Podcasts about Latvians

The 18th of November is celebrated in Latvia as Independence Day. I'll guide you through the four parts of this gripping story. First, the dramatic declaration of independence on 18 November 1918. Second, the war that ensued. Third, the Soviet Russian occupation of Latvia from 1940 until independence was regained in 1991. And finally, how Latvians celebrate Independence Day today, with my memories of participating in the commemoration as deputy British Ambassador in the late 1990s. Thanks for listening!

"To me, that ark is: engaging deeply with our traditions. It's reclaiming some of what we lost when we were assimilating and trying to fit in. We have thousands of years of text that have such wisdom about the human condition, about how to be a good person, and lead a worthy life . . . What we can really do is, we can be Jews. And to be a Jew has always been to be different." Sarah Hurwitz—former White House speechwriter and New York Times bestselling author of Here All Along—returns to People of the Pod to discuss her new book, As a Jew: Reclaiming Our Story from Those Who Blame, Shame, and Try to Erase Us. Hurwitz reflects on why antisemitism remains, in her words, "the least mysterious phenomenon," and how Jews can reclaim pride, wisdom, and purpose through Jewish text, practice, and community. Drawing from her work as a hospital chaplain and her conversations with Jewish students on campus, she makes a powerful case for reconnecting with the depth and resilience of Jewish tradition. Key Resources: AJC's Translate Hate Glossary AJC's Efforts to Support the Hostages Listen – AJC Podcasts: Architects of Peace The Forgotten Exodus People of the Pod Follow People of the Pod on your favorite podcast app, and learn more at AJC.org/PeopleofthePod You can reach us at: peopleofthepod@ajc.org If you've appreciated this episode, please be sure to tell your friends, and rate and review us on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Transcript of the Interview: Manya Brachear Pashman:     During the Obama administration, Sarah Hurwitz served as senior speech writer for President Barack Obama and chief speech writer for First Lady Michelle Obama. But after she left the White House, she did a little bit of soul searching, and in her mid 30s, reconnected with her Judaism. She wrote about it in a book titled Here All Along, and joined us at the time to talk about it. Sarah has returned with us this week to talk about the book that followed, titled As a Jew: Reclaiming Our Story from Those Who Blame, Shame, and Try to Erase Us.  Sarah, welcome back to People of the Pod. Sarah Hurwitz:  Thank you so much. I'm thrilled to be here. Manya Brachear Pashman:     So your title has a very powerful accusation. So tell us who is blaming, shaming and trying to erase us? Sarah Hurwitz:   Yeah. So, you know, it's funny. My first book, as you know, was this love letter toJudaism. This, this journey of discovery of Jewish tradition, and I loved it so much, and I wanted to share it. You know, as I was writing it, I was thinking, Oh, where has this been all my life. Kind of a lovely, almost rhetorical question. But after it came out, a few things kind of happened that made me actually ask that question more seriously. Like, Wait, why did I not see any of the 4000 years of Jewish wisdom growing up?  The first thing was, I trained to be a volunteer hospital chaplain, and you know, chaplaincy is multifaith, open to chaplains of all backgrounds. But you know, the training was kind of weirdly Christian. You know, we would talk about our ministry and our theology. And I was told that prayer is God, please heal so and so who's right here in front of me, and I'm just making this prayer up spontaneously, and they can hear me, and that's prayer. And everyone prays that way, I was told. I said, You know that that's not really a common form of Jewish prayer. But I was told, No, no, as long as you don't say Jesus, it is universal. That's interesting.  And then something else that happened is I visited a college campus probably a year before October 7, and I was talking to students there at the Hillel, talking to a bunch of Jewish students. And one of them asked me, What did you do to respond to antisemitism when you were in college? And I was so stunned, I didn't even understand the question at first. And then I said, I didn't, not once, never. Not a single time did I deal with antisemitism.  And the kids just looked kind of shocked, like they didn't believe me. And they started sharing stories of the antisemitism they were facing on campus. And I thought, uh oh, something's going on here. And then I really began kind of taking a deep dive into my identity.  Of like, wait, so why did I spend my whole life being like, oh, I'm just a cultural Jew. I knew nothing about Jewish culture. Which is a beautiful way to be Jewish, being a cultural Jew, but I knew nothing about history, language, anything like that. When I said I'm an ethnic Jew, but Jews are of every ethnicity, so that's nonsense.  Or I'd say social justice is my Judaism, but I didn't know anything about what Judaism said about social justice. Unlike these wonderful Jews who do know about social justice and spend their lives acting out Jewish social justice.  And so I took a deep dive into history, and what I discovered was 2000 years of antisemitism and anti-Judaism and 200 years of Jews in Western Europe in a very understandable attempt to escape that persecution, kind of erasing many of our traditions. And I think that was kind of my answer to, where has this been all my life? And also my answer to, why did I have such an apologetic Jewish identity for so much of my life? Manya Brachear Pashman:     In my introduction, I left off half the title of your first book because it was very long, but I am curious, kind of, when did you realize . . . well, let me give the full title of your book, it's Here All Along: Finding Meaning, Spirituality, and a Deeper Connection to Life--in Judaism (After Finally Choosing to Look There).  So I guess, how was that delayed connection to Judaism, can you elaborate a little bit more about how it was tied to these forces that you just talked about? Sarah Hurwitz:  Yeah, so, you know, something that I didn't really fully understand, I had intimations of this, but didn't really understand this, is that, you know, 2000 years ago, early Christianity very much defined itself against Judaism. There was actually a name for this, the Aversos Judeos tradition, which means against the Jews in Latin.  And you know, early Church Fathers very much were defining Christianity against Judaism, because back then, both of these traditions had originated from Judaism. And you know they parted ways at some point, and the Church Fathers were really trying to distinguish Christianity from Judaism, and to get people to stop kind of practicing both traditions. This tradition really continues with Judaism defined as unspiritual, legalistic, depraved, dead, spiritually superseded. A lot of very, very ugly tropes that kind of have common themes that say that Jews are diabolically powerful, so supernaturally powerful, you can't even believe it. They are also profoundly depraved, evil, bloodthirsty, perverse, and they're in a conspiracy to hurt you. So there may be very few of them, but man, they are working together to really do harm.  And you see these three themes kind of making their way through history, unfortunately, all the way basically, until the Holocaust. And I based a lot of my writing on the work of a number of really distinguished Christian scholars who make this argument. It's actually a pretty common argument among Christian scholars.  And, you know, in recent decades, the church has very much disavowed its historic anti-Judaism and has worked very hard to, you know, fight antisemitism in the church. But, you know, these things really did kind of continue on through the 20th century. Manya Brachear Pashman:     So you do describe in your book moments when you got oddly defensive about your Judaism, or perhaps a bit revisionist about Jewish history and the origin of Jewish traditions, or the reason why they exist now in modern day. Can you elaborate on some of those moments for our listeners and explain how you've self-corrected thatdefense? Sarah Hurwitz:  You know, I think a lot of it took the form of, oh, I'm Jewish, but not that Jewish. It was just sort of this immediate, but I'm not one of those Jews. You know, those really Jewish Jews. Well, I'm sorry, would it be a problem if I were? What if social justice wasn't my Judaism, but Judaism was my Judaism? Would that be okay? You know, just beginning to notice, like, Why am I always kind of pushing it away, claiming that I'm not too Jewish? That's a very strange way to announce someone's identity. I think, you know, Dara Horn has actually a really, quite an amazing essay called The Cool Kids, and she talks about these two different types of antisemitism. And one is this kind of eliminationist antisemitism which says the Jews are bad, there's nothing they can do to be good. We must kill them. And you know, that is the Holocaust, pogroms. We learn about that kind of antisemitism in school. But there's another kind of antisemitism, which is conversionist, which says, yes, the Jews are bad, but there is something they can do to be okay and saved. And that is, they can disavow whatever we, the majority, find disgusting about Jewish civilization.  So you know, back in the day, it was, reject Jewish religion and convert to Christianity, and you'll be saved, maybe. For some amount of time, possibly. In my parents and grandparents generation, it was, you know, reject your last name, get a nose job. Stop being so "Jewy", be a little bit more "waspy," and then maybe we'll let you into our club. Then maybe we'll accept you.  And today, what you see is you have to reject your ancestral homeland, you know, reject Israel, and then you'll be okay. And, you know, I visited 27 college campuses, and I kind of saw how this sometimes takes on the format of almost like a Christian conversion narrative, where it goes something like, you know, growing up, my rabbi and my parents told me Israel was perfect and amazing and a utopia. And then I got to college, and I realized that actually it's a colonialist, Nazi, racist society, and I had an epiphany. I saw the light, and I took anti-Zionism and anti-colonialism into my heart, and now I'm saved. Now I'm a good Jew. And their classmates are like, now you're a good Jew.  And as Dara Horn puts it, this kind of antisemitism involves the weaponization of shame. It involves really trying to convince Jews that there is something fundamentally shameful about some aspect of themselves, their identity, their tradition. And today, that thing is Israel. This idea that there's something fundamentally . . . it's like the original sin of the world. Manya Brachear Pashman:     And you also talk about the tradition of circumcision, and how that came up, and you found yourself explaining this to someone. Can you elaborate on that for our listeners? Which I thought was really interesting.  Sarah Hurwitz:  This was during an encounter with a patient. I was doing a chaplaincy shift, and  usually I don't tell my patients my religious background, I'm very neutral, unless they're Jewish, in which case, I do tell them I'm Jewish. But, you know, I was finishing up a conversation with this very lovely lady. And she was very curious about my background. And so I told her, you know, I'm Jewish. And her eyes kind of lit up, and she said, Oh, you know, many of my neighbors are Jewish. I've actually been to two brisses in the past month.  And she just, you know, and she was so lovely, like, she actually seemed to be just really happy to be included in this tradition of her neighbors. And I got weirdly defensive, and was like, Oh, well, you know, just so, you know, medical professionals, they say whether you circumcise or don't circumcise, it's really, it's equally safe either way. And you know, we often, you know, when we do brisses, they're often done by a medical provider.  And I'm going on and on and like, this woman did not say the slightest negative thing about this tradition, but suddenly I am defensive. Suddenly it's like, Huh, interesting. You know, I think that it was an illustration to me of the way that we can sometimes really imbibe all of the kind of negative views about Jews and Jewish traditions that are around us, and become defensive, and sometimes we don't even realize that they're there. It's almost like they're the air that we breathe. Manya Brachear Pashman:     But let me challenge that and push back a little bit. I mean, is it okay to not agree with some of the traditions of the Jewish faith and be open about your disagreement with that? I certainly know a lot of Christians who don't like things that emerge from their tradition or from their community. Is that okay? Or is it not when Judaism is threatened? Sarah Hurwitz:  So I actually do think that's okay. You know, I have no problem with that, but I think the problem in this situation was that I have no problem with circumcision, but I'm suddenly getting defensive and trying to convince this woman that it's not weird. And I'm thinking, why am I doing this? It was very interesting to me that I felt so suddenly defensive and anxious. You know, it was very surprising to me. Manya Brachear Pashman:     And similarly, it's okay to criticize Israeli policy too, right? I mean, it's totally acceptable.  Sarah Hurwitz:  Absolutely. This is the thing that I'm so confused about. Where people are saying, well, you know, you're saying that it's not okay to criticize Israel. And I'm like, I'm sorry. Have you been to Israel? It's like the national pastime there to criticize the government. I criticize the Israeli government all the time, as do millions of American Jews.  This idea that this is somehow… that we're somehow reacting to criticism of Israel, that's ridiculous. I think what we're reacting to is not criticism of Israel, but it's something else. You know, when you have students on a college campus saying from water to water, Palestine should be Arab, or Israelis are Nazis. I just, with all due respect, I don't see that as criticism. Nor would I see it as criticism if, God forbid, a Jewish student ever said from water to water, Israel should be Jewish, or, Palestinians are terrorists. That is hateful, disgusting, racist, eliminationist language. And if I ever heard a Jewish student say that, I mean, let me tell you, I would have quite a talking to with that kid.  So that's not criticism. Criticism is, I am vehemently opposed and abhor, this policy, this ideology, this action, for these reasons. That's criticism. And I think you can use real strong language to do that kind of criticism. But there's a difference between a criticism and slurs and baseless accusations. And I think we need to be just clear about that. Manya Brachear Pashman:     All right, so you just use the term from water to water instead of from river to sea. Was that on purpose? Sarah Hurwitz:  Not necessarily. It's just a clearer illustration of what I think from the river to the sea really means, you know, I think  that is the Arabic that is used. Infrom the river to the sea, Palestine shall be free. It's like, you can kind of make an argument that this is about Palestinian Liberation. And okay, fair enough. But I think when you get the from water to water, it shall be Arab, that's when I think there's less of an argument that it's about freedom, and it seems a little bit more eliminationist to me. Manya Brachear Pashman:     Interesting. I've not heard that before. But I like that. So you call antisemitism the least mysterious phenomenon. Can you please explain what you mean by that? Sarah Hurwitz:  Yeah, you know, I think, like a lot of young people, my antisemitism education was mainly just Holocaust education. And I kind of walked away thinking like, huh, how wild that the civilized world just lost its mind in the mid-20th century and started killing Jews. That's so shocking and disturbing, you know, why is that? And the answer was kind of like, well, you know, the Germans lost World War I. They blamed the Jews. There was a depression. They blamed the Jews.  And when you ask why the Jews, it's like, well, because of prejudice and scapegoating. I'm like, Okay, right. But again, why the Jews? Prejudice and scapegoating, that's the answer. It's like, well, actually, the answer really is because of 2000 years of Christian anti-Judaism that preceded that. It wasn't mysterious why the Jews were targeted.  This was a 2000-year neural groove that had been worn into the Western world psyche. And this is not my argument. This is the argument of countless Christian scholars whose brilliant work I cite. And so I think that the unfortunate thing about some forms of Holocaust education is that it leaves you with the impression that, oh, this is so mysterious, it's just kind of eternal and kind of comes out of nowhere. Or even worse, you might even think maybe we did something to deserve this. But it's not mysterious. I can show you its path through history.  And I think it's very important that Jews understand this history. And look, I think this is very hard to teach in an average American public school. Because, you know, we live in a country where, you know, saying Happy Holidays instead of Merry Christmas is very upsetting for some people. They feel very threatened and triggered by that.  So for a teacher to say, like, Okay, kids today we're going to learn about how 2000 years of Christian anti-Judaism paved the way for the Holocaust . . . I don't think that's going to go well. Even if many mainstream Christian scholars would agree that that's true, this is a challenge that we face. Manya Brachear Pashman:     So you have continued, as you said, to visit college campuses where antisemitism has been an issue since October 7, more of an issue than it even was beforehand. And yet, when you were at Harvard and Harvard Law, you've said you could have walked through Harvard Yard wrapped in an Israeli flag and no one would have said a word or reacted negatively. So what has changed, and does it signal a more general shift on campuses of kind of uncensored, unbridled speech?  In other words, if black students support black lives matter, or gay students are marching for pride, do you feel like there's a sense that students who disagree with that from either the right or the left, have kind of claimed a license to criticize that too? Sarah Hurwitz:  No. I try to explain to college students when they say, Well, okay, my campus isn't that bad, you know, I can wear my Jewish star, and I won't get, you know, harassed or ostracized. And I say, like, okay, great, if it's not that bad, I'll just wear my Israel t-shirt and we'll see how it goes. They're like, No.  And then I have to go through this long litany of like, okay, if your black classmate said to you, well, this campus isn't so bad for black students, but I can't wear my Black Lives Matter t-shirt or else I'll be harassed and ostracized. I hope you would say that's not okay, that's racism, pretty clear. Or if your queer classmate said, Well, this campus is pretty good for queer people, but I can't wear my pride t-shirt, I hope you would say, That's not pretty good. That's homophobia.  You know, when the majority feels entitled to decide how the minority can embody and express their identity, I think we have a really serious problem. And  sometimes the kids will push back on me. Well, no, no, but the problem isn't being Jewish. It's Israel. I'm like, okay, but if your Chinese American classmate wore a t-shirt that said China, even if all your classmates knew that the Chinese government had been interning a million Muslim Uighurs in camps and subjecting them to horrific human rights violations, would they harass and ostracize her?  And they're like, Well, probably not. Right, because they would assume that she has a relationship to China that maybe involves having heritage there, or maybe she studied abroad there, or maybe she's studying Chinese, maybe she has family there. I think they would assume that she has some connection to the country that doesn't involve agreeing with the policies of the Chinese government, and Jewish students on campus really aren't afforded that courtesy.  And I'll tell you, most of the Jewish students I spoke with on campus, they, like me, are extremely critical of this current Israeli government. Extremely, extremely critical. They have all sorts of criticisms about what's happening in Gaza, of the occupation.  You know, their views are quite nuanced and complex, but there is no room given for that. You know, I think on some college campuses, Israel has been put into the same bucket as the KKK and the Nazi party. So I can't say to you, look, you know, I'm a Nazi, but I'm a liberal Nazi. Or, oh, you know, I'm in the KKK, but I'm not racist. It's like, come on, right?  These are vile entities with which no connection is acceptable, period. And I think once Israel ceases to be a country and instead becomes the representation of all evil in the world, there's really no relationship that you can have with it that's acceptable. And I think that is a pretty devastating place for it to be today.  And I'll tell you, I think it's a really challenging moment right now where I, like a lot of American Jews, I'm a Zionist. I believe that Jews have a right to a safe and secure home state in their ancestral homeland. I believe we have the right to national independence and self determination, like Japanese people have in Japan and Latvians have in Latvia, and on and on. And you know, we've run that experiment of Jewish powerlessness for 2000 years, and it didn't go well. Even as late as the 20th century. It wasn't just that two thirds of Jews in Europe got wiped out because of the Holocaust.  It's that nearly a million Jews who lived in Arab lands had to flee persecution, most of them to Israel. It's that 2 million Russian Jews had to flee persecution, half of them to Israel. It's that 10s of 1000s of Ethiopian Jews, I can go on and on. So we know, we've run that experiment of Jewish statelessness, and it doesn't go well.  And at the same time, we are looking at this current Israeli government, and we are appalled. We're appalled by the ideology, we're appalled by many of the policies. And you know, for me as an American, this feels very familiar, because I love this country. I'm a proud, patriotic American, and I happen to very much disagree with the current president. I happen to be very much appalled by the current president's policies and ideology. And so, I think many people are able to hold that, but somehow it's harder with Israel, because of what is in the air right now. Manya Brachear Pashman:     So, really you're saying that antisemitism has distorted history. Distorted people's understanding of Israel's history, their understanding of modern Israel's rebirth and existence. It spawned anti-Zionism. Correct?  Sarah Hurwitz:   Yes. Manya Brachear Pashman:     Did you encounter that during your time in the Obama administration? Do you see it now, in hindsight or or is it a more recent emergence? Sarah Hurwitz:   I think this is more recent. I mean, you know, probably in some spaces it was, you know, I was in the administration from 2009 to 2017. I never once saw any kind of anti-Zionism or antisemitism. I mean, it was one of the best places to be a proud, passionate Jew. I knew my colleagues could not have been more supportive of my Jewish exploration. They were so proud when I wrote my first book.  So I never saw any of this ever, once. And I think, you know, I think what is so confusing about this is that we often think about antisemitism as a kind of personal prejudice, like, oh, you know, Jews are fill in the blank, nasty thing. They are dirty, cheap, crass. I don't want my daughter to marry one. I don't want one in my country club.  You don't really see that kind of antisemitism in the circles where I travel anymore. What you see instead is more of political antisemitism, which is antisemitism as a kind of conspiracy theory that says that we, the majority, are engaged in a grand moral project, and the only thing stopping us are these Jews. We the majority are Christianizing the Roman Empire.  The only thing stopping us, these Jews who won't convert. We the majority are bringing about the brotherhood of man, the great communist revolution. The only thing stopping us, these capitalist Jews. We the Germans, are bringing about the great, racially pure Aryan fatherland. The only thing stopping us – these race-polluting Jews.  And today in America, you see it on the right and the left. On the right, it's, you know, we white Christian Americans are bringing back white Christian civilization to America. And the only thing stopping us are these Jews who are importing black and brown immigrants to replace white people. That is the extremely racist and antisemitic theory known as the Great Replacement theory. It is an ugly, disgusting lie.  On the left you have, you know, we this very moral group of people. we are bringing about the revolution of anti-colonialism, anti-Zionism. And the only thing stopping us are these colonialist Zionists, which is a polite way of saying Jews. And so, you know, I think it's very important to understand, as Yossi Klein Halevi, the journalist, puts it, you know, what you see again and again is whatever is the worst thing in a society, that is what the Jews are deemed to be. Whatever is the worst thing among a particular population, that is what the Jews are deemed to be. And I think we're kind of seeing that on both the right and the left today. Manya Brachear Pashman:     If antisemitism defines so much, or has defined so much of Jewish identity, how do we reclaim that? How have you reclaimed that? And how have you found joy in your Jewish identity, especially after doing this book and immersing yourself and all of this extremely depressing perspective? Sarah Hurwitz:   I hear this kind of line among many Jews that breaks my heart. It's this sort of self-flagellation, of like, if we just had the right PR campaign, if we just had the right tweet, then we would fight antisemitism. It's our fault, we're doing such a bad job fighting antisemitism. And, you know, I love the ambition there. I think that is so sweet.  But there are 16 million of us in the whole world. That's with an M, million, like the size of like, the fifth largest city in China. We are a Chinese city. There are billions of people who don't really love us out there. And the idea that we, this tiny group of people, is going to somehow change the minds of billions of people. I really respect the ambition, but I think that's a tough one.  I think it's sort of like trying to bail out a tsunami with buckets. You know, if enough of us do it, I'm sure we can make a difference. And I have such respect for the people who are doing that work. I think it's very important. But I also would just suggest that maybe we should put a little more of our energy into building an ark to weather the storm.  And you know, to me, that ark is, engaging deeply with our traditions. It's reclaiming, I think, some of what we lost when we were assimilating and trying to fit in. You know, we have thousands of years of text that have such wisdom about the human condition, about how to be a good person and lead a worthy life and find profound spiritual connection. We have just so many beautiful traditions. And so I think that what we can really do is, we can be Jews. And to be a Jew has always been to be different.  That was kind of our value proposition thousands of years ago when we came along and said, hey guys, monotheism. Totally different way of thinking. We said, hey, every human being is created in the image of God, which is an idea that every human being is infinitely worthy. Which, again, this is the idea that underlies things like liberalism, democracy, human rights. These are really Earth-shatteringly different counter cultural ideas, and we have so many more of those that I still think the world needs today.  So I think that rather than just being anti-anti-semites, that we can be proud Jews instead, and we can really focus on becoming more learned, more vibrant members of our communities, you know, engaging in more of our traditions and our rituals.  I also think, you know, Dara Horn has been doing a lot of great work about educating kids about Jewish civilization. Rather than having young people only know about the Jews via the Holocaust, she really wants to teach young people about Jewish civilization, ideas, and people. I think that is a very, very powerful and very helpful idea. Manya Brachear Pashman:     So how are you doing this? How do you spend each week? How do you reclaim some of these traditions and joy? Sarah Hurwitz:    For me, it's studying. That's really how I engage, you know, I have various chavrutas or I study Jewish texts. I love reading Jewish books, and I love participating in the Jewish community. You know, I love engaging with various Jewish organizations, you know, serving on various committees, and just trying to be part of this project of reclaiming Judaism, of making it more accessible to more Jews. This is what I love doing, and I'll be starting in January. I'm actually going to be starting a rabbinic program at the Hartman Institute. It's a part time program.  And I'm not not planning to be a congregational rabbi, but I do want to keep writing books, and I am really grateful for this opportunity to get a much deeper, more thorough Jewish education than the one I've kind of given to myself, and, you know, kind of cobbled together. I think this is going to be a really extraordinary opportunity. So I'm very excited about that.  Manya Brachear Pashman:     Oh, wow. Well, congratulations. I look forward to welcoming you back to the podcast and calling you Rabbi.  Sarah Hurwitz: Thank you. Manya Brachear Pashman:     Thank you so much for joining us, Sarah. Sarah Hurwitz:  Such a pleasure. Thank you for having me.   

Founded in 1932, the Pērkonkrusts ("Thunder Cross") was the largest and most prominent right-wing political party in Latvia in the early twentieth century. Its motto--"Latvia for Latvians!"--echoed the ultranationalist rhetoric of similar movements throughout Europe at the time. Unlike the Nazis in Germany or the Fascists in Italy, however, the Pērkonkrusts never succeeded in seizing power. Nevertheless, in her book Thunder Cross: Fascist Antisemitism in Twentieth-Century Latvia (U Wisconsin Press, 2025) holocaust historian Paula A. Oppermann argues that the movement left an indelible mark on the country . The antisemitism at the core of the Pērkonkrusts' ideology remained a driving force for Latvian fascists throughout the twentieth century, persisting despite shifting historical and political contexts. Thunder Cross is the most comprehensive study of Latvia's fascist movement in English to date, and the only work that investigates the often neglected continuities of fascist antisemitism after World War II. Formulated as an empirical case study, this book draws on international and interdisciplinary secondary literature and sources in seven languages to broaden our understanding of fascism, antisemitism, and mass violence from Germany and Italy to the larger European context. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/new-books-network

Founded in 1932, the Pērkonkrusts ("Thunder Cross") was the largest and most prominent right-wing political party in Latvia in the early twentieth century. Its motto--"Latvia for Latvians!"--echoed the ultranationalist rhetoric of similar movements throughout Europe at the time. Unlike the Nazis in Germany or the Fascists in Italy, however, the Pērkonkrusts never succeeded in seizing power. Nevertheless, in her book Thunder Cross: Fascist Antisemitism in Twentieth-Century Latvia (U Wisconsin Press, 2025) holocaust historian Paula A. Oppermann argues that the movement left an indelible mark on the country . The antisemitism at the core of the Pērkonkrusts' ideology remained a driving force for Latvian fascists throughout the twentieth century, persisting despite shifting historical and political contexts. Thunder Cross is the most comprehensive study of Latvia's fascist movement in English to date, and the only work that investigates the often neglected continuities of fascist antisemitism after World War II. Formulated as an empirical case study, this book draws on international and interdisciplinary secondary literature and sources in seven languages to broaden our understanding of fascism, antisemitism, and mass violence from Germany and Italy to the larger European context. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/history

Founded in 1932, the Pērkonkrusts ("Thunder Cross") was the largest and most prominent right-wing political party in Latvia in the early twentieth century. Its motto--"Latvia for Latvians!"--echoed the ultranationalist rhetoric of similar movements throughout Europe at the time. Unlike the Nazis in Germany or the Fascists in Italy, however, the Pērkonkrusts never succeeded in seizing power. Nevertheless, in her book Thunder Cross: Fascist Antisemitism in Twentieth-Century Latvia (U Wisconsin Press, 2025) holocaust historian Paula A. Oppermann argues that the movement left an indelible mark on the country . The antisemitism at the core of the Pērkonkrusts' ideology remained a driving force for Latvian fascists throughout the twentieth century, persisting despite shifting historical and political contexts. Thunder Cross is the most comprehensive study of Latvia's fascist movement in English to date, and the only work that investigates the often neglected continuities of fascist antisemitism after World War II. Formulated as an empirical case study, this book draws on international and interdisciplinary secondary literature and sources in seven languages to broaden our understanding of fascism, antisemitism, and mass violence from Germany and Italy to the larger European context. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/jewish-studies

Founded in 1932, the Pērkonkrusts ("Thunder Cross") was the largest and most prominent right-wing political party in Latvia in the early twentieth century. Its motto--"Latvia for Latvians!"--echoed the ultranationalist rhetoric of similar movements throughout Europe at the time. Unlike the Nazis in Germany or the Fascists in Italy, however, the Pērkonkrusts never succeeded in seizing power. Nevertheless, in her book Thunder Cross: Fascist Antisemitism in Twentieth-Century Latvia (U Wisconsin Press, 2025) holocaust historian Paula A. Oppermann argues that the movement left an indelible mark on the country . The antisemitism at the core of the Pērkonkrusts' ideology remained a driving force for Latvian fascists throughout the twentieth century, persisting despite shifting historical and political contexts. Thunder Cross is the most comprehensive study of Latvia's fascist movement in English to date, and the only work that investigates the often neglected continuities of fascist antisemitism after World War II. Formulated as an empirical case study, this book draws on international and interdisciplinary secondary literature and sources in seven languages to broaden our understanding of fascism, antisemitism, and mass violence from Germany and Italy to the larger European context. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/eastern-european-studies

Founded in 1932, the Pērkonkrusts ("Thunder Cross") was the largest and most prominent right-wing political party in Latvia in the early twentieth century. Its motto--"Latvia for Latvians!"--echoed the ultranationalist rhetoric of similar movements throughout Europe at the time. Unlike the Nazis in Germany or the Fascists in Italy, however, the Pērkonkrusts never succeeded in seizing power. Nevertheless, in her book Thunder Cross: Fascist Antisemitism in Twentieth-Century Latvia (U Wisconsin Press, 2025) holocaust historian Paula A. Oppermann argues that the movement left an indelible mark on the country . The antisemitism at the core of the Pērkonkrusts' ideology remained a driving force for Latvian fascists throughout the twentieth century, persisting despite shifting historical and political contexts. Thunder Cross is the most comprehensive study of Latvia's fascist movement in English to date, and the only work that investigates the often neglected continuities of fascist antisemitism after World War II. Formulated as an empirical case study, this book draws on international and interdisciplinary secondary literature and sources in seven languages to broaden our understanding of fascism, antisemitism, and mass violence from Germany and Italy to the larger European context. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Allied Intervention into the Russian Civil War remains one of the most ambitious yet least talked about military ventures of the 20th century. Coinciding with the end of the first World War, some 180,000 troops from several countries including the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Japan, Italy, Greece, Poland, and Romania, among others, were sent to fight alongside Russian “Whites” against the Red Army. Despite one victory for the Allied troops – independence for the Latvians and the Estonians – the two-year long attempt at reversing the 1917 Russian Revolution ended in humiliating defeat. To explore this crucial event of the early 20th century is today’s guest, Anna Reid, author of “A Nasty Little War: The Western Intervention into the Russian Civil War.” What was originally aimed to prevent Germany from exploiting the power vacuum in Eastern Europe left by the Russian Revolution ultimately morphed into the Allies’ gamble to destroy Communist ideology. It was a mixture of good intentions and self-delusion, flag-waving and empty promises, cover-ups, exaggerations, and downright lies from politicians.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Eugene Buchanan drops by for a deep dive into a life built around rivers, paddling, and epic adventure. He's a former editor-in-chief of Paddler magazine, founder of Paddling Life, a Fellow of the Explorers Club, a renowned author, and a man whose stories span over 30 countries and six continents. Show Notes WHAT HAPPENED: I never planned to make a living from rivers. In fact, if you had asked me back in college, I was more focused on seasonal raft guiding and avoiding any “real job” that required shoes. But then a friend called. He had a permit for the Grand Canyon. I packed up, strapped a kayak to my car, and drove down the Alcan Highway. That trip changed everything. I met my wife on that river. Then I quit my job. Took freelance writing gigs. Burned my vacation time to chase rivers in Peru and Ecuador. Eventually, I found myself editing a national paddling magazine... and later, starting my own. I've paddled in Siberia with Latvians who made rafts from military gear and soccer balls. I've seen the rise of pack rafts, drone scouting, and GPS maps. I've watched river communities form in the unlikeliest places. And I've learned the hard way—like, “class V in the Colombian jungle, middle-of-nowhere, CPR-on-the-rocks” kind of hard—that rivers don't care about your itinerary. PRINCIPLE: The river doesn't just test your skills. It reveals your priorities. It reminds you that life—like paddling—isn't about control. It's about choosing the current that calls to you… and having the right crew with you when it all goes sideways. TRANSITION: Too many people think paddling is just about adrenaline. But the truth is, most folks never get beyond the weekend warrior stage—not because they lack passion, but because they don't have a crew, a guide, or a map for what's next. They want to explore more, but they don't know where to start. Or worse—they overestimate what they can handle and end up burned out, discouraged, or worse. THAT'S WHY: That's why this episode with Eugene Buchanan is such a gift. It's not just a story about rivers—it's a deep dive into how adventure becomes a lifestyle, a career, and a calling. From Siberia to the Yampa, Eugene shows what's possible when you follow your curiosity and stay in the current long enough to let it shape you. CALL TO ACTION: If you've ever wondered if you have what it takes to go from weekend paddle trips to something bigger—this is the episode you need. Don't wait for perfect weather. Don't wait until you “feel ready.” The river's already flowing. Jump in.

Latvia has a remarkably long coastline for its size. Therefore, seafaring, fishing and eating fish are important parts of Latvian life and culture. We step back in time and discover the history of Latvia's fishing industry, with many good tales. We will also taste some typical Latvian fish, mostly smoked in the way Latvians love it, which the EU now wants to ban. I will suggest a fish driving tour along the Bay of Riga coast from Jūrmala up to Kolka and then down the Baltic Sea coast to Mazirbe, where fishing boats came to die. Join me as we get stuck into some tasty fish! Thanks for listening!

SUMMARY: Matt explains how he'll save the NBA and sees Ben Schwartz doing long-form improv, while his son fires a shotgun for art. Jacob wishes he had been invited to see bikini bull riding, and Paul has to return a defective battery. Also Scoop Mails and a Top Tens Jock vs. Nerd. Sponsored by Tim's Time Traveling Agency.

Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy is searching for calmer waters across the pond - one day after a heated confrontation with U.S. President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance in the Oval Office. By contrast, a meeting with Britain's Prime Minister Saturday was cordial and supportive. And comes just ahead of a European summit looking at Ukraine's future after three brutal years of war.Also: A Canadian Navy vessel has reached Antarctica. Now, the team of scientists on board is getting down to work to better understand how climate change has altered the Southern Ocean. You'll hear from CBC's International Climate Correspondent, who's onboard the ship.And: The Latvian animated movie 'Flow' could soon take home Oscar gold. Its the first movie from the Baltic country to ever be up for an Academy Award. We'll take you to Riga...where Latvians are celebrating the film as a source of national pride. 

The Latvian animation Flow is a ground-breaking independent film that has disrupted high-profile, big-budget international productions with its visual storytelling techniques about survival, trust and collaboration. It has already won a Golden Globe and is up for two BAFTAs and two Oscars. It is a source of pride to most Latvians. Let me tell you more about this uniquely Latvian film. Thanks for listening!

Arnprior's Director of Recreation Graeme Ivory joins the show to talk about the community hosting Latvia for the World Juniors tournament, and to touch on some soccer stories

About the lecture: In December 1989, in officially recognizing the authenticity of the 1939 Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact's secret protocol, the USSR Congress of People's Deputies evinced the hope that the globally divided historical consciousness of the Cold War would be replaced with a new conception of the past, reflecting “a whole and mutually interdependent world and increasing mutual understanding.” While there was cause for hope in the immediate post-Soviet years that such a “flat earth” of shared accounts of history—the foundation for a world of shared political values—would emerge, subsequent decades led to renewed, often weaponized fragmentation of historical vision across political borders, and especially at the border separating Europe from the Russian Federation. However, in distinction from the Cold War opposition of ideologically differentiated accounts of history, current standoffs relate to the application of the most basic terms—empire, nation, fascist, genocide, socialist, liberal—which are applied on both sides of borders and conflict zones, yet with opposed significance. Rather than a confrontation of historical ideologies, this is a standoff of historical ontologies. In this presentation of his recently published book "Border Conditions: Russian-Speaking Latvians Between World Orders", Platt will examine the etiology of this ontological conflict, as it emerges from the experience of a population that has been located since the end of the Cold War in the interstitial zone at the borders of Europe: Russian-speaking Latvians. Their world, riven by contradiction, offers a vantage, as through a keyhole, toward globally shared conditions of historical and political incoherence and conflict at the start of the twenty-first century. About the speaker: Kevin M. F. Platt is Professor of Russian and East European Studies at the University of Pennsylvania. His scholarly work focuses on Russian and East European culture, history, poetry, and fiction. He is author or editor of a number of scholarly books, among them "Terror and Greatness: Ivan and Peter as Russian Myths" (Cornell, 2011), "Global Russian Cultures" (Wisconsin, 2019), and, most recently, "Border Conditions: Russian-Speaking Latvians Between World Orders" (Cornell/NIUP, 2024). His translations of Russian and Latvian poetry have appeared in "World Literature Today:, "Jacket2", "Fence", and other journals. He is the founder and organizer of the poetry translation symposium Your Language My Ear. His current project is entitled “Cultural Arbitrage in the Age of Three Worlds.”

Latvians mark the summer solstice by celebrating the longest day of the year. Also, a new discovery of a rare genetic mutation of one family in Colombia may present an opportunity to learn how the body could naturally resist Alzheimer's. And, new mothers in different parts of the world find that preparing the traditional foods of their own mothers and grandmothers from their home countries can ease the transition to motherhood. Plus, a look at the intersection of fashion and sports as Paris hosts the Summer Olympic Games.

Leaving aside deep thoughts about the demise of Happy Shopper outlets, magazine editor Andy Lyons, writer Harry Pearson and host Daniel Gray discuss Forgotten Euros Heroes, from shirty Latvians to an infamous coin via an unfortunate case of whistle flatulence. Magazine Deputy Editor Ffion Thomas previews WSC issue 443, Record Breakers brings us a Sturm stormer, and we continue our sprightly feature The Final Third, in which a guest contributes a match, a player and an object to the WSC Museum of Football. Joining Dan as our visiting curator this time is Kit Holden, author of the new book Played in Germany: A Footballing Journey Through a Nation's Soul, which is available from the WSC Shop.Support the Show.Would you like to hear twice as many podcasts and longer editions of these ones, and support our print magazine? You would? Then join the WSC Supporters' Club! Sign up here: www.patreon.com/whensaturdaycomes

The Canucks have a 3-2 series lead over the Edmonton Oilers after winning Game 5 in the second round of the Stanley Cup playoffs. Eric Savics, Latvian honourary consul to B.C., shares how Latvians are celebrating Canuck goalie Arturs Solivs, and fans share where they were for J.T. Millers' game-winning goal, and their predictions for Game 6 on Saturday. Heading into the Victoria Day long weekend, many people across B.C. plan to head outdoors. Our guests Shaun Stephens-Whale, elite runner and tower climber, and, Kate Lee, Coordinator All Bodies Community Exercise and Fitness, discuss motivation and tips for staying active.

CEO of one of our favourite websites eliteprospects.com Peter Sibner joins us to discuss the lead up to the playoffs and who to watch for.  It was a fun conversation and Peter gave us some great insights.    Listen Here:  iTunes  Google Play  Stitcher  Direct MP3   iHeart Radio Title Players Wayne Merrick and Pierre Mondou Feedback Arvids - What 2 Latvians to win cup in last 30 years.  Interview: Peter Sibner - Elite Prospects President ESMG, North America Guess the 5th Connections - Last week: Rick Nash, Corey Stillman, Justin Braun, Riley Stillman, This week: What connects Joe Nieuwendyk, Mike Keane, Claude Lemieux and Mark Recchi Playoff Races West is done - just a matter of whether Oilers play VGK or LAK Flyers fall out in tight race in East Hot/Not -  Atlantic - TBL 7-2-1 / FLA - Panthers limping in while Lightning ramping up - BOS/TBL will be tough Metro - NYR 8-2-0 / PHI - 2-5-3 Central - DAL 9-1-0 / WPG  4-5-1 -  Pacific - LAK 7-3-0 / CGY 2-8-0  - Flames are tough to figure.   Sharks - -136 goal diff    Worst in history   74-75 Capitals - -265 93-94 Sens - -196 92-93 Sharks -196 72-73 Isles - -177 75-76 Caps - 170  Will probably end up around -145  - 73-74 golden Seals area Crazy Stat DOPeS - Hartman 3 games for throwing stick on ice after OT loss. https://www.nhl.com/news/topic/player-safety/minnesota-wild-ryan-hartman-suspended-three-games Interesting in comparison with Guehle 1 gamer 

The Allied Intervention into the Russian Civil War remains one of the most ambitious yet least talked about military ventures of the 20th century. Coinciding with the end of the first World War, some 180,000 troops from several countries including the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Japan, Italy, Greece, Poland, and Romania, among others, were sent to fight alongside Russian “Whites” against the Red Army.Despite one victory for the Allied troops – independence for the Latvians and the Estonians – the two-year long attempt at reversing the 1917 Russian Revolution ended in humiliating defeat. To explore this crucial event of the early 20th century is today's guest, Anna Reid, author of “A Nasty Little War: The Western Intervention into the Russian Civil War.”What was originally aimed to prevent Germany from exploiting the power vacuum in Eastern Europe left by the Russian Revolution ultimately morphed into the Allies' gamble to destroy Communist ideology. It was a mixture of good intentions and self-delusion, flag-waving and empty promises, cover-ups, exaggerations, and downright lies from politicians.

It has been just over two years since Russia illegally and barbarically invaded Ukraine. Today the Latvian community is joining together with Ukrainians at an event called Solidarity Through Song Continue Reading → The post The Gothic Moose – Episode 554 – Latvians and Ukrainians Stand Together appeared first on The Gothic Moose.

It has been just over two years since Russia illegally and barbarically invaded Ukraine. Today the Latvian community is joining together with Ukrainians at an event called Solidarity Through Song Continue Reading → The post The Gothic Moose – Episode 554 – Latvians and Ukrainians Stand Together appeared first on The Gothic Moose.

'In Arctic blizzards between January and March 1945, the Latvian 15th SS Division - a core of Russian Front veterans but most raw teenage conscripts from Nazi-occupied Latvia - tried to stop the Red Army sweeping across Pomerania, now Poland. One in three died: the majority never returned home.' In this episode, I'm joined by Vincent Hunt, and we discuss the Latvians fighting with the Germans in the Latvian 15th SS Division. Through interviews, diaries, and never-before-utilised sources, in his book The Road of Slaughter: The Latvian 15th SS Division in Pomerania, January-March 1945, Vince has built a compelling narrative of desperate fighting as the Latvians were withdrawn from defending their own country to Poland. For listeners of the podcast, Helion has offered us a discount code for copies of the book purchased from their website helion.co.uk. The code is VHRS10. Patreonpatreon.com/ww2podcast  

Bună dimineața la cafelutză și bine v-am regăsit la o nouă ediție Curiosity, înapoi în studio. Ne-am întors cu toții după un CES lung și plin de tehnologie și nici nu am apucat să publicăm jumătate dintre ele. Urmează o serie lungă de mașini spectaculoase, ,gadget-uri mai mult sau mai puțin accesibile dar cu siguranță utile, și știri din tehnologie.Începem ediția de astăzi cu cel puțin 2 meme-uri numai bune de urmărit, ne minunăm cum ministrul educației din Franța își trimite copii la o școală privată, a venit frigul peste tot în lume, cu extreme în zone care abia dacă au văzut vreodată zăpadă, și oamenii stau la coadă pentru o geantă de sandvich-uri de 3000 de dolari.Oamenii o iau razna în avioane, youtube s-a supărat pe cei care nu plătesc și blochează reclamele și efactura este.. o chestie complicată, cel puțin momentan.În alte știri despre tehnologie, Apple a depășit Samsung la vânzări globale și este acum pe primul loc în lume, copiii vor să plece din România iar Google te urmărește chiar și în modul Incognito, apoi recunoaște asta dar nu spune de ce și preferă să plătească amenzi.

jQuery(document).ready(function(){ cab.clickify(); }); Original Podcast with clickable words http://tinyurl.com/ymsf3tlb Contact: irishlingos@gmail.com Census 2022: Daonáireamh 2022: 'Gaeilge an-mhaith ag 10 faoin gcéad de Ghaeilgeoirí'. According to new figures released by the Central Statistics Office, it was revealed in the 2022 Census that 195,029 people spoke Irish very well, which is 10% of Irish speakers. De réir figiuirí nua atá eisithe ag an bPríomh-Oifig Staidrimh, tugadh le fios i nDaonáireamh 2022 go raibh 'Gaeilge an-mhaith' ag 195,029 duine, sin 10 faoin gcéad de chainteoirí Gaeilge. 593,898 people said they had 'good Irish', that's 32% of Irish speakers. Dúirt 593,898 duine go raibh 'Gaeilge mhaith' acu, sin 32 faoin gcéad de chainteoirí Gaeilge. In that head, 1,034,132 people said they did not speak 'good Irish', that is 55% of Irish speakers. Ina cheann sin, dúirt 1,034,132 duine nach 'Gaeilge mhaith' a bhí acu, sin 55 faoin gcéad de chainteoirí Gaeilge. Almost 1.9 million people indicated in the 2022 Census that they spoke Irish, which is an increase of 112,500 people (6%) from the 2016 Census. Thug beagnach 1.9 milliún duine le fios i nDaonáireamh 2022 go raibh Gaeilge acu, sin méadú 112,500 duine (6 faoin gcéad ) ó Dhaonáireamh 2016. The share of Irish speakers in the Gaeltacht continued to decrease, however, from 69% in 2011 to 66% in 2022, it was said. Lean sciar na gcainteoirí Gaeilge sa Ghaeltacht ag laghdú, áfach, ó 69 faoin gcéad in 2011 go dtí 66 faoin gcéad in 2022, a dúradh. Australians above all other foreigners in Ireland speak Irish the most - in percentage terms anyway - according to the new figures. Is iad na hAstrálaigh thar aon eachtrannaigh eile in Éirinn is mó a bhfuil Gaeilge acu – go céatadánach ar aon chuma – de réir na bhfigiuirí nua. Irish is spoken by 15% of Australian citizens living in the State, that's 501 people. Tá Gaeilge ag 15 faoin gcéad de shaoránaigh na hAstráile atá ina gcónaí sa Stát, sin 501 duine. After that, 13% of Poles and 13% of Latvians speak Irish, that's 10,838 people and 2,114 people respectively. Ina ndiaidh sin, tá Gaeilge ag 13 faoin gcéad de Pholannaigh agus ag 13 faoin gcéad de Laitviaigh, sin 10,838 duine agus 2,114 duine faoi seach. 6,685 number of households that completed the Irish version of the census form. 6,685 líon tí a chomhlánaigh an leagan Gaeilge d'fhoirm an daonáirimh. RTÉ News and Current Affairs Nuacht agus Cúrsaí Reatha RTÉ

Gene in Riga, Latvian People Celebrate after witnessing patriotism, in its purest form. A country of 1.7 million people coalescing  around a principle of a constitution, a democracy, and a republic. They grow angrier by the day watching Russia, their arch enemy from years ago, now move on Ukraine. It opened a wound of communism and oppression which they rebelled from in the last 108 years. They have proven to be a steadfast supporter of the United States. There's a lesson of appreciation here for all Americans to heed. Gene spoke about Vladimir, an 18-year-old Ukrainian in Riga, who escaped Ukraine with his mother and sister 18 months ago. Millions have escaped Ukraine. Ukrainians now feel the resentment and anger Latvians have towards Russian aggression. WMXI Episode: Latvian People Celebrate Independence and DemocracyOriginally Aired on WMXI Radio on Friday, November 17, 2023 at 7:15am CSTSpecial thanks to the following source(s) for the image(s) used in this content:Pexels: https://www.pexels.com/photo/red-and-white-state-flag-waving-under-blue-sky-at-daytime-1012252/ Join the Conversation: https://GeneValentino.com WMXI Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/NewsRadio981 More WMXI Interviews: https://genevalentino.com/wmxi-interviews/ More GrassRoots TruthCast Episodes: https://genevalentino.com/grassroots-truthcast-with-gene-valentino/ More Broadcasts with Gene as the Guest: https://genevalentino.com/america-beyond-the-noise/ More About Gene Valentino: https://genevalentino.com/about-gene-valentino/

Religion Unplugged senior contributor Robert Carle speaks with Dr. Karlis Verdins, who teaches literature at the Art Academy of Latvia. Verdins hopes to confront Latvians with an honest reckoning of their complicity in the Holocaust. Verdins obtained a record of the Viktors Arajs's two year trial in Hamburg, which took place in Hamburg in 1977-79. Verdins turned the story of the trial into a drama, which opened in a small theater in Riga, Latvia in March 2023. The title of the play, “Wasn't There. Don't Know. Don't Remember,” refers to Arajs's defense at his trial. Holocaust survivors who saw Arajs murder Jews contradicted Arajs's testimony, and the court sentenced Arajs to life imprisonment. Latvians have been loath to acknowledge their complicity in the Holocaust. “They wanted to protect their old, loving fathers and grandfathers who had committed such crimes,” Verdins said. “Latvians cannot whitewash Nazi crimes just because we think that Soviet crimes were even worse,” Verdins said.

How have Latvian and Lithuanian histories intertwined over the last millennium? Who was Queen Morta, a Latvian princess by birth who became the wife of Lithuania's first and only king, Mindaugas? How close did we come to a Latvian-Lithuanian state in the early 20th century? How do Latvians and Lithuanians see their shared commonalities today? James Montgomery Baxenfield, Junior Research Fellow at Tallinn University School of Humanities, walks (literally) through this complex history. Baltic Ways is brought to you by the Association for the Advancement of Baltic Studies, produced in partnership with the Baltic Initiative at the Foreign Policy Research Institute.

How have Latvian and Lithuanian histories intertwined over the last millennium? Who was Queen Morta, a Latvian princess by birth who became the wife of Lithuania's first and only king, Mindaugas? How close did we come to a Latvian-Lithuanian state in the early 20th century? How do Latvians and Lithuanians see their shared commonalities today? James Montgomery Baxenfield, Junior Research Fellow at Tallinn University School of Humanities, walks (literally) through this complex history.

As tens of thousands of Latvians perform impressive songs and dances in Rīga's capital and many tens of thousands more spectators take in the experience, Otto and Joe break down the biggest happenings of the XXVII Nationwide Latvian Song and XVII Dance Festival and other major stories from the previous week such as the inauguration of President Edgars Rinkēvičs, resignation of Mayof Mārtiņš Staķis, a deepening conflict between the teacher's union and the education union, and much more! Theme song "Mēs esam ārzemnieki" by Aarzemnieki, used with permission Closing theme song: Think Tank by Audionautix audionautix.com​ Creative Commons — Attribution 3.0 Unported — CC BY 3.0 Free Download / Stream: bit.ly/_think-tank​ Music promoted by Audio Library youtu.be/mbV9t1Z0rA8 Photo credit: Gatis Rozenfelds, Valsts kanceleja, use with a Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 2.0 Generic (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0) license https://www.flickr.com/photos/valstskanceleja/53029436884/

Latvians like to celebrate Ligo out in nature. They weave flower wreaths, sing and eat together, making the most out of the summer solstice.

Is it June already? National Team camp is in full swing as Armenia prepare for a trip to Ryan Reynolds second home, Wales! After opening the campaign with a narrow 2-1 defeat at home, the Havakagan look to bounce back against a transitioning Welsh side. Despite dealing with retirements and changes, Wales site pretty on 4 points after 2 matches, while Armenia have 0 after just 1. The boys break down the Armenian squad list, talk possible tactics and players that will be key in ensuring we fly back to Yerevan with 3 points. Then the boys turn their attention to Latvia. Also on 0 points after 1 matchday, the Latvians are a resilient bunch and will likely be tough to break down. The boys discuss how to avoid another Lichtenstein. 6 big points up for grabs in this window. Let's get them all! Socials: @FootballKentron on Twitter, @Football.Kentron on Instagram, Football Kentron is also on YouTube!

The boys are back from their Memorial Day Weekend benders to get you ready for the 2023 Stanley Cup Final. They break down the unique matchup between the Florida Panthers and Vegas Golden Knights, and dish out their picks for the series winner, Conn Smythe trophy, and the X factor for each team. They also take a look at the new bench boss in DC, the Leafs new GM, and the Latvians winning Bronze at Worlds!  Like, comment & subscribe!! SHOP Empty Betters Merchandise:  https://www.wilsonsprintshop.com/empty_betters_official_merchand/shop/home  Kane Footwear: https://bit.ly/3xkOS8c  Brackish Life: https://brackish.life/  Elwood's Liquor & Tap: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063690505421  Check us out on: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/15W69vvlYJfFqjeIoGgDj9?si=rw8lVl63QJObfhgPHU-cMQ&dl_branch=1 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/empty-betters/id1478649041 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/emptybetters/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/emptybetters Website & Merch: www.emptybetters.com YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOKCts4xSGRon6AG5FCTkPw  TikTok: https://vm.tiktok.com/ZTRQFBp31 Music: Midnight Walker - Liquor Store Lynchmob - Liquor Store ©2013 Almost Ready Records --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/empty-betters/support

In the NHL, the Florida Panthers have advanced to the Stanley Cup Final after sweeping the Carolina Hurricanes. In the Western Conference, the Dallas Stars have forced a game 6.  At the World Championships, Canada beat Germany for gold and the upstart Latvians beat the USA to win bronze.    Listen Here:  iTunes  Google Play  Stitcher  Direct MP3   iHeart Radio Banter - Title Player  Ilkka Sinisalo -> connected to Sammy Blais - 2 goals for Canada in WC Ilkka Sinisalo -> 89-90 Flyers Len Barrie -> Tyson Barrie 2014-15 Avalanche Ryan O'Reilly -> 2021 Blues Sammy Blais Feedback - thanks for a special gift from a listener News Canada wins World Championships over Germany Latvia beats USA to win Bronze!! Reporting on Leafs GM Search - expected to interview Treliving, Chiarelli, Bergevin and Botterill… NHLPA looking into fact that Dubas' agent works for firm that has NHL player agents (Wasserman) Sounds like Pittsburgh job is Dubas' if he wants it, Friedman mentioned possibility of Ottawa Ottawa purchase seems to be tricky process Champions League in Europe trying following rules: Power play goal does not end penalty but shorthanded goal does. Penalty assessed even when goal scored during delayed penalty Tkachuk - with him forcing the trade last year and now being in the final, will we see more players who are a year away just tell the GM I'm not coming back, you might as well trade me now Guess the 5th Playoffs Florida sweep Hurricanes - what's the verdict on ‘Canes - not good enough? Beat by a hot goalie? Will they make significant changes? No Paccioretty and Svecnhikov hurt. Tkachuk with another game winner with 4.3 s in game 4 - what a playoff Dallas wins 2 to force game 6 Oettinger up and down Pavelski with another game winner - hall of famer? Crazy Stat DOPeS - 2 games to Jamie Benn (Stars won both)      

Latvia stunned Sweden in the quarter-finals at the World Hockey Championship off the back of Canucks goalie prospect Arturs Silovs who made 40 saves in the win. JPat and Wadden recap that exhilarating victory for the Latvians, while also unpacking Canada's win over Finland.  The show wraps with a look back at the Florida Panthers advancing to the Stanley Cup Final after sweeping the Carolina Hurricanes in the Eastern Conference Final on Wednesday night. They also tee up game 4 of the Western final which goes down tonight in Dallas.  Rink Wide: Vancouver is presented by Bodog.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Diana is most people's first Latvian. And the podcast's first Latvian as well! She talks to us about dating in Sweden, Latvians around the world and more!

On August 23, 2019, over 210,000 Hongkongers joined hands in a 60 kilometer human chain to protest police violence and to demand democratic reforms. This human chain, called the Hong Kong Way, took place on the 30th anniversary of another human chain protest—the Baltic Way of 1989—in which approximately two million Estonians, Latvians, and Lithuanians formed a 690 kilometer human chain across the three countries to protest the Soviet occupation. Iverson Ng, an Estonian-based Hongkonger, tells the story. ** This episode was written, edited, and produced by Colin Gioia Connors. *** Transcript available at scandinavian.washington.edu/episode-22-transcript *** Theme music used with permission by Kristján Hrannar Pálsson. Youtube: youtu.be/uzoFON4nobQ Spotify: open.spotify.com/album/1dDmFxNvfYVnQwq7up7rxS Order a CD: www.discogs.com/sell/item/271351364 *** Crossing North is a production of the Department of Scandinavian Studies and the Baltic Studies Program at the University of Washington in Seattle. scandinavian.washington.edu/crossing-north-podcast Support Crossing North: Donate to the "Friends of Scandinavian Languages and Literature Fund" scandinavian.washington.edu/support-us

Russia is trying to win over Latvia's Russian-speaking minority with victory slogans. Many Latvians are worried the propaganda could divide their country. About one in four Latvians has Russian roots.

In this episode, I explore how Latvians celebrate New Year's Eve. I tell stories connected to New Year's Eve from present-day Latvia, the Latvia I worked in as a diplomat in the 1990s, and also stories from living in Moscow in the 1980s. We look at fireworks, drink and food. Also some traditions from the 18th and 20th Centuries. And, of course, how Latvians will celebrate this New Year's Eve 2022/23. Thanks for listening!

On a chilly October morning outside the main hospital in the capital Riga, an elderly woman, wrapped in a shawl, sold wool socks to people heading inside.“Have a look,” she said. “Dig around in the pile for the warmer ones.”Extra wool clothing for the cold — indoors. That makes sense for Latvia right now, because the government has capped heat in health facilities at about 65 degrees Fahrenheit.Latvia is among several European countries scrambling to find ways to stay warm this winter without having to depend on Russian energy. Time is running especially short in the northern Baltic states, where winter sets in early. So, residents there are bracing for the cold months ahead. An elderly entrepreneur hawks socks near the entrance to Latvia's largest hospital. The socks could come in handy; to save on heating costs this winter, the hospital must keep temperatures below 65 degrees Fahrenheit. Credit: Gerry Hadden/The World School teacher Anastasija Buškevachkevah didn't stop to purchase the wool socks on her way in to the hospital— but winter was on her mind.“I was in hospital in [the] summer,” she said. “It was OK. But now in [the] winter, no one knows. Really we are afraid.”Buškevachkevah has lymphoma. The hospital is scary enough, she said, without having to worry about staying warm. Winters in Latvia are long and harsh. Temperatures can stay below zero for weeks. The government's austerity plan, in an attempt to maximize on savings, also applies to other public spaces — including schools and universities. This winter, University of Latvia's natural sciences campus is closing down one of its two big buildings, keeping it just warm enough so the pipes won't freeze over, professor Juris Paiders said.“We now accept the lower standard for heating. You should use warm underwear, for example, like me,” he added, while opening a button on his dress shirt and tugging on his longjohns underneath.But there are also bigger problems than having to stay warm, according to Samanta Zvagule, an undergraduate environmental science student. Closing half the campus means that half the laboratories are now off limits.“I'm really sad and disappointed,” she said.  “We have a lot of laboratory work, like twice a week. We cannot do that.”But Zvagule said she's taking the situation in stride, especially when she thinks of all the suffering among Ukrainians as they defend themselves against Russia.Russia is Latvia's giant neighbor to the east, and it supplies the nation with most of its electricity and natural gas. But like the rest of Europe, Latvia's is trying to change that. One of the ways is by importing liquified natural gas through other Baltic states, and ramping up renewables. But the transition will take time. For Latvians, who number about 2 million people, this winter is likely to be tough.That's especially true for people who live in places like Riga's Khrushchyovkas — Soviet-era housing blocks that are now drab, dilapidated and poorly insulated.On a recent evening, resident Evita Rozenfelde said that she's worried about her next few utility bills, and keeping her children comfortable. One of many Khrushchyovkas in Riga, Latvia. The Soviet-era apartment blocks were built cheap and meant to last just 50 years. They're badly insulated to boot, and more expensive to keep warm — which is bad for residents who are seeing their energy bills soar. Credit: Gerry Hadden/The World “I haven't turned on the heat yet,” she said. “But when I do, the government won't let me turn up the thermostat above 65 degrees.”At another Soviet-era building, office worker Marika Šūtele said she and her husband are steeling themselves for the worst.“As for our two teenage boys,” she joked, “they both play hockey. They're used to ice. So, for them, the apartment won't be so cold.”Šūtele does worry, however, that the factory where her husband works might close down due to the high heating costs. The big question, she said, is what the government will do to help.So far, authorities have announced some limited subsidies. It also said that it has enough natural gas reserves to get everyone through this winter — if people are careful with their usage. Stacks of traditional firewood and pressed sawdust bricks. They used to be a cheap way to heat your home in Latvia, but with inflation and soaring demand, wood heat has already tripled in cost so far this year. Credit: Gerry Hadden/The World With fuel prices already so high, many people are falling back and relying on firewood. Latvia is mostly made up of forest areas, and more than half of its homes are heated with wood, or by-products, such as compressed blocks made from sawdust. But another problem is that wood prices are also skyrocketing.“One bag is six euros [about $6]. I'm not sure how anyone could afford it,” said interpreter Imants Liepiņš, pointing out all kinds of wood products for heating at a store.Keeping his house warm until May with sawdust blocks would run him about 3,600 euro, or roughly $3,500, more than three times what he would normally pay during the season.Wood pellets, another popular fuel, have also shot up in price. At a Riga hardware store, a bag of pellets sells for $9.“Well, if you need heat, you have to buy it,” office worker Artis Strautiņš said. “There's no choice.”No choice but to pay more for less heating, as the country braces for a cold winter. Related: The invasion in Ukraine could mean less reliance on energy from Russia, analyst says

On a chilly October morning outside the main hospital in the capital Riga, an elderly woman, wrapped in a shawl, sold wool socks to people heading inside.“Have a look,” she said. “Dig around in the pile for the warmer ones.”Extra wool clothing for the cold — indoors. That makes sense for Latvia right now, because the government has capped heat in health facilities at about 65 degrees Fahrenheit.Latvia is among several European countries scrambling to find ways to stay warm this winter without having to depend on Russian energy. Time is running especially short in the northern Baltic states, where winter sets in early. So, residents there are bracing for the cold months ahead. An elderly entrepreneur hawks socks near the entrance to Latvia's largest hospital. The socks could come in handy; to save on heating costs this winter, the hospital must keep temperatures below 65 degrees Fahrenheit. Credit: Gerry Hadden/The World School teacher Anastasija Buškevachkevah didn't stop to purchase the wool socks on her way in to the hospital— but winter was on her mind.“I was in hospital in [the] summer,” she said. “It was OK. But now in [the] winter, no one knows. Really we are afraid.”Buškevachkevah has lymphoma. The hospital is scary enough, she said, without having to worry about staying warm. Winters in Latvia are long and harsh. Temperatures can stay below zero for weeks. The government's austerity plan, in an attempt to maximize on savings, also applies to other public spaces — including schools and universities. This winter, University of Latvia's natural sciences campus is closing down one of its two big buildings, keeping it just warm enough so the pipes won't freeze over, professor Juris Paiders said.“We now accept the lower standard for heating. You should use warm underwear, for example, like me,” he added, while opening a button on his dress shirt and tugging on his longjohns underneath.But there are also bigger problems than having to stay warm, according to Samanta Zvagule, an undergraduate environmental science student. Closing half the campus means that half the laboratories are now off limits.“I'm really sad and disappointed,” she said.  “We have a lot of laboratory work, like twice a week. We cannot do that.”But Zvagule said she's taking the situation in stride, especially when she thinks of all the suffering among Ukrainians as they defend themselves against Russia.Russia is Latvia's giant neighbor to the east, and it supplies the nation with most of its electricity and natural gas. But like the rest of Europe, Latvia's is trying to change that. One of the ways is by importing liquified natural gas through other Baltic states, and ramping up renewables. But the transition will take time. For Latvians, who number about 2 million people, this winter is likely to be tough.That's especially true for people who live in places like Riga's Khrushchyovkas — Soviet-era housing blocks that are now drab, dilapidated and poorly insulated.On a recent evening, resident Evita Rozenfelde said that she's worried about her next few utility bills, and keeping her children comfortable. One of many Khrushchyovkas in Riga, Latvia. The Soviet-era apartment blocks were built cheap and meant to last just 50 years. They're badly insulated to boot, and more expensive to keep warm — which is bad for residents who are seeing their energy bills soar. Credit: Gerry Hadden/The World “I haven't turned on the heat yet,” she said. “But when I do, the government won't let me turn up the thermostat above 65 degrees.”At another Soviet-era building, office worker Marika Šūtele said she and her husband are steeling themselves for the worst.“As for our two teenage boys,” she joked, “they both play hockey. They're used to ice. So, for them, the apartment won't be so cold.”Šūtele does worry, however, that the factory where her husband works might close down due to the high heating costs. The big question, she said, is what the government will do to help.So far, authorities have announced some limited subsidies. It also said that it has enough natural gas reserves to get everyone through this winter — if people are careful with their usage. Stacks of traditional firewood and pressed sawdust bricks. They used to be a cheap way to heat your home in Latvia, but with inflation and soaring demand, wood heat has already tripled in cost so far this year. Credit: Gerry Hadden/The World With fuel prices already so high, many people are falling back and relying on firewood. Latvia is mostly made up of forest areas, and more than half of its homes are heated with wood, or by-products, such as compressed blocks made from sawdust. But another problem is that wood prices are also skyrocketing.“One bag is six euros [about $6]. I'm not sure how anyone could afford it,” said interpreter Imants Liepiņš, pointing out all kinds of wood products for heating at a store.Keeping his house warm until May with sawdust blocks would run him about 3,600 euro, or roughly $3,500, more than three times what he would normally pay during the season.Wood pellets, another popular fuel, have also shot up in price. At a Riga hardware store, a bag of pellets sells for $9.“Well, if you need heat, you have to buy it,” office worker Artis Strautiņš said. “There's no choice.”No choice but to pay more for less heating, as the country braces for a cold winter. Related: The invasion in Ukraine could mean less reliance on energy from Russia, analyst says

West Coast Cookbook & Speakeasy is Now Open! 8am-9am PT/ 11am-Noon ET for our especially special Daily Specials; Blue Moon Spirits Friday!Starting off in the Bistro Cafe, the way Trump-appointed judge Aileen Cannon treated a fellow and senior Article III judge is “tawdry” and makes her “unfit” to serve.On the rest of the menu, an Albuquerque Starbucks is the first store in the state to vote for unionization; the Treasury Department moved forward with its database on corporate ownership; and, in response to overwhelming demand, the Environmental Protection Agency is nearly doubling the money available to states to buy electric models of the familiar yellow school bus.After the break, we move to the Chef's Table where Latvians will be voting on Saturday in a general election that has been substantially influenced by Russia's attack on Ukraine; and, the US imposed sanctions on a group of firms that have played a critical role in shipping sanctioned Iranian oil.All that and more, on West Coast Cookbook & Speakeasy with Chef de Cuisine Justice Putnam.Bon Appétit!~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~“Structural linguistics is a bitterly divided and unhappy profession, and a large number of its practitioners spend many nights drowning their sorrows in Ouisghian Zodahs.” ― Douglas Adams "The Restaurant at the End of the Universe"~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Show Notes & Links:https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2022/9/30/2126122/-West-Coast-Cookbook-amp-Speakeasy-Daily-Special-Blue-Moon-Spirits-Fridays

Rob Schremp and Danny Syvret are back in the middle of the summer offseason! Talking about the Calgary Flames and Jonthan Huberdeau, Bergeron Krejci and the Bruins + The World Junior Championships in Edmonton, Rob's ties to the Latvians and Michigan Goals! Our GDPR privacy policy was updated on August 8, 2022. Visit acast.com/privacy for more information.

Tom Brands is a hydrographer who has been studying rivers and streams for many years. He talks about the different types of zinnias that grow in cold climates, the importance of hydrographs in understanding rivers and waterresources, and why Latvia is such a beautiful place to live.

"The Eastern Border" podcast host Kristaps Andrejsons once again is back on the show, this time calling in from the border of Ukraine and Poland where he has been spending the last few days reporting on the situation for Latvian media and working together with Latvian relief workers providing aid for the countless refugees seeking safety. Kristaps tells about the situation he's been seeing on the ground, as well as the ways that Latvians can continue helping the people of Ukraine. You can check out The Eastern Border Podcast here: http://theeasternborder.lv/ Opening and closing music: courtesy of Ausma Apsīte

The Basketball Buds. Zach Harper, Mo Dakhil and Jay King.The RundownDid Daryl Morey make a mistake? Do people love/hate Daryl?Closing windows and assetsJay not sold on the NetsEastern Conference StackedTrade Deadline LosersLuka & BertansFirst time Latvians have been traded for each other?Quiet West, Quiet SunsCeltics fix defense Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Steven Rinella talks with Brandon Palaniuk, Carl Jocumsen, Hayden Sammak, Seth Morris, Phil Taylor, Corinne Schneider, and Janis Putelis.  Topics discussed: the first Aussie to grace the podcast studio and the first Aussy to ever make it to the top 100 bass anglers in the world in America; Chester's family's Old Fashioned kit; three Janises out of ten Latvians; the cancellation of Spring Bear season in WA and just how outrageous it is; native bull trout vs. invasive lake trout; when college kids win $1 million in a fishing tournament; insane entry fees; when 2nd place is so far from 1st; Brandon's DQ, $1k per foot, and owning your own mistake even though the rule is questionable; Fantasy Fishing; under the camera's eye; polygraphs for fishing stories; Steve getting Brandon and Carl to fish his mom's lake; the litigation-worthy bucket thing; Rinella Sr. supposedly pulling a 5 pound largemouth out of the lake where Steve was born; Angler of the Year; the A to Z of the tournament process; physically and mentally not being able to live without it; pursuing what makes you happy; Steve's dream to be a professional trapper; clinch or improved clinch?; and more. Connect with Steve and MeatEater Steve on Instagram and Twitter MeatEater on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and Youtube Shop MeatEater Merch Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In episode 3 we look into the ‘car culture' of Latvia! The majority of Latvians like their cars and with that comes a unique culture. We discuss the major topic of BMW vs AUDI, car park socialising and hitch hiking as well as share our personal car history in Latvia. And we also talk about the unwritten code of the ‘Latvian eye contact' when you pull up to a red light next to someone... Thanks for listening and we hope you enjoyed it! Be sure to subscribe, like and share!! And stay 'Kinda Latvian'! Instagram - @kindalatvian

Who was the Butcher of Latvia? Before World War II Herbert Cukurs was a a national hero. He put Latvia on the map. If you're looking for an American equivalent, think Amelia Earhart or Charles Lindbergh. Cukurs was a big deal. But after the Nazis occupied Latvia, Cukurs became a monster, participating in the murder of 30,000 men, women, and even children. How did this decorated and ingenious aviator betray friends and neighbors and became a savage criminal with the blood of thousands on his hands? “Good Assassins: Hunting the Butcher" came out of Stephan Talty's work on a related book, The Good Assassin. Explore other parts of this story in the book: Buy The Good Assassin In July 1941, the Germans invaded Latvia. The Nazis fought their way into the capital, Riga, and soon sent the Soviet soldiers, who had occupied Lativa for the previous year, running to the east. Another kind of horror emerged, one now directed at Jews.  The Nazis began passing anti-Semitic laws. They encouraged Latvians to direct their hatred at their Jewish neighbors. They declared that Jews had helped the Soviets to occupy Latvia and carry out atrocities. They said Jews had betrayed their country, and they needed to pay for it. It was a lie of course, but it worked. Round-ups began almost immediately. What added to the terror was that it was often their fellow Latvians who took the lead in the violence But why did the Butcher kill some of his neighbors and spare others? Maybe he did it for the money? But there's no record of him asking for any. Maybe he only saved young women? No, he actually spared at least one Jewish man, a doctor he'd known before the war. So what was it? The testimonies of witnesses answer one question clearly: Cukurs was guilty. So why did he still have defenders? I found half a dozen eyewitnesses to his actions, and later I came across statements from fellow Latvians in his commando unit. They confirmed he'd been part of the massacres. So why did he transform from hero to mass murderer? I went through other possibilities. Maybe he'd always been an anti-Semite and just hid it until the Nazis came. Maybe the Germans had forced him to kill. That was the explanation of many non-Germans who murdered Jews during the war. Maybe that was part of the answer. But then, I'd read a testimony talking about how the Butcher seemed to enjoy killing. There was more than one testiony. It just didn't fit the idea that he was forced to do anything.  So I had no answers. Even the survivors in their testimonies couldn't give a reason. Most of them were as baffled as I was. Maybe there were others who fit this pattern. Friendly towards Jews before the war and then joined in the massacres, but saved the occasional victim. Maybe there were historians who'd found killers like this, and that would help give some insight into Cukurs. I started making some calls. It was a start, a way to try to get inside Herbert Cukurs' mind. • Written and Hosted by STEPHAN TALTY • Produced and Directed by SCOTT WAXMAN and JACOB BRONSTEIN • Executive Producers: SCOTT WAXMAN and MARK FRANCIS • Story Editor: JACOB BRONSTEIN • Editorial direction: SCOTT WAXMAN and MANGESH HATTIKUDUR • Editing, mixing, and sound design: MARK FRANCIS • With the voices of: NICK AFKA THOMAS, OMRI ANGHEL, ANDREW POLK, MINDY ESCOBAR-LEANSE, STEVE ROUTMAN, STEFAN RUDNICKI • Theme Music by TYLER CASH • Archival Researcher: ADAM SHAPIRO • Thanks to OREN ROSENBAUM Learn more at DiversionPodcasts.com  Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com

In May 1945, German forces surrendered to the Allied powers, putting an end to World War II in Europe. But the aftershocks of global military conflict did not cease with the German capitulation. Millions of lost and homeless concentration camp survivors, POWs, slave laborers, political prisoners, and Nazi collaborators in flight from the Red Army overwhelmed Germany, a nation in ruins. British and American soldiers gathered the malnourished and desperate refugees and attempted to repatriate them. But after exhaustive efforts, there remained more than a million displaced persons left behind in Germany: Jews, Poles, Estonians, Latvians, Lithuanians, Ukrainians, and other Eastern Europeans who refused to go home or had no homes to return to. The Last Million would spend the next three to five years in displaced persons camps, temporary homelands in exile, divided by nationality, with their own police forces, churches and synagogues, schools, newspapers, theaters, and infirmaries. The international community could not agree on the fate of the Last Million, and after a year of debate and inaction, the International Refugee Organization was created to resettle them in lands suffering from postwar labor shortages. But no nations were willing to accept the 200,000 to 250,000 Jewish men, women, and children who remained trapped in Germany. In 1948, the United States, among the last countries to accept refugees for resettlement, finally passed a displaced persons bill. With Cold War fears supplanting memories of World War II atrocities, the bill granted the vast majority of visas to those who were reliably anti-Communist, including thousands of former Nazi collaborators and war criminals, while severely limiting the entry of Jews, who were suspected of being Communist sympathizers or agents because they had been recent residents of Soviet-dominated Poland. Only after the controversial partition of Palestine and Israel's declaration of independence were the remaining Jewish survivors able to leave their displaced persons camps in Germany. A masterwork from acclaimed historian David Nasaw, The Last Million: Europe's Displaced Persons from World War to Cold War (Penguin, 2020) tells the gripping yet until now largely hidden story of postwar displacement and statelessness. By 1952, the Last Million were scattered around the world. As they crossed from their broken past into an unknowable future, they carried with them their wounds, their fears, their hope, and their secrets. Here for the first time, Nasaw illuminates their incredible history and, with profound contemporary resonance, shows us that it is our history as well. Renee Garfinkel, Ph.D. is a psychologist, writer, Middle East television commentator and host of The New Books Network's Van Leer Jerusalem Series on Ideas. Write her at VanLeerIdeas@gmail.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices