Museum of the Occupation of Latvia Museum
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The museum exhibits the history of Latvia from 1940 to 1991, under the occupation of Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union. ‘House of the Future’ is a reconstruction and expansion project of the Occupation Museum designed by the well-known American Latvian architect Gunārs Birkerts as well as the new exhibit of the museum. The exhibit ‘History of Cheka in Latvia’ was created by the Occupation Museum and it is located in the ‘Corner House’, which is the former USSR State Security Committee (KGB) building. Latvian Occupation Museum was founded in 1993. It tells the long-hidden story of the fate of the Latvian state, nation and land under the occupation of two foreign totalitarian powers from 1940 to 1991. At the end of 2020 the museum had more than 70,000 different historical items (documents, photographs, written, oral and material evidence, objects and memorabilia). Museum specialists have recorded more than 2,400 video testimonials, making it one of the largest collections on occupation in Europe. The events that unfolded in Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia clearly show us what the nations had to endure under the two totalitarian regimes.
Used sources and references:
Official website of the Latvian Occupation Museum: www.okupacijasmuzejs.lv
Educational programs
We must stand for our land. Time for barricades.
Online lesson.
Objective : To learn about the Barricades events of 1991 and their significance in the process of restoring Latvia's independence, to understand the courage, unity and willingness of people to defend their country in a non-violent manner, as well as to realize the historical and human significance of this time in modern Latvia.
Resistance
The aim of the lesson is to understand how resistance to the Soviet occupation regime took place, and why it is important to stand up against evil in history and today.
Students will get to know the exhibition, focusing on the concepts related to the topic – occupation, annexation, armed resistance, non-violent resistance, repression. Then, students will look for answers to questions in the exhibition – FOR and AGAINST what individuals and organizations stood up for both in occupied Latvia and in exile, what methods they used, and what happened to them. Then, everyone will analyze the information they obtained together and at the end of the lesson will participate in an improvised demonstration “Don’t be indifferent, be active”, which will require students to prepare a poster about a current issue – FOR or AGAINST what they are currently standing up for!
Silence is not allowed to think.
The aim of the lesson is to promote understanding of the use of cultural events and artistic elements in ideology during the Soviet occupation (1945-1990), when official art, recognized by the authorities, and unofficial art, which helped maintain faith in freedom and which was banned by the authorities and its authors repressed, existed in parallel.
By analyzing elements from various fields (literature, fine arts, environment, visual arts, and festivals), students will learn about the culture and art of the Soviet occupation, develop critical thinking, and strengthen their understanding of the importance of a free, democratic state and individuality.
Surviving Christmas
Online lesson.
Lesson objective : to understand how people were able to resist the ideology of the Soviet regime and preserve Christmas traditions during the occupation.
Christmas is one of the most anticipated holidays of the year, and it seems self-evident that everyone chooses how to celebrate it – whether or not to go to church, what gifts to buy and what dishes to put on the table. During the years of Soviet occupation, under the conditions of the totalitarian regime, these holidays and traditions were considered undesirable, replacing them with New Year's celebrations and denying people the opportunity to celebrate as before. However, even in these circumstances, people looked for opportunities and found ways to celebrate Christmas according to the old traditions.
Forbidden November 18th.
Online lesson.
Objective : To get acquainted with the activities of the members of the national resistance movement under the conditions of a totalitarian state, to understand the loss of Latvia's independence and the impact of the Soviet occupation on people's lives, as well as to find out what a totalitarian state is and how it limited freedom. In the lesson, students will also look at repressions against the population, the importance of non-violent resistance, the activities and motivations of dissidents, as well as the values - freedom, love of the Fatherland and truth - and their importance in Latvia then and today.
The story of the flag
A lesson in a museum.
In the lesson, students will learn about the most significant events in the history of Latvia in the 20th century, studying the Latvian national flag as a symbol of freedom, hope, Latvianness and resistance. By analyzing various historical sources, students will learn about the meaning of the flag during the period of independent Latvia, during the Second World War and the occupation, in resistance movements, under Soviet repression and in the fight for the restoration of Latvia's independence. The lesson will encourage not only to understand historical events, but also to reflect on the meaning of the Latvian flag today and its place in the life of every person and family.
Deportations. Family stories.
A lesson in a museum.
The aim of the lesson is to understand the course of the deportations carried out by the Soviet authorities in 1941 and 1949 and the lives of people in exile.
Under the guidance of a guide, students will have the opportunity to learn about the occupation and repressions carried out by the Soviet regime, using the family stories available in the exhibition, taking a closer look at the deportations to places of imprisonment and settlement. Students will learn about the causes, course and consequences of deportations. The greatest attention is paid to the analysis of historical sources, searching for answers to the question - how to survive and maintain self-respect in harsh conditions?
From occupation to freedom
A lesson in a museum.
Objective : To understand the events of Latvia's 20th century: how Latvia lost its national independence, how it survived World War II and the occupations of two totalitarian powers – Nazi Germany and the USSR, how it regained its independence, became a free state and a full member state of international organizations.
The new exhibition, with materials from the museum's collection, light, sound, and design elements, creates the museum's story "A thread of light leads through the labyrinth of darkness," which students will learn about on a guided tour.
Soviet deportations. Through the eyes of a child.
Online lesson.
Objective : To understand the course of the deportation carried out by the Soviet authorities and the life of people in exile, analyzing its causes, course and consequences in Latvian society. During the lesson , students will learn about the experiences of the deported people, their emotional and physical trials, as well as the daily living conditions in exile, working with various historical sources. During the lesson, students will learn about the experiences of the deported people, working with sources – Benita Plezere's drawings and fragments of her video testimony.
Propaganda. War in Ukraine.
Online lesson.
Objective : To understand the concept and meaning of propaganda in relation to Russia's war in Ukraine.
Nowadays, in democratic countries, freedom of opinion and expression is a given. At a time when Russia's war in Ukraine is taking place, there is a lot of information about it in the mass media, social networks and various Internet platforms, but how to navigate it all? What is propaganda and how does it work? How to understand that the facts are distorted and false? These are just some of the questions that we will try to find answers to during the lesson.
Awakening of spiritual power.
Online lesson.
Goal : to get acquainted with the events and people of the period of the Awakening and the restoration of the independence of the Republic of Latvia. Using the experience of our own family and authentic video stories, we will invite students to appreciate the freedom of the state and protect it. The lesson will help to understand the situation before the Awakening, the most significant events and the activities of organizations during this time, but the greatest attention is paid to the strength of the people's spirit, which was manifested both in standing up against environmental pollution and in the courage to go to the Freedom Monument surrounded by militiamen to commemorate the anniversaries of special events.
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