Rīgas geto un holokausts

Atrodas Rīgā, netālu no Rīgas Centrālā tirgus un Rīgas pasažieru stacijas.

Muzejs atklāts 2010. gadā vietā, kur atradās pilsētas noliktavas. Tas izvietots pilsētas vēsturiskajā daļā blakus bijušā ebreju geto robežai. Geto teritorija ir unikāla, jo kopš 2.pasaules kara laika tā arhitektoniski nav mainījusies. Tā ir piemiņas vieta Latvijas un ebreju tautas traģēdijai.

Vācijas politika ebreju jautājumā Latvijā līdz 1939. gada beigām izpaudās kā Vācijas diplomātu un politiķu centieni ietekmēt Latvijas valdību, lai tā spertu soļus pret ebrejiem, ierobežojot viņu brīvību. Tas bija Vācijas politikas “eksports”, kas vērsts pret Latvijas iedzīvotājiem. Līdz ar vācbaltiešu izceļošanu 1939. gadā, Vācijas sūtniecībai samazinājās informācija par iedzīvotāju noskaņojumu un notiekošo Latvijā.

Sarkanajai armijai okupējot Latviju un manipulējot ar sabiedrību, bija vērojams daļas ebreju atbalsts jaunai okupācijas varai. Saskaroties ar režīma vēršanos pret sabiedrību kopumā, atbalsts būtiski samazinājās. Taču bija izveidojusies dziļa plaisa iedzīvotāju vidū, kuru vēlāk centās izmantot nākošais okupācijas režīms - Vācija. Tā cerēja, ka pret ebrejiem tiks vērsti grautiņi un izrēķināšanās, taču tā nenotika. Latviešiem galvenais ienaidnieks bija komunisti, nevis ebreju kopiena. Vācijas plānos tika ieviestas korekcijas, kas sākumā paredzēja izveidot ebreju geto, bet vēlāk viņus iznīcināt.

Located in Rumbula, near Moskava Street.

Rumbula is one of the largest sites of mass extermination of Jews in Europe. During two actions - 1941. On November 30 and December 8, which were realized based on the Nazi leadership's decision to completely exterminate the Jews imprisoned in the Riga ghetto, more than 25,000 people were shot in the Rumbula forest, including approximately 1,000 Jews deported from Germany. 1944 Several hundred Jewish men from the Kaiserwald concentration camp were also killed in Rumbula.

The first attempts to perpetuate the memory of the Jews killed in Rumbula date back to the end of the 60s. Despite the restrictions of the Soviet government, as a result of the initiative of some Jews in 1963. a wooden commemorative plaque with an inscription in Yiddish was attached to one of Rumbula's pine trees, while a large poster of the artist Josif Kuzkovskis "The Jew" was installed near the Rumbula railway (near the Riga-Moscow line). The poster showed the image of a man rising from the grave with a clenched fist, symbolizing a protest against what had been done. Both the commemorative plaque and the poster already in 1964. were harvested, but the Jews managed to obtain permission to erect a memorial stone in Rumbula with the inscription "Victims of Fascism" not only in Latvian and Russian, but also in Yiddish.

in 2002 On November 29, the memorial ensemble was opened in Rumbula according to the project of architect Sergejs Riž. Its establishment was financially supported by the institutions of Latvia, Israel, the USA and Germany, as well as private individuals.

On the side of the highway, by the road that leads to the memorial, a metal structure symbolizing the forces of Nazism has been installed as a sign. Nearby is a stone with the explanation that thousands of Jews were chased to death along this road. At the entrance to the memorial itself, several stone plaques with inscriptions in Latvian, English, German and Hebrew introduce the events of the Rumbula tragedy and the history of the establishment of the memorial. In the central part of the memorial, above the square, which is made in the shape of the Star of David, rises a seven-branched candlestick - a menorah, surrounded by stones with engraved names of the Jews killed in Rumbula. The names of the streets of the former Riga ghetto are engraved in individual stones with which the square is paved. There are several mass graves on the territory of the memorial, the places of which are marked with rectangular concrete borders.

The Žanis Lipke memorial is located in Ķīpsala, Riga. The Žanis Lipke Museum is probably one of the most hidden museums in Riga. The obscure location of the memorial is not a coincidence and it has a symbolic meaning. It has been set up in the location of a former underground hideout that was created to save people during the German occupation of World War II. Here Žanis Lipke and his family rescued 55 Jews. Nowadays a memorial has been built next to the Žanis Lipke family house. The memorial ‘Black Shed’ is a symbolic building where shelter was provided and received. The design of the building has been taken from the historical tarred huts of Ķīpsala fishermen and sailors. These huts were built using materials from barges; hence they had a very distinct colour and tar smell. But not only the story of this historic place is unique. The way the museum communicates its message is also quite notable. The overall design has similarities with the Noah’s Ark described in the Bible, and it also resembles a boat that has been pulled ashore and overturned – a boat that has fulfilled its task. The concept of this memorial draws from the historic accuracy of this place and story and the testimonies associated with it. It is a story of a desire for freedom, unbelievable escape and trust. On your way to the museum, you’ll also be able to see the historic buildings of Pārdaugava.

The largest memorial to Holocaust victims in Latvia is located in Liepāja, in the Šķēde dunes. The memorial is dedicated to the memory of more than 3,000 Liepāja Jews killed during World War II. It is in the form of the Israeli national symbol, a seven-branched candelabra known as the menorah. The contours of the memorial, which are clearly visible from a bird’s eye view, are made of split boulders and granite blocks. The ‘lights’ of the menorah are made of granite pillars with inscriptions of verses from the Lamentations of Jeremiah in Hebrew, English, Latvian and Russian.

Located in the center of Bauska, near the Bauska Regional Tourist Information Center, Town Hall Square.

The memorial "Synagogue Garden" was created thanks to the initiative of Bauska Jewish descendants in Israel, the USA and Great Britain, donations, and the support of the Bauska Regional Council, Latvian Jewish congregations and communities.

The memorial was designed by sculptor Ģ. Burvis, who is also the author of the V. Plūdonis monument. The memorial was created in the size of the former Great Synagogue of Bauska, the stone figures symbolize Jews coming out of the church after the service. In the center of the memorial is a symbolic bimah, on which is written: “A dedication to the Jews of Bauska, who lived here for centuries and built this city, and who were killed in 1941 by the Nazis and their local assistants. Honoring the memory of the Jewish people – the descendants of the Jews of Bauska and the people of Bauska. In 1935, almost 800 Jews lived in Bauska. After the Nazi occupation in July 1941, many Jews were arrested, deported, and approximately 700 were shot. The Great Synagogue of Bauska was destroyed during World War II.