.
Please don't be hypocrites.
Księstwo Kurlandii i Semigalii - lenno najjaśniejszej Rzeczypospolitej.
What about making the toilet in katyńska ?
@@boleslavsavdax282 Polija ir Lietuvas Karalistes daļa
Nice job Latvia, a monument of Soviet occupation is gone.
Are you a fascist?
Its an idiotic thing to do and they will regret it.
@@piccalillipit9211 the idiotic things they will regret is joining to russia
@@piccalillipit9211 yea
How they will regret it exactly? just curious
Congrats Latvians!! Greatings from Lithuania!
❤
Ačiū,brachka!
Full support from Lithuania. Well done!
Wahsinn, danke my fellow national socialists, we will get our revenge on Russia for der krieg and wipe out the people of the Donbass.
That fall and splash is simply wonderful. Hope it will be repeated in other places.
You'll be pleased to know that all soviet monuments in Latvia are to be removed by november. Elements deemed historically important will end up in museums.
The brainwashing feels good, huh?
Why- are you fashist?
He is saying it's great that they topple the monuments of their own slavery. Which I agree. It should be toppled.
@@springbloom5940 I wouldn't know. Tell me what it's like.
Well done Latvia, we need to erase the occupiers memorials. Support from Poland.
And one day, some ukranian people will forget nationalist ideas and things like statues of stepan bandera will be destroyed 😉
🇺🇦🤝🇵🇱
Support Poland and Latvia from Ukraine 💪
It surprises me that they would mention that 1/4 of the population is of Russian descent, without any mention of WHY that is so. It's not like most of those people's ancestors immigrated in any normal way.... rather, there were some drastic and forceful exchanges. In Estonia, about a third of the native population was deported, often to be forced labor in the gulags. They were replaced by Russians; likewise forcefully moved, like pawns, but also infused with a sense of superiority towards their host nation and its existing population. If you haven't been in the midst of anything like that, it will be very hard to imagine what it might be like.
Great move! Thank You Latvia.
Ethnic Russians living in Latvia can always go to Russia. They could have as many monuments to Russian fascism as they like back in in their home country of Russia.
Ethnir Russians in Ukraine will go in Russia with land they lived for centuries
@@m.i.9832 more like land they've lived on since Stalin's days..
The russians aren't ethnic to Latvia they are occupiers, the russians occupied Latvia and killed the ethnic Latvians. Hope Latvians deports all russian occupiers, those russian that respect Latvia and Latvian language can stay in russia but need to learn Latvian language
This is called racism.
@@yuwan Idk if some people even realize this.
The symbols of empire, slavery and tyranny go away. It is a victory for freedom.
it is sure that by not speaking forget all the positive aspects that the USSR could bring, and to what point its fall has been catastrophic for the large part of the population
@@Alex-lz3ig yes what the ussr could bring was god but what it did bring was nothing but misery for the people whose countries were occupied.
Don't be surprised other forms of tyranny will appear from now on.
Well done! Greetings from Estonia
Berlin should do the same! And give the space back to peaceful people.
Yes !!! Totally agree!!! The one in Berlin has to go
@@richardgonzales6289 You will provoke a civil war. You clearly don’t know the eastern Germans.
@@MetallicReg East Germans hammered the Berlin wall into pieces with only handtools when they got liberated from sovjet occupation.
@@drunkenpumpkins7401 Again. You don’t know what you are speaking about.
The unification has nothing to do with it.
@@MetallicReg Eastern Germans are less evolved Germans.
They are poorer, more religious and more fanatic.
Their way of thinking is similar to Russians.
Proud of you Latvia
noting to be proud of.... I say this as Latvian...noting to be proud of.
@@LambofSuffering wym?
@@LambofSuffering Latvian with a ruSSian name? Are you one of those who ruSSia aims to "protect" in the future by invading Latvia with a BS justification?
@@thomaslunde5014 yes
@@LambofSuffering Well ruSSia will never invade a NATO country, so you can just keep dreaming. Or you can just join the rest of us who just wants to live in peace and prosperity without any cowardly fascist governments claiming to be fighting against fascism. Do you realize what happened to the fascist sympathizers after ww2? And are you prepared to face the same consequences?
Full support from 🇸🇪!
Now Berlin needs to do the same.
Mind your own busines ;)
@@queenkurumi8504 I'm sorry, but the Red statues have to come down, m8.
@@california816 No they not in this case Auswitz need to be still demolished those camp why should stay in the first place which build by nazist ? 😉
Fuck yea!! The soviet union will now continue to remain a distant memory
Can't delete history
Of course,but this will increase prosecution of Russians
@@joexavier4070 Lies.
We should not forget so it does not comeback.
@@lukaszczernal It did in Ukraine. even with monuments
For decades Eastern Europeans tolerated Soviet monuments, in spite of Putin's behaviour.
All these monuments would have remained and been respected if only Russia hadn't started to act like a barbarian horde.
And how is Putin related to Soviet Union? I think its you who is acting like a barbarian and burning books.
@@Nobody-Nowhere Putin is the president of Russia, and the Soviet Union was just the Russian Empire under another name. If the Soviet Union really had nothing to do with Russia, Russians wouldn't be crying their eyes out when Soviet monuments get removed.
Not German’s problem, they do what they want and it’s not a concern what happens next.
@@MrSonofsonof isn't that pretty much how Soviet Union was formed? It was russian Soviets who created USSR with the puppet governments of other founding nations being under their control.
It was Russian Soviets who made all the rules and had final say in everything.
It was Russia in all but name.
Even without Putin these monuments of russian opression should be leveled to the ground regardless.
The process was started in 1997 but sadly not finished.
Well, it's done now. ;)
Congrats Latvia from USA!👍✌
West Virgini, Lousiana, Alabama, Missisipi whorse that Ucraina, people sleep in car
hahah usa promote depravity and cultural marxism
Hope you realise that many countries around the world regard the American flag as a symbol of murder, tyranny and oppression.
😂
🇺🇸🇱🇻🇺🇦
Some (including BBC) refer to this as a war memorial which I don't think it is legitly, it's a Soviet victory monument, something that literally stakes out Latvia as Soviet territory. Actual war memorials always need to be respected (they typically aren't by the Soviets...) but in this case, good riddance to bad garbage.
any other (actual) war memorial: great, we shoud always remember our history and people who fought for us
Soviet ww2 war memorial (victory monument): nah we dont need this garbage here
I hope they finally do the same with those two memorials in Berlin.
Does memorials were placed for defeating nazisam and for people that have bean kiled by Germans but I think you don't like that soviets won
Agreed
@@petarcvele1243 Those rapist memorials
You probably wanted the Germans to win ww2.
@@Zopiexx read my previous comment.
When you harass a nation for what they do in their own country but support a nations war crimes in another country. Smh
Well done Vladimir! Ruined it you have
Just beautiful ❤️ thank you Latvia!
You are welcome!
Imagine, Latvians, the removal in Slovakia of statues and symbols of Magyar community (for instance of Lajos Kossut, general Klapka, Sándor Petöfi, Turul the eagle) or symbols of Czechoslovak state (Czech lion or founding fathers like Masaryk or Štefánik)?
@@karoltomis5704 Thats nice, but Slovaks were not occupied by Czechs. Czechoslovakia was not a federation where Slovaks were completely oppressed. Sure there was some snobby regionalism that remains to this day for the fact Bohemia and Moravia were just simply under different management and had more autonomy in its history so it was more developed compared to Slovakia. But outside of jokes and friendly teasing it was not of an issue. Both politicians and the public feel and remember fondly the union (the regime both nations equally disliked but them being together was looked upon as good thing).
You cant compare those two situations in any way. Only people ignorant to history would do that.
@@infrared337 karol was in whataboutism mode
@@karoltomis5704 I don't know about Hungarians, but soviet era snp statues should be removed
Well done Latvia!!!💙💛❤
@@Roman-po8yc We have many monuments of the Soviet occupation. Factories, industry, highways, rockets, planes:)
@@Roman-po8yc rejoice that Ukraine has successfully decommunized it all with American loans. Now this is the worst country in Europe :)
Finally this monument of people misery and grief going down.
cry babies will always cry lol
@@frostflower5555 ?
@@wilcowen6284 👶😭
So, what will happen next?
This year the 9th of may was really calm because the government made severe restrictions to celebrating. Usually there were hundreds of people with russian flags, soviet symbols, partying, singing russian songs next to the monument, its scary that it still happens so long after occupation
there are always people who want to go against the mainstream.....doesn't matter right or wrong.
@@pankajgaihre8313 But they are not non-mainstream or alternative thought, but Raksha mainstream occupants (5-th colon).
@@austriseglitis In Catalonia we have a similar problem.
@@jordicarreras7381 Catalonia is occupied big difference.
Isn't the 9th of May International Mother's Day?
Good riddance! Ruzzians have a very selective memory when it comes to their own history…it’s time they remember things how they actually were, and remove the symbols of the Soviet oppression and occupation!
It's not like Germans kiled tousends in Baltic states during occupation
@@petarcvele1243 Do you know any 3rd Reich monument in Latvia? So it can be taken down.
In my own country, white Supremacists are rewriting History. The Southern States don't like the idea Americans killed Americans to preserve Slavery.
Yet statues remain standing around the world of people connected to the slave trade. Very selective memory much?
The Baltic countries were occupied by the Soviet Union, as was the rest of Imperial Russia. But under the Emperor they were all part of Russia, not occupied, but part of the whole. Like Finland and Poland. The West financed the Russian coup d'état (1917) wrongly called the Russian Revolution. So the West is to blame for all of Europe's miseries over the past 100 years.
Nice, finaly it has been done, Latvians can finaly rejoice. Freedom is here to stay.
Freedom to be slaves to bureaucrats in Washington D.C.? Yeah, great freedom /s
Freedom is never here to stay. Enjoy it while it lasts.
😂
Wasn't the monument also meant for Latvian fighters as well?
Nope
Nope. It was meant for Red Army dogs only.
No
@@adrianostrowski6431 XD Latvians Ukrains and lot of nations are in the red army you dog ;)
@@queenkurumi8504 Latvians conscripted into the Red Army... did you know that it is illegal to conscript people from occupied territories (like Soviet-occupied Latvia from 1940-1991)?
Love to see it bring it down
That monstrosity looked like cover art from the 1984 novel.
Or a large middle finger to Latvia
Welcome to USSR .. where it's not you who looks at the monuments but monuments look at YOU!
Art died in the USSR
@@matikaevur6299 🤣🤣
Lincoln monument from? Man in high castle? O no, it's great symbol of democracy!
Would be interesting to know what they intend to replace the site with though.
Nothing
Just remember; Soviet Russia invaded Latvia before Germany did.
Correct. Interesting how people defending Russia here in the comments don't seem to mention that tiny bit of VERY IMPORTANT AND RELEVANT HISTORICAL FACT!
But the best thing is that these large killing monsters crushed against each other at the same time. No one knows the possible history if otherwise...
Yep, and then they reocupied Latvia again after Germany had lost the war, and they were never ' liberated ' like the western world was, they had to continue living under soviet oppression until 1990 !
Good job!
Angry pro facist 😆
@@KhanDoorman.69 What? Putin is fascist xd
@@KhanDoorman.69 butthurted, মাঁডাঁরঁষোঁডঁ? 😆😆😆😆
Was a giant waste of concrete and steel. Now build a proper beautiful park in its place.
Nope.
The park is already there, a natural (I think) river flow through it. All the walkways are made out of pot holes, and that pylon was the only actual building there
Now the all beauty of the park is gone.
I don't think Putin would care. He would say.. "Winter is coming,go find woods now for the heat and fire".
For his people? Many in the countryside do that every year. Babchas has to go to the outdoor loo in ÷ 30 degress or find the night potty
Yeah, sure. And then next year, when they loose the market, Europe will have to send the russians food so they don't starve to death
"It was a beautiful monument demolition. A perfect monument demolition. People tell me they've never seen such as perfect monument demolition."
Тебя тоже денацифицируем 😀🇷🇺🚀
@@user-yz7ek8fj5i Russian army should try to come to the Baltic states. What are you waiting for? Better to do that instead of being a keyboard computer warrior 🙂
Could be a Donnie Trump quote.
Destroying statues is Barbarism.
@AAA When ISIS destroyed ancient temples, they were also "Special monuments" to worship ancient Gods. so it was justified to destroy them?
It surprises me to see the hammer and sickle symbol in Russia. To me, the hammer and sickle are symbols of oppression, Soviet oppression to be particular. North Korea and China feature the hammer and sickle, but for them it is appropriate. But in free countries, the only place where such symbols belong is in a museum. The free nations which have retained these symbols have retained them in part because they didn't want to upset Russia and the Russians in their countries. Now they have made a break with that past. Good for them!
@@williampinestone431 for every person who touch 'russian mir' this is symbol of authoritary regime ruled by thugs and murderers
@@williampinestone431 - Thank you - God it's painful having to cope with the terminally ill-educated...
And what is your point, William? That that is the sole meaning, and it excludes the symbolism of imperialism, extortion and mass murder?
the incredibly selective and idealized view of the hammer and sickle and its meaning is very much forshadowed by the history of the soviet union's last moments and the revelations thereafter - this is something that understandably most russians that idealized the soviet union forget, they hang on to the revisionist history they were taught before the fall to keep the idealized memory alive, so many people sold on the lie.
@@williampinestone431 The hammer and sickle representED co-operation, now it represents tyranny, just like the swastika was originally a symbol for peace.Tear it down, or maybe you Russians would like a swastika over red square. You know, for peace.
Beidzot tikām ziņās...
They should rebuild a new monument a modern one to those who sacrificed their lives in WW2
One that everyone can get behind
Or just let it go?
Thats not possible.
@@lilymay7171 how can we let such an event go? Its happening again with Russia and China
@@domebluntzz I meant, just let the monument go. No need to get philosophical about world wars, not entering that argument.
Put up a monument of soldiers shot by Stalin orders. Selected soldiers were used specifically used to shoot others that were retreating or turned and ran.
2:15 the hammeringjob should to do with an excavator from Liebherr, not Hitachi 😂
As the Monument Falls, the Latvians can directly-and-indirectly say; It was Completely Incorrect for the Russians to say that the Latvian/s is an Inferior Race and that the Russians must know that it is "More Wise for Anyone" to deal a Neighbour Country as Peer, as Co-equal and share with neighbours the Goals-and-Harvests of Peace-and-Prosperity. GOD bless the Latvian Government, its Beautiful People and the Truth Seekers.
sad for all. But this move is not positive on Litvia's relationship with Russia.
@@teckmenglee8060 so what Latvia is in NATO the Russians can't do anything to them anymore
@@smartguy360 provoke conflict because You think you have backup is what got us in Ukraine
@@sharwama992 except Ukraine did not provoke Russia. Russia wanted Ukraine one way or another.
The Baltic countries are independent and decide for themselves what they do not want standing any longer. But they do not decide if the nobility demands all their values back, then the countries must either give the nobility all their values back or pay large compensations. International law will require it.
we latvians have always called this the monument of occupation. Every latvian always wanted to do this only we were scared of russia and tensions that it would create between local vatniks and us. Now was the perfect moment. The pressure was so high from the society that we would have done it for ourselves if the government wouldn't do it.
Nazism is rising again in latvia :(
Exactly !, it had to be done, now or never.
and what did u get from it, just destroying history, pretending like it never happened, you never learn anzthing
Now you are a puppet of the us... Not much has changed...
What about the American and British Memorials in Normandy?
I mean, shouldn't they removed those and replaced it with French WW2 Veterans
Not the same thing. The Americans, the British, the Canadians and all the other nations that were there, are considered liberators. I went there a few years ago and when some of the older people found out I was Canadian, they thanked me even though my parents weren't even born then.
@@flosouliere5373 in the baltics meanwhile the Germans were seen as liberator
🇱🇹good job, Latvia 🇱🇻
Acu! 🇱🇹 🇱🇻
🇺🇦Good job
The best joke of the Twentieth Century was that when 'the Revolution' finally came, it was Communism that was overthrown.
How's being a NATO/EU colony like?
So being under USSR 2.0 is better?👹
@@biodiversityfanatic2454 feels good nobody gets deported to Siberia or shot then thrown into mass graves like the poles and manner others did
@@biodiversityfanatic2454 Fantastic, i have no complaints at all
@@biodiversityfanatic2454 that doesn't even make sense, how can an organisation have a colony?
Well done! Love from Lithuania ❤️
Remind me of when South Korea destroyed the governor-general that was established during the japan colonization.
Only the rooftop part remains on the korean independence hall of Korea where people can now look it down.
good
Many people in the Baltics are of Russian descent and watch Russian State TV.
I wish for the descent of this monument to be a wake up call.
I've seen couple of civil wars. Usually it starts like this with attacks on history soon followed by attack on people.
Not sure if this generalisation is true. Say, in my country Lithuania there are only 5-6% of Russians, and the percentage of those who watch Russian State TV is lower. Some Lithuanian Russians are pro-Ukraine -- they support Ukraine just as much as we do. Putinism isn't always down to nationality.
When Russians enters a country,they make it there own.
Russians and latvians can live together peacefully-nice humour there!
Latvia is been waiting to do this for a long time lol
Not true. Don't speak for the whole country.
If 100% of the citizens voted with a yes, only then you can say: _"Latvia is been waiting to do this"_
as a Latvian i can say : We hare happy to get rid of this junk
Yes, fine, but just remember that all the nobility's valuables must be returned or large compensations must be paid for. Time for the nobility to react and demand their values back.
Really? Millions of people who died during WWII are junk for you? It explains a lot.
Absolutely !
@@alexejII what?
@@btc175 It is called private property. Remember everything was stolen from the nobility in the coup d'état/revolution of 1917. But the values still belong to the people who owned the values in 1917. No statute of limitations.
Well done Latvia ! Love from France 🇫🇷 ❤️!
Thank you France 🇫🇷 Mersi! 🇱🇻
Marseille, Lyon, Paris is like Karachi, POOR Franceman
Bravo Letonia. 🇦🇱❤️🇺🇦🇱🇹🇱🇻🇪🇪
As a Latvian, i personally enjoyed this. The fact stands that there was, is and will be a divide in our country going foward. We are happy that the communist statue is gone, because fhe commies were people who oppresed Ethical Latvians and our language. They wanted the communist way and we finally got our freedom in 1990.
If you know the history, you will understand. If you dont, thats not our problem and any russian who thinks not speaking our national language and living here is acceptable can take a one way ticket over our border. We wont tolerate it anymore.
If it suprises you, most Russians who live here use russian as a daily communication language. Ive been talked to by a russian cashier who spoke to me only in russian and then when i said to speak latvian she said to me " why dont you know russian, you should speak it " and from that day on i hate everything to do with them, because they still think they have the right to tell us how to speak.
you started to tell her to speak latvian
What can you expect from the Russian? They always think themselves above everything!
This should have been done many decades earlier. And if the nostalgic russian speaking people are not happy about it, they can leave asap the country and cross the border in direction of Russia.
Excactly✌️✌️
They don't want live in Russia.
@@edgarLV then they can deal with monuments being taken down
Or russia can invade latvia
Calling for ethnic cleansing?