Extrajudicial shooting of civilians in Liepāja's "Blue Miracle"
Extrajudicial killings in Latvian territory during the war, at the end of June and beginning of July 1941, were the last manifestation of repression and violence in the first stage of the communist occupation, which ended with the entry of Nazi German troops into the entire territory of Latvia.
The reason for the shooting was terrible and tragic – it was no longer possible to transfer the detainees to Russia, but they could not be left alive. As a result, extrajudicial shootings of residents took place in Liepāja during the war, similarly to the cases in Riga Central Prison, Valmiera Prison, Valka and Rēzekne militias, and on the Croix Hill near Ludza. In Liepāja, this crime of the Soviet occupation power was realized in the "Blue Miracle" – Liepaja militia building, Republikas Street 19.
The reasons for this tragedy can be found in the paranoid perception of the world by the communist occupation regime. Literally since the beginning of its existence in 1917, the constant search for and neutralization of external and internal enemies became one of the most important things, along with the "world revolution".
Extrajudicial killings during the war, at the end of June and beginning of July 1941, were the last manifestation of repression and violence in the first stage of the communist occupation, which ended with the entry of Nazi German troops into the entire territory of Latvia.
These crimes were committed by Cheka officers, militiamen, labor guards, communist party and Komsomol activists.
According to the information obtained so far, the arrests of civilians in Liepaja during the war began on June 23, 1941. The total number of those arrested is unknown, but it is known that 18 people were shot in the Liepaja militia, but at least five managed to stay alive and escape.
The reason for the shooting was terrible and tragic – it was no longer possible to transfer the detainees to Russia, but they could not be left alive. As a result, extrajudicial shootings of residents took place in Liepāja during the war, similarly to the cases in Riga Central Prison, Valmiera Prison, Valka and Rēzekne militias, and on the Croix Hill near Ludza. The mentioned crime took place in the "Blue Miracle" - Liepāja militia building, Republikas Street 19.
Currently, the names of sixteen people shot in the Liepaja militia are known:
1. Bezalel Geshaya–Shloma d. Bileckis (1879). Jew. He lived in Liepāja, at Graudu Street 6. He probably owned a shop at Graudu Street 50.
2. Andrejs Brekteris (1872). Mechanic. Two possible addresses are mentioned in the sources: Lāču Street 31 or T. Breikša Street 32. A. Brekteris was awarded the Cross of Merit in 1938. For some time he was the head of the Lutheran church in Jaunliepāja.
3. Kriss Viļa d. Hintenberg (1914). Worker of the shoe factory "Kopsolis". Lived at 49 Dārzu Street.
4. Alfred Roberta d. Holtzman (1914). Born in Purmsātu parish. Clerk of Liepaja steel factory ("Sarkanā Metalurga"). Defender. Footballer. Lived at 10-3 F. Brīvzemnieka street. Arrested on June 23, 1941.
5. Francisco Francisco d. Jacino (1905). Catholic German. Graduated from the electrical engineering department of Liepāja Technical University. An engineer. Lived in Kr. 18 Valdemāra street.
6. Melanie Jacino (1884). Catholic German. Mother of F. Jacino. Lived in Kr. 18 Valdemāra street.
7. Alberts Jāņa d. Forge (Winchell) (1907). Born in Moscow. Rower, member of "University Sports". Changed the surname from "Winchels" to "Kalve" in 1940. in April. Liepaja District Court Deputy Prosecutor. Married to Biruta Winčeli (born in Brunei). Lived in Liepāja, Kr. 19 Barona Street. Arrested on June 23, 1941.
8. Jázeps Keiselis (1886). Born in Rezekne district. Catholic. Before the occupation of Latvia, he was a police officer, but after that he was a worker. Lived at Ukstiņa Street 19.
9. Francis–Einars Eduarda d. Rosenholm (1892). Probably Finnish by nationality. Blacksmith of "Pluto" joint stock company. Factory 1940-41. g. was a part of the industrial company "Metal", which also included the Liepāja wheelbarrow factory and the machine yard "Standarts". Recognized as a "Stakhanovite" in 1941. in May or June, because "by rationalizing the entire pressing work, the production increased by 150%". Lived at Raina Street 52. Arrested on June 23, 1941.
10. Lize Miķela m. Roštejna (born Strazdiņa) (1885). Until the occupation of Latvia, she was the owner of a shop at Bāriņu Street 21. She lived there. Sister of Kate and Fritz Strazdins, as well as father's sister of Rudolfs Strazdins.
11. Kate Mikeļa m. Starling (1883). The seller. Lived in Liepāja, T. Breikša Street 5. Sister of Līze Rošteinas and Fričas Strazdins, as well as Rūdolfs Strazdins' father's sister.
12. Fritsis Mikeļa d. Starling (1880). Seller. Lived at Sienu Street 11. The brother of Līze Roshtein and Kate Strazdiņas, as well as the brother of Rudolf Strazdiņas' father.
13. Rudolfs Kristapa d. Starling (1912). Farmer. Lived in "Kugras" of Durbe parish. Son of Lise Rostein, brother of Kate and Fritz Strazdins.
14. Augustus Otto d. Butterfly (1910). Baptist. Liepaja library attendant. Lived in the library house at 7 Zivju street.
15. Eugene Karlia d. Vilamovski (1880). The heavy wardrobe. Lived at 52 Dzintara Street.
16. Jānis Viļa d. Wilbrant (1876). Pensioner. Lived in Liepāja, F. Brīvzemnieka Street 47.
Unfortunately, the identities of the two killed are still unclear. Lawyer Linards Muciņš, writing about the tragedy that happened in the "Blue Miracle", states that Ernests Briķis was also among those shot.
The shooting happened on June 27, which was a Friday, early in the morning. The militiamen started to call the detainees from the cell according to the list. Unfortunately, the finding of the shot dead was not followed by a forensic medical examination and preparation of relevant documents.
Regarding the burial places and times of the people shot in the "Blue Miracle", the information is incomplete. So far, it has been possible to find out the burial places of only ten people.
Although incomplete, there is also information about 6 persons who were involved in the shooting of detainees and who were shot during the German occupation for the crime they committed.
Inese Dreimane, historian, writer, publication "Extrajudicial shooting of civilians in the Liepaja militia, or the so-called 'Blue Miracle' at the end of June 1941"
https://www.delfi.lv/news/versijas/civiliedzivotaju-beztiesas-nosausana-liepajas-milicija-jeb-ta-sauktaja-zilaja-brinuma-1941-gada-junija-beigas.d?id=55323776
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Liepāja militia building or "Blue miracle"
In Liepāja, the militia, the institution of the communist occupation regime, was located in Republikas Street 19, a building that had been in use since its construction in the 20th century. in the beginning, people from Liepāja called it the "Blue Miracle". On the other hand, the headquarters of the check was located at Toma Street 19. Shortly after the occupation, it acquired the name "Red Miracle" in society.
In the course of investigating the crimes of the communist regime so far, it has been established that no executions or extrajudicial shootings have taken place either directly in the Liepaja Cheka building, i.e. in the "Red Miracle", or in the prison. Due to the start of the war on the territory of Latvia, all the detainees who were in these places were transferred to prisons in Russia starting from June 23, 1941. This affected both detainees who were arrested for so-called "political" crimes and criminal criminals, regardless of whether the person was under investigation or had already received a sentence.
The transfer of the prisoners was determined by the order No. 2455/M of the People's Commissar of State Security of the USSR Vsevolod Merkulov of June 23, 1941, which was addressed to the chiefs of the NKGB of the Latvian SSR, the Estonian SSR and several regions of the Ukrainian SSR. The reason for the shooting was terrible and tragic – it was no longer possible to transfer the detainees to Russia, but they could not be left alive. As a result, extrajudicial shootings of residents took place in Liepāja during the war, similarly to the cases in Riga Central Prison, Valmiera Prison, Valka and Rēzekne militias, and on the Croix Hill near Ludza. The mentioned crime took place in the "Blue Miracle" - Liepāja militia building, Republikas Street 19.
