German-Latvian relations

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German-Latvian relations
Location of Germany and Latvia
GermanyGermany LatviaLatvia
Germany Latvia

Germany and Latvia had diplomatic relations from July 15, 1920 and again from August 28, 1991. Both countries are members of the Baltic Sea Council , NATO , the OSCE , the European Union and the Schengen area . Latvia introduced the European common currency on January 1, 2014 . It is the intention of the German-Baltic associations to make an active contribution to understanding between the two peoples.

The Federal Republic of Germany is represented in Latvia by the German Embassy in Riga . Latvia has an embassy in Berlin and honorary consuls in Bremen , Düsseldorf , Frankfurt am Main , Hamburg , Cologne , Künzelsau , Lübeck , Munich and Rostock .

According to a 2004 census, there were 3,311 native German speakers in Latvia at the time. In 2013 around 200 German nationals were employed in Latvia, mostly as self-employed. The number of Latvian native speakers in Germany is not officially established.

history

middle Ages

In the 12th century the first Low German trading and mission stations existed on the Daugava . Riga was founded in the 13th century by the Bremen canon Albert von Buxhoeveden , Bishop of Livonia. In addition, the subjugation of the Baltic pagans began by the Order of the Brothers of the Swords (later the German Order ).

Modern times up to the 19th century

The Herder monument in Riga

Since that time (which can also be seen in the context of the German Ostsiedlung ) there has been a Baltic German minority in Latvia , which has always remained limited in terms of quantity, but has played a major role in the development of Latvia. Such was Johann Gottfried Herder temporarily professionally in Riga operates translated Latvian Daina (folk songs) into German and promoted by publishing their recognition as a cultural asset. The linguist August Bielenstein , who was born in Mitau , also dealt with Dainas and also made a great contribution to researching the Latvian language and culture. Furthermore, he gave the impetus for the first Latvian song festival in Dobele in 1870. On the other hand, for example, the first head of government of independent Latvia Kārlis Ulmanis u. a. at the University of Leipzig , the Latvian "national poet" Rainis attended the German Gymnasium in Riga and later translated Goethe's Faust into Latvian. It can be stated that the Baltic Germans were largely able to maintain their important position under the various rulers and over many centuries.

Late 19th century and World War I

German officers in Riga during the First World War

Towards the end of the 19th century, however, there was increasing Russification in the tsarist empire, which at that time also included Latvia. In addition, the national feeling of the Latvians awoke, which was also strongly directed against the dominant Baltic German upper class. During the time of the German occupation of the Baltic States in World War I (Riga was captured by German troops in September 1917), plans arose to establish a German-Baltic-dominated state ( United Baltic Duchy ) under German protection, German settlers should oust the Latvians . After the defeat of the German Reich and the successful declaration of independence of Latvia, the Baltic Germans were interpreted this behavior as treason during the war.

1918–1940: The first sovereign Latvian republic

In land reform laws, large parts of the Baltic German estates in Latvia were expropriated in favor of the landless Latvian peasant class. In contrast to other states in Eastern (Central) Europe, which pursued a repressive policy towards their national minorities after the First World War, Latvia granted its national minorities cultural autonomy. Diplomatic relations with Germany were established with an agreement signed in Berlin on July 15, 1920.

Period of foreign rule 1940–1990

1940/1941: Occupation by the Soviet Union

The 1939 Hitler-Stalin Pact provided for the resettlement of the Baltic Germans, considered by the ideologues of National Socialism to be "racially valuable", to the areas contractually defined as German territory. The resettlement was carried out that same year. Latvia, on the other hand, was included in the Soviet sphere of interest in the agreement and was occupied by the Red Army in 1940 . This also ended bilateral relations between Germany and Latvia as two sovereign states for several decades. Since the Hitler-Stalin pact remained secret, most Latvians were not aware of the German contribution to the invasion of the Red Army.

1941–1945: Occupation by the Greater German Reich

From 1941 to 1945 Latvia was occupied by Germany in the course of the attack on the Soviet Union and part of the Reichskommissariat Ostland . Some of the Latvians collaborated with the Germans from 1941. For one, the Germans appeared to be liberators from the Stalinist terror they had met in 1940/1941; other collaborators were racists or enthusiastic National Socialists. It is controversial to what extent activities by Latvians in the interests of National Socialist Germany were carried out voluntarily. The transition from really voluntary work for the Germans to “voluntary work” for them under false pretenses (by “ volunteers ”) to forced labor done by Latvians for Germany in Latvia, in other German-occupied areas and in the German Reich is flowing. The German occupation policy was rated negatively by the Jewish population of Latvia, which was almost completely destroyed in the Holocaust , by ethnic Russians who were in Latvia at the time and now classified as “ sub-humans ” by National Socialist racial ideologists (unlike the allegedly “ related” Balts) as well as by anti-fascist Latvians.

German civilians and members of the Wehrmacht leave the port of Windau on ships.

Until May 8, 1945, German troops and around 14,000 fighters from the Latvian Waffen-SS held the "Fortress Kurland" , where an independent Republic of Latvia had been proclaimed under German occupation in March 1945. Before Latvia became Soviet again and disappeared behind the Iron Curtain , many Latvians fled to the West, including Germany. Most of the remaining Baltic Germans also fled or were expelled in 1944/45.

In October 2012, a memorial was unveiled in Bauska to commemorate the Latvian troops who defended the site against the Red Army during World War II . Circles close to the government support the erection of the memorial, while the opposition in Latvia criticized the memorial on the grounds that the Latvian troops had not fought for the independence of Latvia but "for Adolf Hitler".

1945–1991: Latvia as a republic of the Soviet Union

Between 1945 and 1991 the " Latvian SSR " was de facto a union republic of the Soviet Union. From the perspective of the Soviet Union, it had already become this in 1940 and remained there from 1941 to 1945. From the point of view of today's Latvia, however, de iure there never was a Latvian SSR, as this came about through an annexation of Latvia that was contrary to international law. The Western Allies did not question Latvia's membership of the Soviet Union in the agreements on the post-war order (Tehran and Yalta Conferences in 1943 and 1945) and when the UN was founded. However, on January 13, 1983 the European Parliament condemned the occupation of the Baltic states by the Soviet Union in a resolution . This declaration was also made on behalf of the Federal Republic of Germany.

The state organs of the GDR, however, always shared the legal opinion of the Soviet Union, according to which Latvia had been part of the Soviet Union since 1940.

Since 1991: The second sovereign Latvian republic

In 1990 the German federal government did not yet provide active support for the restoration of Latvia as a sovereign state, as the process of restoring Germany's unity was not endangered by undermining Mikhail Gorbachev's perestroika policy . Just a few days after the Russian President Boris Yeltsin recognized the Baltic states , Germany established diplomatic relations with Latvia in 1991 and acknowledged a special historical responsibility for supporting the Baltic states as reparation for the injustice that resulted from the Hitler-Stalin regime. Pact and the occupation of Latvia by National Socialist Germany followed. The Federal Government subsequently promoted the integration of Latvia into Western democratic structures. For a long time, the majority of German foreign policy-makers were unwilling to support a policy of consistent delimitation of the NATO countries from Russia, as has long been demanded by the majority of Latvian politicians, which was justified by the fact that such a policy was in the opinion of these German politicians would excessively strain German-Russian relations. However, Germany supports NATO's decision to discontinue cooperation between NATO and Russia in the NATO-Russia Council on April 1, 2014 .

In 2011 Udo Bongartz summed up the historically based conflict between Latvians and people in the West (including the Federal Republic of Germany since 1949) with the following words: “The West has betrayed the Balts and other Eastern Europeans. They do not share responsibility for the Holocaust. That is the historical conflict that divides Europe today. "

German visitors to Latvia feel little of such differences in the present: the Latvian population's image of Germany is largely neutral to friendly. Noticeable resentments towards German tourists have not found a sustainable anchor in the Latvian way of thinking.

Latvians in Germany

Former “volunteers” and forced laborers as well as anti-communist refugees (including many former collaborators) made up the Latvian part of the displaced persons who were in 1945 in the three western zones of Germany. The number of forced laborers deported to Germany is given as 16,000. In 1946, almost 100,000 Latvians were registered as DPs in the Allied authorities.

The Latvians who remained in the Federal Republic of Germany were mainly divided into a few barracks settlements in which life in exile was concentrated (in Münster , Oldenburg (Oldb.) , Flintbek , Kassel , Würzburg , Stuttgart and Esslingen am Neckar ). Münster developed into the cultural center of the Latvians in Germany. From 1951 to 1998 there was the only Latvian grammar school in Germany. The Latvian Center Münster emerged in 1986 from this facility, which was attached to an archive . Münster is also the seat of the Latvian press review . The first Latvian Song Festival in Exile took place in Esslingen in 1947.

As early as 1944, in the course of the reconquest of Latvia by the Red Army and the flight of its archbishop, the "Evangelical Lutheran Church of Latvia" relocated its seat into exile in Germany. Here she called herself the "Evangelical Lutheran Church in Exile". In 1945 the exile church was responsible for all Protestant Latvians west of the Soviet Union's sphere of influence. At that time the church had 120,000 members. Even in the first post-war years, the seat of the archbishop was in Germany. In 1947 the church joined the Lutheran World Federation . In the meantime, the archbishopric was first moved to the USA, then to Canada. In 1994 Esslingen am Neckar became the seat of the archbishop. In the 1990s the name of the church was changed to "Latvian Evangelical Lutheran Church Abroad". In 2010 the Church had 25,020 members. The long-term decline in the number of members results partly from the dissolution of own Latvian congregations and the resulting transition of Latvian believers into local ethnic communities, partly from the assimilation of people of Latvian origin, from church resignations and conversions, and from a return of Latvians to Latvia.

After the entire occupation of the areas foreseen for the Soviet occupation zone in Germany by the Red Army in the summer of 1945, there were virtually no Latvians living in camps there. Even later, during the GDR era, there were no Latvians who were critical of communism there.

Most of the Latvians living in exile (not only those living in the Federal Republic of Germany) could be integrated well into the society of the respective western host country. After 1990, the willingness of people of Latvian origin living in the west to return to Latvia was relatively low.

Diplomatic exchange

The German-Baltic parliamentary group cultivates the relations between the German Bundestag and the Saeima . Alois Karl (CDU / CSU) is chairman in the 18th electoral term . Deputy chairmen are René Röspel (SPD), Axel Troost (Die Linke) and Konstantin von Notz (Bündnis90 / Die Grünen).

See also

literature

  • Christian and Marianne Pletzing (eds.): Displaced Persons. Refugees from the Baltic states in Germany . Colloquia Baltica 12. Martin Meidenbauer Verlagbuchhandlung, Munich 2007. ISBN 978-389975-066-9 .
  • Ole Sparenberg: From the foreigners' camp in Ohmstede to the racing area . In: Oldenburg Yearbook . Vol. 100 (2000), pp. 177-199 ( online )

Web links

Commons : German-Latvian Relations  - Collection of pictures, videos and audio files

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Provisional agreement on the resumption of relations between the German Reich and Latvia. Signed in Berlin on July 15, 1920 . In: League of Nations (ed.): Recueil des Traités et des Engagements internationaux enregistrés par le Secrétariat de la Societé des Nations . tape 2 , no. 1 , p. 92-95 ( pdf ).
  2. ^ German Embassy in Riga (German and Latvian) . Archived from the original on January 2, 2012. Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. Retrieved November 6, 2011. @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / www.riga.diplo.de
  3. ^ Embassy of the Republic of Latvia in the Federal Republic of Germany (German and Latvian) . Retrieved November 6, 2011.
  4. ↑ Armin Czysz / Angela Joosten: Working in Latvia. Baltic states grant free movement of workers . EU info. Germany.
  5. ^ Susanne Dell: Latvia. Munich 2006, p. 18 ff.
  6. ↑ League of Nations Treaty Series, Vol. 2, pp. 92-99 (PDF; 19.5 MB) Accessed November 13, 2012.
  7. ^ Tilman Plath: National Socialist Forced Labor and Racial Ideology. The “labor policy” in Latvia as reflected by the affected groups ( memento of the original from February 1, 2014 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. (PDF; 607 kB). Carl-Schirren-Gesellschaft e. V. - The German-Baltic Cultural Work. @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / www.carl-schirren-gesellschaft.de
  8. ↑ Gederts Gelsis: Controversial commemoration in Latvia . Deutsche Welle , October 6, 2012.
  9. ↑ Boris Meissner (Ed.): The Baltic Nations - Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania. Markus, Cologne 1991. ISBN 3-87511-041-2 . P. 278.
  10. ↑ Joachim Tauber: The Federal Republic, the West and the Baltic States (PDF; 45 kB). Speech to the Konrad Adenauer Foundation , November 2, 2011.
  11. ↑ Not all sunshine: Germany and Latvia 15 years ago and today Latvian press review , September 30, 2006.
  12. ↑ http://edoc.hu-berlin.de/nordeuropaforum/2008-2/dauchert-helge-53/PDF/dauchert.pdf Germany's Baltic policy / Helge Dauchert; accessed on December 31, 2011.
  13. ↑ NATO-Russia-Council: Statement by NATO Foreign Ministers ( Memento of the original from May 12, 2014 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link has been inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. . April 1, 2014. @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / www.nato-russia-council.info
  14. ↑ Udo Bongartz: March 16: Latvia's divisive memorial day In: “Latvian Press Review”, March 18, 2011.
  15. ^ Stephan Hartmann: The Germans in Latvia - A minority with big marks . Latvia travel guide ViaLatvia .
  16. ↑ Historical Association Wolfratshausen: Föhrenwald Camp - Forced Laborers (PDF; 456 kB) p. 9.
  17. ^ Institute for Culture and History of Germans in Northeastern Europe at the University of Hamburg: Displaced Persons. Refugees from the Baltic states in Germany. Seminar of the Baltic Academy with the Gustav-Heinemann-Bildungsstätte Malente and the Honorary Consul of the Republic of Latvia in Schleswig-Holstein from March 24th to 26th, 2006 (PDF; 74 kB)
  18. ↑ Benedikt Schulz: Cultural Work in Transition - The Latvian Center Münster ( Memento of the original from October 9, 2010 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link has been inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. . Baltic Rundschau , August 31, 2010. @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / www.baltische-rundschau.eu
  19. ↑ Elmer E. Rozitius: History and organization of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Latvia in exile . In: Peter Hauptmann (Ed.): Church in the East . Volume 21/22, 1978, p. 64.
  20. ↑ World Council of Churches: Latvian Evangelical Lutheran Church Abroad  ( page no longer available , search in web archives )  Info: The link was automatically marked as defective. Please check the link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. . 2006.@1@ 2Template: Dead Link / www.oikoumene.org  
  21. ↑ Lutheran World Federation: Member Churches ( Memento of the original from April 18, 2010 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / www.lutheranworld.org
  22. ↑ Lutheran World Federation: Membership of the churches belonging to the LWF exceeds 70 million for the first time . March 11, 2010.
  23. ↑ This happened e.g. B. in Oldenburg- Ohmstede ; see. Gemeinnützige Siedlungsgesellschaft (GSG) Oldenburg: Former church with a new task . 2009.
  24. ↑ Liene Lauska: Pēteris Ērmanis and Janis Jaunsudrabiņš. The social and cultural integration of Latvian writers in Latvia and in German exile . Dissertation University of Greifswald 2010, p. 25.
  25. ↑ Boards of the parliamentary groups in the 18th electoral period ( memento of the original from August 4, 2014 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link has been inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.  @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / www.bundestag.de