Internet and History: Website of the Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation declassified and released unique documents on the liberation of Latvia

9 June 2021

The Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation released archival documents devoted to preserving the memory of the Red Army soldiers, who liberated Latvia from the Nazi invaders. The department's website launched the multimedia section "Live in Memory and Hearts!" as part of the "No Statute of Limitations" project.

The Baltic offensive operation, which started on September 14, 1944, became one of the most prominent strategic operations of the Great Patriotic War. It involved five Soviet fronts and 12 armies combating the most active German troops. On November 24, 1944, the Baltic operation successfully ended.

The website provides documents that testify to a warm meeting of the Red Army troops by liberated residents. More than 332 thousand soldiers and commanders received orders and medals, 112 Soviet soldiers were awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union for the courage and heroism shown during the liberation of the Baltic republics.

Over 205 thousand Red Army soldiers were killed during the liberation of Latvia. The portal promotes lots of documents about the Soviet military cemeteries in that country. The Ministry of Defence says that in recent years, Latvia had been trying to destroy its past. The Latvian authorities are aware and foster the vandalism against monuments and memorials to Soviet soldiers-liberators. In many cities, they try to rewrite history, deleting the Red Army from it.

The publication of declassified documents about the Great Patriotic War is aimed at preserving and protecting the historical truth and preventing the falsifications of history.