Monument of Lihula

Last updated
Lihula Monument
War museum in Lagedi 2006.jpg
Monument at the war museum in Lagedi
Location Lagedi, Estonia
Coordinates 59°23′23″N24°56′27″E / 59.389615°N 24.94081°E / 59.389615; 24.94081
Established2005 (firstly 2002)

Monument of Lihula is the colloquial name of a monument commemorating the Estonians who fought for Estonia against the Soviet Union in World War II, located in a privately owned museum in Lagedi, Estonia. The monument has been controversial due to, in part, its dedication to those who served in the German Wehrmacht and particularly in the Waffen-SS.

Contents

The monument has moved twice before ending up in the current location. It was originally unveiled[ by whom? ] in Pärnu on 2002, but taken down only nine days after prime minister Siim Kallas had condemned the statue. [1] [2] The statue was then located in Lihula in 2004, finally being unveiled in Lagedi on October 15, 2005.

Description

The monument depicts a soldier in a military uniform, with a German helmet, Estonian flag on the wrist and the "hand with a sword" symbol from the Cross of Liberty on the collar. There are no purely national-socialist symbols on the monument. [3] [4] [5] [6] It consists of a bronze bas-relief and a dedication tablet mounted on a vertical granite slab. The tablet reads: "To Estonian men who fought in 1940-1945 against Bolshevism and for the restoration of Estonian independence".

Controversy

As the dedication included those who served in the Finnish Infantry Regiment 200, the Wehrmacht and particularly the Waffen SS, a number of organisations condemned it; most notably the Simon Wiesenthal Center issued an official protest stating that the monument glorifies "those who were willing to sacrifice their lives to help achieve the victory of Nazi Germany". [7] Ilmar Haaviste, head of the Association of Estonian Veterans, who fought on the German side, says he does not regret taking the German uniform, because there was a "naïve" hope that somehow an independent Estonia could be salvaged. He thinks wearing a German uniform does not make you a fascist and that both regimes, Nazi and Soviet were equally evil – there was no difference between the two except that Stalin was more cunning. [8] Tiit Madisson, the governor of the Lihula parish, said at the opening ceremony that Estonians' serving in German army chose the lesser evil. [9] The monument caused concern among some Jewish officials and organisations, including the Chief Rabbi of Estonia and Russia’s Jewish Communities Federation. [10] [11] [12]

Status of the Baltic Legions

Some Estonians joined these formations voluntarily, the majority were conscripted by Germans. [13] The Nuremberg Trials, in declaring the SS a criminal organisation, explicitly excluded conscripts in the following terms:

Tribunal declares to be criminal within the meaning of the Charter the group composed of those persons who had been officially accepted as members of the SS as enumerated in the preceding paragraph who became or remained members of the organisation with knowledge that it was being used for the commission of acts declared criminal by Article 6 of the Charter or who were personally implicated as members of the organisation in the commission of such crimes, excluding, however, those who were drafted into membership by the State in such a way as to give them no choice in the matter, and who had committed no such crimes.

On April 13, 1950, a message from the U.S. High Commission in Germany (HICOG), signed by John J. McCloy to the Secretary of State, clarified the US position on the "Baltic Legions": they were not to be seen as "movements", "volunteer", or "SS". In short, they were not given the training, indoctrination, and induction normally given to SS members. Subsequently the US Displaced Persons Commission in September 1950 declared that:

The Baltic Waffen SS Units (Baltic Legions) are to be considered as separate and distinct in purpose, ideology, activities, and qualifications for membership from the German SS, and therefore the Commission holds them not to be a movement hostile to the Government of the United States.

Concerns about Nazi glorification

The monument has been regarded as controversial, including by former Prime Minister Juhan Parts, who labeled the Lihula Monument a "provocation". [14] A number of rumours were circulated about the soldier depicted on the monument wearing Nazi symbolism, and thus constituting an attempt to glorify Nazism. As no such symbolism is on the bas-relief, sometimes the rumours have taken the form that these symbols were removed between the first and current installation. [15]

A semiotic analysis by professor Peeter Torop of University of Tartu, ordered by Lihula police department to analyse the installation concluded that no Nazi or SS symbols whatsoever appear in the bas-relief. He pointed out the monument's composition was "unduly militaristic", concluding that the monument could be said to be "rude or controversial" given its resemblance to wartime mobilisation posters. [3] [16] He found no basis for the hypothesis that the installation of the monument would constitute an "incitement of social hatred". Under Estonian law, such incitement is a crime punishable by a fine or imprisonment of up to three years. In any case, short of recasting, it would be very hard to modify a bronze-cast statue.

Moving the monument

In 2004, shortly after it was opened, the Estonian Government opposed the unveiling of the monument and ultimately ordered it to be removed.

The crane which arrived to remove the monument from Lihula could not enter the cemetery because of a crowd of protesting people. Riot police were called in, but as they arrived, locals started to throw stones at them and at the driver of the crane. After a fight between the crowd and the police, the people were driven back using teargas, and some policemen were treated for minor wounds in a hospital. [17]

After the removal of the monument, it was subsequently placed on October 15, 2005 on grounds of the privately owned Museum of Fight for Estonia's Freedom in Lagedi near Tallinn. [18] The monument has not been moved again.

The Conservative People's Party of Estonia have declared that they want to move the statue back to Lihula. [19] [20]

See also

Related Research Articles

<i>Waffen-SS</i> Military branch of the Nazi SS

The Waffen-SS was the combat branch of the Nazi Party's paramilitary Schutzstaffel (SS) organisation. Its formations included men from Nazi Germany, along with volunteers and conscripts from both occupied and unoccupied lands.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alfons Rebane</span> 20th-century Estonian military commander

Alfons Vilhelm Robert Rebane, known simply as Alfons Rebane was an Estonian military commander. He was the most highly decorated Estonian military officer during World War II, serving in various Wehrmacht and Waffen-SS units of Nazi Germany.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">20th Waffen Grenadier Division of the SS (1st Estonian)</span> German infantry division

The 20th Waffen Grenadier Division of the SS was a foreign infantry division of the Waffen-SS that served alongside but was never formally part of the Wehrmacht during World War II. According to some sources, the division was under Reichsführer-SS Heinrich Himmler's overall command but was not an integral part of the Schutzstaffel (SS). It was officially activated on 24 January 1944, and many of its soldiers had been members of the Estonian Legion and/or the 3rd Estonian SS Volunteer Brigade, which had been fighting as part of German forces since August 1942 and October 1943 respectively. Both of the preceding formations drew their personnel from German-occupied Estonia. Shortly after its official activation, widespread conscription within Estonia was announced by the German occupying authorities. The division was formed in Estonia around a cadre comprising the 3rd Estonian SS Volunteer Brigade, and was initially known as the 20th Estonian SS Volunteer Division.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">German occupation of Estonia during World War II</span> Period of Estonian history from 1941 to 1944

During World War II, in the course of Operation Barbarossa, Nazi Germany invaded Estonia in July–December 1941, and occupied the country until 1944. Estonia had gained independence in 1918 from the then warring German and Russian Empires. However, in the wake of the August 1939 Nazi-Soviet Pact, the Stalinist Soviet Union had invaded and occupied Estonia in June 1940, and the country was formally annexed into the USSR in August 1940.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">German occupation of Latvia during World War II</span> Part of the occupation of the Baltic states

The military occupation of Latvia by Nazi Germany was completed on July 10, 1941 by Germany's armed forces. Initially, the territory of Latvia was under the military administration of Army Group North, but on 25 July 1941, Latvia was incorporated as Generalbezirk Lettland, subordinated to Reichskommissariat Ostland, an administrative subdivision of Nazi Germany. Anyone not racially acceptable or who opposed the German occupation, as well as those who had cooperated with the Soviet Union, were killed or sent to concentration camps in accordance with the Nazi Generalplan Ost.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Latvian Legion</span> Military unit

The Latvian Legion was a formation of the German Waffen-SS during World War II. Created in 1943, it consisted primarily of ethnic Latvian personnel. The legion consisted of two divisions of the Waffen-SS: the 15th Waffen Grenadier Division of the SS, and the 19th Waffen Grenadier Division of the SS. The 15th Division was administratively subordinated to the VI SS Corps, but operationally it was in reserve or at the disposal of the XXXXIII Army Corps, 16th Army, Army Group North. The 19th Division held out in the Courland Pocket until May 1945, the close of World War II, when it was among the last of Nazi Germany's forces to surrender.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Paul Maitla</span> Estonian Waffen-SS officer

Paul Maitla was an Estonian commander in the German Waffen-SS during World War II. He is one of the four Estonians who received the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross of Nazi Germany. He received his award for leading the recapture of the central hill of the Sinimäed during the Battle of Tannenberg Line, effectively breaking the Soviet offensive in that sector.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Estonia–Russia relations</span> Bilateral relations of Estonia and Russia

Estonia–Russia relations are the bilateral foreign relations between Estonia and Russia. Diplomatic relations between the Republic of Estonia and the Russian SFSR were established on 2 February 1920, when Soviet Russia recognized de jure the independence of the Republic of Estonia, and renounced in perpetuity all rights to the territory of Estonia, via the Treaty of Tartu (Russian–Estonian). At the time, the Bolsheviks had just gained control of the majority of Russian territory, and their government's legitimacy was being hotly contested by Western powers and the Russian White movement.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Remembrance Day of the Latvian Legionnaires</span> Day commemorating soldiers of the Latvian Legion, part of the Waffen SS

Remembrance Day of the Latvian Legionnaires, often known simply as the Legionnaire Day or March 16 in Latvia, is a day when soldiers of the Latvian Legion, part of the Waffen-SS, are commemorated. From 1998 until 2000, it was officially recognized as a "Remembrance Day for Latvian soldiers" by the Saeima.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">German occupation of the Baltic states during World War II</span>

After the German invasion of the Soviet Union, the Baltic states were under military occupation by Nazi Germany from 1941 to 1944. Initially, many Estonians, Latvians, and Lithuanians considered the Germans liberators from the Soviet Union.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Estonia in World War II</span> Period of Estonian history from 1939 to 1945

Estonia declared neutrality at the outbreak of World War II (1939–1945), but the country was repeatedly contested, invaded and occupied, first by the Stalinist Soviet Union in 1940, then by Nazi Germany in 1941, and ultimately reinvaded and reoccupied in 1944 by the Soviet Union.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bronze Night</span> 2007 ethnic violence in Tallinn, Estonia over the relocation of a controversial WWII memorial

The Bronze Night, also known as the April Unrest and April Events, refers to the riots in Estonia surrounding the controversial 2007 relocation of the Bronze Soldier of Tallinn, a Soviet World War II memorial in Tallinn.

Aftermath of the Bronze Night refers to the reactions and consequences of the Bronze Night, the controversy and riots in Estonia surrounding the 2007 relocation of the Bronze Soldier of Tallinn, the Soviet World War II memorial in Tallinn.

Gerhard Sommer was a German SS-Untersturmführer in the 16th SS Panzergrenadier Division Reichsführer-SS who was involved in the massacre of 560 civilians on 12 August 1944 in the Italian village of Sant'Anna di Stazzema. He appeared on the Simon Wiesenthal Center's list of most wanted Nazi war criminals.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Waffen-SS foreign volunteers and conscripts</span> Recruits for the Waffen-SS in World War II

During World War II, the Waffen-SS recruited significant numbers of non-Germans, both as volunteers and conscripts. In total some 500,000 non-Germans and ethnic Germans from outside Germany, mostly from German-occupied Europe, were recruited between 1940 and 1945. The units were under the control of the SS Führungshauptamt beneath Reichsführer-SS Heinrich Himmler. Upon mobilization, the units' tactical control was given to the Oberkommando der Wehrmacht.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Guerrilla war in the Baltic states</span> Anti-Soviet resistance during and after World War II

The guerrilla war in the Baltic states was an insurgency waged by Baltic partisans against the Soviet Union from 1944 to 1956. Known alternatively as the "Forest Brothers", the "Brothers of the Wood" and the "Forest Friars", these partisans fought against invading Soviet forces during their occupation of the Baltic states during and after World War II. Similar insurgent groups resisted Soviet occupations in Bulgaria, Poland, Romania and Ukraine.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Monument to the Defenders of Bauska</span>

The Monument to the Defenders of Bauska was unveiled in the small town of Bauska in southern Latvia on 14 September 2012.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Conservative People's Party of Estonia</span> Political party in Estonia

The Conservative People's Party of Estonia is a nationalist and right-wing populist political party in Estonia, currently led by Martin Helme. It was founded in March 2012, with the merger of People's Union of Estonia and Estonian Patriotic Movement. Its first leader, Margo Miljand, served as the chairman until 2013 when he was succeeded by Mart Helme. Its popularity remained low until late 2014, when the party began to draw supporters from the right; further, in the 2015 Estonian parliamentary election, it passed the electoral threshold and won seats in parliament for the first time. Since then its support has grown, turning it into one of the largest parties in Estonia. In the 2019 Estonian parliamentary election, EKRE placed third, winning 19 seats in total. Mart was succeeded as party chairman by his son, Martin Helme, in July 2020.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2019 Estonian parliamentary election</span>

Parliamentary elections were held in Estonia on 3 March 2019. The newly elected 101 members of the 14th Riigikogu assembled at Toompea Castle in Tallinn within ten days of the election. The Reform Party remained the largest party, gaining four seats for a total of 34 and the Conservative People's Party had the largest gain overall, increasing their seat count by 12 to a total of 19 seats.

Canada has several monuments and memorials that to varying degrees commemorate people and groups accused of collaboration with Nazi forces.

References

  1. ↑ "Eesti riik soovib Lihula ausammast endale". Archived from the original on September 27, 2007. Retrieved September 13, 2019.
  2. ↑ "Estonia removes SS monument". July 24, 2002. Retrieved September 13, 2019– via news.bbc.co.uk.
  3. 1 2 Postimees September 14, 2004: Semiootikaprofessor Toropi hinnangul ei ole Lihula sammas natslik Archived 2005-09-28 at the Wayback Machine
  4. ↑ "Semiootikaprofessori hinnangul ei ole Lihula sammas natslik". Postimees. 2004-09-15. Archived from the original on 2013-02-13. Retrieved 2009-09-24.
  5. ↑ "Semiootikaprofessor Toropi hinnangul ei ole Lihula sammas natslik" (in Estonian). Postimees. 2004-09-14. Archived from the original on 2005-02-22. Retrieved 2009-09-24.
  6. ↑ "Semiootik Torop: Lihula mälestussammas pole natslik" (in Estonian). Eesti Päevaleht. Retrieved 2009-09-24.
  7. ↑ Simon Wiesenthal Center August 25, 2004: Wiesenthal center protests erection of monument commemorating Estonian SS-division which fought with Nazis in World War II
  8. ↑ "When giants fought in Estonia". BBC News. May 9, 2007. Retrieved May 13, 2010.
  9. ↑ "Estonia unveils Nazi war monument". August 20, 2004. Retrieved September 13, 2019– via news.bbc.co.uk.
  10. ↑ FJC | News | Estonia Immortalizes Nazi Criminals Archived 2007-09-27 at the Wayback Machine
  11. ↑ "Russia's Jewish Communities Federation: Setting up monuments to SS soldiers in Estonia is attempt to turn criminals and butchers into heroes of liberation war - Russian News - REGNUM". Archived from the original on October 9, 2007. Retrieved September 13, 2019.
  12. ↑ "News Releases - SWC New Design Test". Archived from the original on September 29, 2007. Retrieved September 13, 2019.
  13. ↑ Raun, Toivo (2001). Estonia and the Estonians. Hoover Press. pp. 158–159. ISBN   978-0-8179-2852-0.
  14. ↑ "Estonia Unveils Nazi War Monument". BBC News. 20 August 2004. Retrieved 9 October 2009.
  15. ↑ Baltic Times August 26, 2004: Monument unveiled despite criticism by Aleksei Gunter
  16. ↑ SL Õhtuleht September 14, 2004: Ekspert Peeter Torop: Lihula mälestussammas pole natslik Archived 2007-09-28 at the Wayback Machine by Kadri Paas
  17. ↑ "Riot police help remove controversial WWII monument". baltictimes.com . Retrieved September 13, 2019.
  18. ↑ "Estonia Restores Monument to SS Legionnaires, Russia Angered - NEWS - MOSNEWS.COM". Archived from the original on November 7, 2005. Retrieved September 13, 2019.
  19. ↑ "EKRE Lihula osakond meenutas kohalviibimisega samba teisaldamise 13 aastapäeva | EKRE – Eesti Konservatiivne Rahvaerakond" . Retrieved September 13, 2019.
  20. ↑ Ilves, Kaie (August 25, 2018). "Lääneranna EKRE tahab Lihula samba tagasi tuua" . Retrieved September 13, 2019.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.