Remembrance Day of the Latvian Legionnaires

File:Bundesarchiv Bild 183-J16133, Lettland, Appell der SS-Legion.jpg in 1943]]

The idea of a Remembrance Day for the Latvian legionnaires was raised in exile by the {{Interlanguage link|Daugavas Vanagi|lv|Daugavas Vanagi}} veterans' organization in 1952. The date of 16 March was chosen because in 1944 both divisions of the Latvian Legion, the 15th (1st Latvian) and the 19th (2nd Latvian) fought alongside each other, for the first and only time, against the Red Army.{{cite web |last=Neiburgs |first=Uldis |url=http://okupacijasmuzejs.lv/en/news/the-latvian-legion-and-16-march-520/|title=The Latvian Legion and 16 March |date=14 March 2018 |publisher=Museum of Occupation of Latvia |accessdate=26 October 2018 |archive-date=21 October 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181021113758/http://okupacijasmuzejs.lv/en/news/the-latvian-legion-and-16-march-520 |url-status=dead}}

From 16 to 18 March 1944, heavy battles were fought on the eastern bank of the Velikaya River for "Hill 93.4", a strategically important height, defended by the 15th and the 19th Waffen-SS divisions. On 16 March at 6:40, the Soviet assault began with a massive artillery barrage. At 7:00, the Soviet tanks and infantry launched an attack on "Hill 93.4" and captured it at 11:00 as the defenders withdrew. On 18 March at 17:40, the reinforced and approximately 300-men-strong 15th Division, led by Colonel {{Interlanguage link|Artūrs Silgailis|lv|Artūrs Silgailis}}, recaptured the hill in a counterattack with relatively small losses – seven non-commissioned officers and soldiers killed, 20 wounded and five missing. After that, the Red Army did not try to attack there again.{{cite book |editor1-last=Corum |editor1-first=James S. |editor2-last=Mertelsmann |editor2-first=Olaf |editor3-last=Piirimäe |editor3-first=Kaarel |year=2014 |chapter-url=http://www.karamuzejs.lv/~/media/karamuzejs/documents/raksti/Valdis%20Kuzmins%20-%20The%2015th%20Division%20of%20the%20Latvian%20Legion.ashx#page=8 |title=The Second World War and the Baltic States (Tartu Historical Studies) |chapter=The 15th Division of the Latvian Legion in the Fight on the Velikaya River (1 March–14 April 1944): A Case Study in Maintaining Fighting Power |publisher=Peter Lang GmbH |pages=176–178 |isbn=978-36-316-5303-6 |access-date=23 March 2020 |archive-date=8 September 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190908071952/http://www.karamuzejs.lv/~/media/karamuzejs/documents/raksti/Valdis%20Kuzmins%20-%20The%2015th%20Division%20of%20the%20Latvian%20Legion.ashx#page=8 |url-status=dead }}

Remembrance Day of the Latvian legionnaires has been publicly observed in Latvia since 1989/90. It was officially recognized as a "Remembrance Day for Latvian soldiers" by the Saeima in 1998, a compromise between the For Fatherland and Freedom/LNNK party who wanted to establish the day as the "Remembrance Day for the Latvian Legion" and other members of the coalition fearing the potential effect such a move would have on the international reputation of Latvia. In 1998, the procession to lay flowers at the base of the Freedom Monument drew the attention of foreign media[http://vip.latnet.lv/LPRA/zunda2004.htm 16. marts Latviešu leģiona vēstures kontekstā by Antonijs Zunda, professor of Latvian University] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070317220217/http://vip.latnet.lv/LPRA/zunda2004.htm |date=17 March 2007 }}, retrieved on 16 March 2006 and the following year the State Duma condemned the event as "a glorification of Nazism".{{cite web |url=http://pravo.gov.ru/proxy/ips/?docbody=&nd=102058733&rdk=&backlink=1 |title=Appeal of the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of Russian Federation 'To the members of the Saeima of the Republic of Latvia in connection with the organisation in Riga of the march of the veterans of the Latvian legion of SS', N 3788-II GD |date= 18 March 1999 |website=pravo.gov.ru |accessdate=16 March 2008 |language=Russian}} In 2000, the Latvian government abolished it as an official commemoration day. Observance continued unofficially.

In 2005, a counterdemonstration was dispersed by police, arresting some of its participants;{{cite news |url=https://rus.delfi.lv/news/daily/latvia/u-pamyatnika-svobody-proizoshla-stychka.d?id=10640524 |title=Skirmish taken place by the Freedom Monument |date=16 March 2005 |publisher=Delfi |language=Russian |accessdate=16 March 2008}} and the procession itself was condemned by the Simon Wiesenthal Center.{{cite web |url=http://www.wiesenthal.com/site/apps/nlnet/content2.aspx?c=lsKWLbPJLnF&b=4442249&ct=5851657 |title= Wiesenthal Center Condemns Marches in Riga and Liepaja, Latvia of Latvian SS Veterans |date=16 March 2005 |publisher=Simon Wiesenthal Center |accessdate=16 March 2015}} In 2006, the Latvian government tried to bring the situation under control by fencing off the Freedom Monument, with Riga City Council claiming it required restoration. Some later questioned this statement, as politicians named various other reasons for the move, the enclosed area was much larger than needed for restoration, and the weather did not seem appropriate for restoration.{{cite web |last=Putniņa |first=Aivita |url=http://providus.lv/article/brivibas-pieminekla-koka-metelitis |title=Wooden coat of the Freedom Monument |date=14 March 2006 |publisher=Providus |language=Latvian |accessdate=16 March 2008}} The unapproved events took place despite the ban and 65 participants were arrested by Latvian police, two of the arrested participants being citizens of Estonia.[http://vip.latnet.lv/LPRA/peec16m2006.htm Latvijas jaunāko laiku vēsturē ierakstīta jauna 16. marta lappuse] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070716062929/http://vip.latnet.lv/lpra/peec16m2006.htm |date=16 July 2007 }} Archived press coverage regarding 16 March 2006 (Neatkarīgā; Diena; Latvijas Vēstnesis; Latvijas Avīze; Nedēļa), retrieved on 17 March 2007 In 2006, laws requiring approval to arrange gatherings were ruled out as unconstitutional.{{cite web |url=http://www.satv.tiesa.gov.lv/wp-content/uploads/2006/03/2006-03-0106_Spriedums_ENG.pdf |title= Constitutional Court's judgment in case 2006-03-0106 |date=23 November 2006 |publisher=Constitutional Court of the Republic of Latvia |accessdate=16 March 2008}}

On 16 March 2007, the government mobilized the police force to guard the vicinity of the monument and the day went by relatively peacefully.{{cite news |url=http://www.delfi.lv/news/national/politics/article.php?id=17192210 |title=Police preparing for March 16 events in Riga center |date=16 March 2007 |publisher=Delfi |language=Latvian |accessdate=19 March 2007}} The veterans' organizations Daugavas Vanagi and National Association of Latvian Soldiers have announced that they dissociate themselves from ultra-radicals who organize processions at the monument and advised patriotic Latvians to attend other events.{{cite news |last=Skreija |first=Edgars |url=http://www.delfi.lv/news/comment/comment/article.php?id=17147797 |title="Daugavas Vanagi" un National Association of Latvian soldiers: Let's not politicize March 16 |date=13 March 2007 |publisher=Delfi |language=Latvian |accessdate=19 March 2007}} In 2008, the confrontation was limited to verbal arguments and insults.{{cite news |url=http://www.delfi.lv/news/national/politics/article.php?id=20520524 |title=Legionnaire remembrance events have passed without any incidents |date=16 March 2008 |publisher=Delfi |language=Latvian |accessdate=16 March 2008}}

{{wide image|Den Lotyšské legie (1).jpg|600px|2008 Legionnaire Day procession through the flag alley at the foot of Freedom Monument}}

Following the 2009 Riga riot, Riga City Council banned the 2009 procession and two counterdemonstrations, citing fears of unrest. Around 300 people disobeyed the ban, walking to lay flowers at the Freedom Monument under heavy police protection. A few counterdemonstrators were arrested.{{cite news|last=Strautmanis|first=Andris|url=https://latviansonline.com/veterans-defy-ban-march-to-freedom-monument/|title=Veterans defy ban, march to Freedom Monument|date=16 March 2009|publisher=Latvians Online|accessdate=13 September 2010}} The head of the Anti-Fascist Committee of Latvia had invited its supporters to go on "an excursion" around Old Riga that day.{{cite news|url=http://www.baltic-course.com/eng2/baltic_news/?doc=2767|title=Access to Freedom Monument in Riga restricted|date=16 March 2011|publisher=The Baltic Course|accessdate=16 March 2015}}

In 2010, Riga City Council banned the procession and a counterdemonstration. On 15 March, the Riga District Court overruled the ban, and 500 to 1,000 people participated in the 2010 commemoration events in Riga the next day.{{cite news|last=Strautmanis|first=Andris|url=https://latviansonline.com/hundreds-march-to-honor-legion-while-protesters-attack-fascism/|title=Hundreds march to honor Legion, while protesters attack fascism|date=16 March 2010|publisher=Latvians Online|accessdate=13 September 2010}} In 2011, to avert provocation and public disturbances all six both pro- and anti-Legionnaire Day events were once again disallowed.{{cite news|url=http://www.baltic-course.com/eng2/baltic_news/?doc=6819|title=All March 16 gatherings banned in Riga|date=8 March 2011|publisher=The Baltic Course|accessdate=16 March 2015}} Nonetheless, around 1,000 people went on the procession and approximately 100 protested against it.{{cite news|url=http://www.baltic-course.com/eng2/baltic_news/?doc=6868&underline=legion|title=Legion Day procession under way in Riga|date=8 March 2011|publisher=The Baltic Course|accessdate=16 March 2015}}

In 2012, around 2,000 people took part in the procession{{cite news|url=http://www.baltictimes.com/news/articles/30819/|title=Events by Freedom Monument went peacefully|date=16 March 2012|publisher=The Baltic Times|accessdate=16 March 2015}} and 1,200 police officers were employed to maintain order in Riga.{{cite web|url=https://bnn-news.com/public-order-march-16-ensured-1200-policemen-53785|title=Public order on March 16 to be ensured by 1200 policemen|date=14 March 2012|publisher=Baltic News Network|accessdate=16 March 2015}} Prime Minister Valdis Dombrovskis called for coalition ministers from the National Alliance not to participate in the events, warning that otherwise they might lose their ministerial positions.{{cite news|url=https://bnn-news.com/national-alliance%E2%80%99s-ministers-sacked-participation-march-16-events-41431|title=National Alliance's ministers might be sacked for participation in March 16 events|date=16 November 2011|publisher=Baltic News Network|accessdate=16 March 2015}} Three people were detained; one for displaying fascist symbols, one for displaying Soviet symbols and one for disturbing the work of police officers.{{cite news|last=Petrova|first=Alla|url=http://www.baltic-course.com/eng2/legislation/?doc=54696 |title=Latvian Legion walking in Riga|date=16 March 2012 |publisher=The Baltic Course |accessdate=16 March 2015}}

On 11 March 2014, the government of Latvia agreed to forbid ministers from attending 16 March events.{{cite news|url=https://www.baltictimes.com/news/articles/34555/|title=March 16 events off-limits for ministers|date=12 March 2014|publisher=The Baltic Times|accessdate=16 March 2015}} Nevertheless, the Minister of Environmental Protection and Regional Development {{Interlanguage link|Einārs Cilinskis|lv|Einārs Cilinskis}} from National Alliance stated that he intended to take part in the procession as he had done for the past 16 years;{{cite news|url=https://bnn-news.com/straujuma-react-cilinskis-participation-march-16th-walk-111200|title=Straujuma does not know how to react to Cilinskis' participation in the March 16th walk|date=10 March 2014|publisher=Baltic News Network|accessdate=16 March 2015}} which resulted in Cilinskis losing his ministerial post.{{cite web |url=https://eng.lsm.lv/article/society/society/no-ministers-to-parade-on-march-16-vows-pm.a120166/ |title=No ministers to parade on March 16 vows PM |date=4 March 2015 |publisher=Public Broadcasting of Latvia |accessdate=16 March 2015}} Protesters from the "Association Against Nazism" were moved to a fenced-in zone in adjacent Bastejkalns Park where they installed improvised gallows. The day passed without serious incident, though seven people were arrested for various misdemeanours.{{cite news|url=http://www.baltic-course.com/eng2/legislation/?doc=89065 |title=Legion Day events in Riga ended without incident|date=14 March 2014 |publisher=The Baltic Course |accessdate=16 March 2015}}

In 2013, the Saeima rejected a proposal from the National Alliance to amend the law on Holidays and Remembrance Days and make Legionnaire Day a national remembrance day.{{cite news |url=https://www.baltictimes.com/news/articles/32674/ |title=Saeima did not make March 16 a national commemoration day |date=14 March 2013 |publisher=The Baltic Times |accessdate=16 March 2015}}{{cite news |url=http://www.baltic-course.com/eng2/legislation?doc=71857 |title=March 16 won't be a national commemoration day in Latvia |date=14 March 2013 |publisher=The Baltic Course |accessdate=16 March 2015}} In 2018{{cite news |url=https://bnn-news.com/saeima-rejects-national-alliance-s-proposal-to-make-16-march-an-official-remembrance-day-181858 |title=Saeima rejects National Alliance's proposal to make 16 March an official remembrance day|date=15 March 2018|publisher=Baltic News Network |accessdate=26 October 2018}} and 2019, the Saeima turned down similar proposals from the National Alliance.{{cite news |url=https://eng.lsm.lv/article/politics/politics/national-alliance-repeats-march-16-memorial-request.a310737/ |title=National Alliance repeats March 16 memorial request |date=25 February 2019 |publisher=Public Broadcasting of Latvia |accessdate=25 February 2019}}

In 2016, British YouTuber and freelance journalist Graham Phillips was detained for disrupting the day's events and resisting police orders in what was described as a "provocation" by the Latvian Interior Minister Rihards Kozlovskis, after which Phillips was deported from Latvia and after an additional assessment denied entry into the country for the next three years.{{cite news |url=https://www.baltictimes.com/pro-kremlin_journalist_graham_phillips_deported_from_latvia_and_blacklisted_fro_three_years/ |title=Pro-Kremlin journalist Graham Phillips deported from Latvia and blacklisted for three years |date=17 March 2017 |newspaper=The Baltic Times |accessdate=25 February 2019}} Six members of the Berlin-based Association of Persecutees of the Nazi Regime – Federation of Antifascists also said to have been denied entry into the country. 13 members of Saeima were reported to have participated in the Remembrance Day of the Latvian Legionnaires procession, while 40 people protested.{{cite news |last=Sokol |first=Sam |url=https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/german-anti-fascists-face-down-pro-nazi-latvian-demonstrators-in-riga-448252 |title=German anti-fascists face down pro-Nazi Latvian demonstrators in Riga |date=17 March 2016 |newspaper=The Jerusalem Post |accessdate=25 February 2019}}

In 2017, five people were detained during the procession in Riga, two for resisting the police and three for violating regulations on meetings, processions, and pickets.{{cite news |url=https://eng.lsm.lv/article/society/society/five-people-detained-at-legionnaires-day-events.a228364/ |title=Five people detained at Legionnaires' Day events |date=17 March 2017 |publisher=Public Broadcasting of Latvia |agency=LETA |accessdate=26 October 2018}}

In 2021, no public remembrance events took place on 16 March because of the COVID-19 pandemic in Latvia.{{cite news |url=https://www.baltictimes.com/organizers_of_march_16_events_have_withdrawn_their_applications_due_to_epidemiological_situation/ |title=Organizers of March 16 events have withdrawn their applications due to epidemiological situation |date=8 March 2021 |publisher=The Baltic Times |accessdate=23 March 2021}} In 2023, "several hundred" people, including members of the National Alliance, participated in the parade in Riga.{{cite news |url=https://eng.lsm.lv/article/culture/history/16.03.2023-march-16-parade-takes-place-in-riga.a500826/ |title=March 16 parade takes place in Rīga |date=16 March 2023 |publisher=Public Broadcasting of Latvia |agency=LETA |accessdate=21 March 2023}}

{{Main|Latvian Legion}}

As part of the Waffen-SS, the Latvian Legion is seen by some as being a Nazi unit, while others argue that it fought only the Soviet Union that had previously occupied and annexed Latvia, it is not responsible for the Holocaust (since it was founded more than a year after Latvian Jews were murdered or sent to concentration camps) or any other Nazi war crimes, and should be viewed as a separate entity,{{cite web|last1=Feldmanis|first1=Inesis|last2=Kangeris|first2=Kārlis|url=https://www.mfa.gov.lv/en/policy/information-on-the-history-of-latvia/the-volunteer-ss-legion-in-latvia|title=The Volunteer SS Legion in Latvia|date=15 December 2015|publisher=Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Latvia|accessdate=26 October 2018}} being recognized as such by the US.{{cite web |last=Tomaševskis |first=Jānis |url=http://www.sargs.lv/Vesture/Vesture/2014/02/14-01.aspx |title=Latvian Legion: controversial points |date=28 February 2014 |website=sargs.lv |accessdate=19 March 2007}} Even though up to 80–85% of people were conscripted, it was officially named Volunteer Legion to circumvent the Hague Convention of 1907 prohibiting drafting inhabitants of occupied territories by the occupying power.

The government of Latvia does not recognize 16 March as an official remembrance day and has declared that Latvia commemorates its fallen soldiers on Lāčplēsis Day (11 November). People are allowed to commemorate the fallen on 16 March on their own private accord, but higher officials and members of the government do not participate at the commemorative events taking place in the Riga centre in their official capacity.{{cite web|url=https://www.mfa.gov.lv/en/policy/information-on-the-history-of-latvia/the-latvian-government-s-position-on-16-march-events|title=Concerning events on 16 March|date=16 March 2018|publisher=Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Latvia)|accessdate=26 October 2018}} The Latvian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has stressed that no Nazi uniforms, symbols, or slogans appear on this or other days in Latvia, as they are illegal.{{cite web |url=https://www.mfa.gov.lv/en/news/latest-news/13607-basic-facts-about-citizenship-and-language-policy-of-latvia-and-some-sensitive-history-related-issues |title=Basic facts about citizenship and language policy of Latvia and some sensitive history-related issues |date=14 March 2014 |publisher=Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Latvia |accessdate=16 March 2015|quote=}}

On 16 March 2012, Efraim Zuroff during his visit to Riga to protest against the Legionnaire Day procession, stated in an interview with Latvian State television LTV1 that the "Latvian SS Legion was not involved in the crimes of the Holocaust" but also stated, as he has done every year since 1999, "although these units were not involved in crimes against humanity, many of their soldiers had previously served in the Latvian security police and had actively participated in the mass murder of civilians, primarily Jews."{{cite news |title=Remembrance day of the legionnaires went peacefully |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QFmcnjNQbNU&t=1m41s |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/QFmcnjNQbNU |archive-date=21 December 2021 |url-status=live|date=16 March 2012|publisher=LTV Panorāma|language=lv}}{{cbignore}}{{cite web|title=Wiesenthal Israel director joins demonstrators against march of Waffen-SS veterans and supporters in Riga |url=http://www.operationlastchance.org/LATVIA_PR.htm |date=18 March 2012 |publisher=Operation Last Chance}}

Head of World War II History Department of the Latvian War Museum Jānis Tomaševskis acknowledged that 11 Latvian Auxiliary Police battalions and Arajs Kommando, whose members had participated in the Holocaust, were later involved in the Latvian Legion, but asserted that "there is no basis to declare that the Latvian Legion was related to the war crimes committed by previous military or paramilitary units". He describes how "[i]nflow of these persons in the legion to a certain extent delayed international court institutions to arrange fast arrest of war criminals", noting the case of Viktors Arājs who was arrested only in 1975 in Germany, but states, "[t]he fact that also war criminals were called in the legion does not make the entire legion a criminal unit."{{cite web |last=Tomaševskis |first=Jānis |url=https://www.karamuzejs.lv/lkm/latvian-legion-controversial-points |title=Latvian Legion: controversial points |date=15 April 2021 |publisher=Latvian War Museum |accessdate=4 July 2022}}

According to 2017 research by the University of Latvia and SKDS, from 2012 to 2017, public support for Legionnaire Day had decreased from 38% to 33%. Researcher Mārtiņš Kaprāns noted a "more pronounced tolerance" and that "a favourable attitude towards the Lestene memorial has grown both among Latvians and Russians".{{cite news |url=https://eng.lsm.lv/article/society/society/support-for-march-16-falling.a228146/ |title=Support for March 16 falling |date=15 March 2017 |publisher=Public Broadcasting of Latvia |accessdate=26 October 2018}}

Russia alleges that the Latvian Legion carried out punitive actions against partisans and the civilian population in the territory of German-occupied Latvia, Poland, Belarus, Ukraine, and Russia (such as Operation Winterzauber).{{cite web|title=Involvement of the Lettish SS Legion in War Crimes in 1941–1945 and the Attempts to Revise the Verdict of the Nuremberg Tribunal in Latvia|url=http://www.mid.ru/ru/maps/lv/-/asset_publisher/9RJVTEXfWg7R/content/id/485336|date=14 February 2004|publisher=Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia|access-date=11 November 2005}}

Director of Russia’s "Historical Memory" foundation Aleksandr Dyukov claims that the Latvian Legion had been involved in the mass killing of civilians, such as the Zhestianaya Gorka massacre, and numerous former members of the Latvian Legion had worked for the American intelligence to pursue anti-Soviet propaganda.

In 2011, the European Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI) adopted a report on Latvia, expressing "concern as regards the authorization of certain public events to commemorate two incidents and the authorities' reaction in this connection. As concerns the first incident, every year, on March 16, a gathering commemorating soldiers who fought in a Latvian unit of the Waffen SS is held in the centre of Riga. In this connection, ECRI regrets that, in spring 2010, an administrative district court overruled a decision of the Riga City Council prohibiting this procession" and recommended "that the Latvian authorities condemn all attempts to commemorate persons who fought in the Waffen SS and collaborated with the Nazis. ECRI further recommended that the authorities ban any gathering or march legitimising in any way Nazism".[http://www.coe.int/t/dghl/monitoring/ecri/Country-by-country/Latvia/LVA-CbC-IV-2012-003-ENG.pdf Report on Latvia (fourth monitoring cycle) CRI(2012)3]. European Commission against Racism and Intolerance. Paras. 86–87

Institute for Strategic Dialogue had stated, "[c]laiming that members of the Estonian and Latvian SS units were voluntarily collaborating with Nazis oversimplifies history", explaining, "the vast majority of soldiers were conscripted against their will" and "[d]raft evasion was initially punishable by prison, and later punishable by death".{{cite web |url=https://www.isdglobal.org/digital_dispatches/recurring-pro-kremlin-rhetoric-linking-baltic-states-with-nazism/ |title=Recurring Pro-Kremlin Rhetoric Linking Baltic States with Nazism |date=6 September 2022 |publisher=Institute for Strategic Dialogue |accessdate=21 March 2023}}

In 2013, United Nations special rapporteur on racism submitted a communication to Latvia concerning the events of 16 March.[https://www.ohchr.org/Documents/HRBodies/SP/A-HRC-24-21_en.pdf#page=23 Communications report of Special Procedures A/HRC/24/21] p. 23 In 2018, the European Parliament adopted a resolution on the rise of neo-fascist violence in Europe, observing that "every year on 16 March thousands of people gather in Riga for Latvian Legion Day to honour Latvians who served in the Waffen-SS".[http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?pubRef=-%2F%2FEP%2F%2FNONSGML+TA+P8-TA-2018-0428+0+DOC+PDF+V0%2F%2FEN European Parliament resolution of 25 October 2018 on the rise of neo-fascist violence in Europe (2018/2869(RSP))] In 2019, Canada condemned the event.{{Cite news |last=Pugliese |first=David |date=19 March 2019 |title=Canada condemns annual Latvian parade that honours Nazi SS unit |work=National Post |url=https://nationalpost.com/news/canada/canada-condemns-annual-latvian-parade-that-honours-nazi-ss-unit |access-date=16 October 2023}}{{Cite news |last=Pugliese |first=David |date=21 March 2019 |title=Canadian government condemns parade in Latvia to honour Nazi SS unit |work=Ottawa Citizen |url=https://ottawacitizen.com/news/national/defence-watch/canadian-government-condemns-parade-in-latvia-to-honour-nazi-ss-unit |access-date=16 October 2023}}

{{cquote

|The organizers of the march are trying to present the members of the legion as freedom fighters who paved the way for Latvian independence but nothing could be further from the truth. The Nazis had absolutely no intention of granting independence to any of the Baltic countries and it is only because Nazi Germany lost the Second World War could Latvia regain its independence after the fall of the USSR. People who fought for victory of Third Reich should not be glorified as heroes – such a victory would have meant the end of Western civilization.

|author=Efraim Zuroff

|source=}}

Leanid Kazyrytski has argued that, even though the Nuremberg Tribunal excluded Latvian Waffen SS units from the list of criminal organizations, the Latvian Legion possessed all the features attributed to a criminal organization by the Nuremberg Tribunal.{{cite journal|last1=Kazyrytski|first1=Leanid|title=Latvian SS-Legion: Past and Present. Some Issues Regarding the Modern Glorification of Nazism|journal=Criminal Law Forum|date=2016|volume=27|issue=3|pages=361–385|doi=10.1007/s10609-016-9286-3|s2cid=148160519}}

Image:Saeimas priekšsēdētāja piedalās kritušo karavīru piemiņas pasākumā Lestenē (25811314346).jpg

Traditionally, a memorial service is held in Riga Cathedral, after which the participants go on a procession to the Freedom Monument where they lay flowers. Another ceremony receiving much less publicity takes place at the war cemetery in Lestene, Tukums Municipality.{{cite news|url=https://eng.lsm.lv/article/society/society/fallen-legionnaires-remembered-at-lestene-cemetery.a121777/|title=Fallen legionnaires remembered at Lestene cemetery|date=16 March 2015|publisher=Public Broadcasting of Latvia|accessdate=16 March 2015}}

Organizations whose members have been seen to participate in events:

• National Alliance{{cite news|url=http://www.baltic-course.com/eng2/baltic_news/?doc=16204 |title=Many MPs from Latvian National Alliance to participate in March 16 events|date=2 March 2016 |publisher=The Baltic Course |accessdate=26 October 2018}} – a right-wing populist party whose members traditionally organize a flag alley at the Freedom Monument when the procession arrives
• Gustavs Celmiņš Centre{{cite news |url=http://www.baltic-course.com/eng2/baltic_news/?doc=10780 |title=Events commemorating and condemning Latvian Legion to take place on March 16 |date=6 March 2013 |publisher=The Baltic Course |accessdate=16 March 2015}} – an organization seeking to revive the ultranationalist Pērkonkrusts movement

• National Bolshevik Party[https://web.archive.org/web/20130309004411/http://nbp-info.ru/new/photo/160306_riga/ День сопротивления в Риге. 16 марта 2006]. nbp-info.ru[https://web.archive.org/web/20130309004411/http://nbp-info.ru/new/photo/160305_riga/index.html Рига: Акция протеста против шествия нацистов 16 марта 2005]. nbp-info.ru
• Anti-Fascist Committee of Latvia{{cite news|url=http://www.baltic-course.com/eng2/baltic_news/?doc=6797|title=Six groups sign up for public events in Riga on March 16 Legion Day|date=3 March 2011|publisher=The Baltic Course|accessdate=16 March 2015}}
• Latvian Russian Union
• Nochnoy Dozor{{cite news |url=http://rus.delfi.lv/archive/article.php?id=20520852 |title="Night Watch" makes its way to Latvia in groups |accessdate=21 March 2008 |date=16 March 2008 |publisher=Delfi |language=Russian}}

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{{Commons category|Remembrance day of the Latvian legionnaires}}

• [http://demoshistoria.lv/images/16.marts_eng.pdf March 16 Explained]. History Foundation of Latvia
• [https://latvianlegion.org LatvianLegion.org], history, representation in press and media, and INS deportation case against Vilis Hāzners
• [https://eng.lsm.lv/article/features/video/documentary-outlines-nazi-occupation-and-the-latvian-legion.a352226/ Documentary outlines Nazi occupation and the Latvian Legion]. 23 March 2020. Public Broadcasting of Latvia. Retrieved: 23 March 2020
• Collier, Mike (16 March 2016). [https://eng.lsm.lv/article/features/features/special-report-voices-of-march-16.a173918/ Special Report: Voices of March 16]. Public Broadcasting of Latvia. Retrieved: 26 October 2018

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Day

Category:Spring (season) in Latvia

Category:Far-right politics in Europe

Category:March observances

Category:Neo-Nazism in Europe