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NR:
132
Index:
LatA [Latvians in Russia]
Age
at Time of Interview: 68
Year
of Birth: 1925
Place
of Birth: Russia
Nationality/Ethnicity:
Latvian
Religion:
Education:
Elementary school in Archangelesk, Russia.
Content
and themes: The author focuses on her childhood memories
and youth in Bashkir and adapting to life in Latvia. Much
of her story is about her family members and their fates.
Her life reveals dfficulties living in the Soviet period.
Nr.
387/1-2
Index:
Repr [ Repressions]
Gender:
male
Age:
64
Date
of Birth: 1932
Place
of Birth: Latvia
Nationality/ethnicity:
Latvian
Religion:
Lutheran Education: Kuldiga High School
Employment/Profession:
Agricultural Special
Characteristics
of Experience: Life in Konini villages
Content
and themes: Memories about mother, Alise Penike, who was
a member of the influential Koninu family (Her father's brother
was a general in the Army of the Republic of Latvia, Martins
Penikis.) Her marriage to someone outside the village - contrary
to tradition and the wishes of her parents. The destruction
of her father's home, "Sikaleisi": the handing out of land
to the landless. High taxes. The arrest of his father for
failing to pay taxes. The deportation of his mother with her
three children to Omsk in 1949. The affect of occupation on
school life - after the arrival of the Soviet his teacher
cut out pictures of the Latvian flag from their reading books.
In the German period, the school became a headquarters for
the army. School childrens walked home from school so, in
the case of deportation, they would not lose their family.
Forced relocation to Siberia and work in Siberia. At the end
of this period, education and work helped to raise their self-esteem.
This was followed by insecurity -with no established job nor
residence in Latvia. Work at land-reclamation work which was
well-paid, but also see how everyone around him drank too
much. At the end of the koholz period, she and her brother
shared in privatization and acquired property. In the end,
he remembers an offer by the Cheka to work for them. He refused
this offer, but remember someone else could not stand the
pressure by the Cheka and hanged himself in the Koninu forest.
Nr.
752/1-3
Index:
LatR [Latvians in West]
Age
at Time of Interview: 80
Year
of Birth: 1918
Place
of Birth: Latvia
Nationality/Ethnicity:
Latvian
Religion:
Lutheran
Education:
Elementary, Agricultural school in Skriveri
Employment/Profession:
Journalism
Unique
experience: Founding of book collection/library in United
States
Place
of Interview: Kalamazoo, USA
Content
and themes: Lifestory told in chronological order, in
which community work is in first place. Service in the Army
of the Republic of Latvia. The beginning of the first Soviet
Occupation. He remembers the deportation of June 14 and those
deported. An account of the formation of the Kureliesi movement
[ resistance movement against Nazi at the II WW in Latvia].
Arrest of Kureliesi and imprisonment in Ventspils prison.
Transferred to Gdansk, Poland to Torn, Germany. Life in the
barracks, digging of ditches. An account of participation
in the community life in the DP camp and establishing social
relationships in Germany. Arrival in Kalamazoo, search for
employment and place to live. Sons' and daughter's lives in
the United States, adaptation. Raising his grandchildren as
Latvians. Thoughts about return the possibility to return
to Latvia for both himself and his children. The foundation
of a book collection at the Latvian School, Garezers, book
shipments to Latvia, Lauberi. The establishment of a book
foundation in Kalamazoo Latvian Center. The second half of
his life concerned family and childraising issues.
NR:
1241
Index:
Ilgdz, Kur [Centenarians, Kurzeme - West part of Latvia]
Age
at Time of Interview: 102
Year
of Birth: 1898
Place
of Birth: Latvia
Nationality/Ethnicity:
Latvian
Religion:
Lutheran
Education:
Elementary, four grades in Pope's, Ance's schools, Elementary,
Agricultural school in Skriveri
Content
and themes: The author has witnessed both World Wars and
both declarations of Latvia's independence. She has met people
of diverse ethnic backgrounds who have lived or simply traveled
through Latvia. She describes the work of the Puze's glass
factory as she recalls her childhood memories. She describes
the relationship between the children of various nationalities.
Characterizes the nature and habits of the Swedish lords.
World War II and her impressions of the German soldiers in
Puze. She completed just a few classes of elementary school,
but her ability to speak Russian and German, she says, helped
her retain her self-esteem when faced by complex situations.
The interview takes place in the "Ventina" dialect.
NR:
1022/1-3
Index:
Karš, Kr [War, Russian]
Age
at Time of Interview: 71
Year
of Birth: 1928
Place
of Birth: Russia
Nationality/Ethnicity:
Russian
Education: Pedagogical-Technical Institute in Opocka, Pedagogical
Institute in Velikije Luki
Content
and themes: The author recalls World War II, hiding in
the forest, and clashes between the partisans and Germans.
She was taken to a camp "Svary" in Belorussia, but later escaped
from the Germans. After the war she and her family decide
to return to Russia. Then she later returns to Latvia to find
work, education. Discusses interethnic relations. Evaluates
the citizen-non-citizen situation in Latvia after the renewal
of independence.
NR:
1078/1
Index:
Repr, Kr [Repressions, Russian]
Age
at Time of Interview: 74
Year
of Birth: 1926
Place
of Birth: Russia
Nationality/Ethnicity:
Russian
Education:
Eight year Voskresensk Elementary School
Content
and themes: The author was born in Russia. World War II
begins, which she spends in various labor camps in Russia,
Ukraine, Belorussia, Germany...She returns to find her home
destroyed and must start her life over. Looking for work,
she meets and falls in love with a Latvian boy and has now
lived on Latvia's border for fifty years. She reflects on
life's paradoxes; how she, a woman supposedly destined to
live a quiet life in the country, instead walks across half
of Europe, learning many languages on the way--German, Latvian,
Polish, Lithuanian...She considers herself Orthodox, but often
attends Catholic church and receives communion from a Lutheran
pastor. She reflects on life today. The interview takes place
in a home for the elderly. The interviewee does not have Latvian
citizenship. The interview takes place in Latvian.
NR:
1143/1-2
Index:
Repr, Sē [Repressions, Selija - Middle part of Latvia]
Age
at Time of Interview: 86
Year
of Birth: 1914
Place
of Birth: Latvia
Nationality/Ethnicity:
Latvian
Religion:
Lutheran
Education:
Birzi two-class agricultural school
Content
and themes: A complex story, which begins with the author's
parents. His father deserts the Russian Army in World War
I. His mother dies. The author served in the army and then
enlisted in the work police (darba policija) In the interwar
years, he was active in Garsene's cultural life, Aizsargi.
He worked as the chief of police. Soviet troops enter in 1940,
the author is arrested and sentenced to hard labor. He spends
sixteen years in Vorkut. The author describes police work,
militia, Soviet secret police, Nazi German forces, life in
Vorkut.
NR:
1003/1-2
Index:
Ebr [ Jewish]
Age
at time of interview: 77 years old
Year
of Birth: 1922
Country
of Birth: Latvia
Nationality/ethnicity:
Jewish
Religion:
Education:
Elementary School in Viesite, Jekabpils Gymnasium
Content
and themes: The author recalls how his family fled to
Russia at the beginning of World War II, and thus saved their
themselves, even though his father then dies there of starvation.
He recalls Jewish life in interwar Latvia--schools, religion,
traditions. He has heard from others how the wealthy Jews
of Viesite were murdered in World War II. He married a Latvian
and misses the Jewish traditions, language. He characterizes
different nationalities. In the Soviet period he had an important
position, but now he has a small pension and feels poverty.
He compares interwar Latvia with today, where there is much
poverty.
NR:
1011/1
Index:
Ukr, Se [Ukrainian, Selija - Middle part of Latvia]
Age
at time of interview: 49
Year
of Birth: 1951
Country
of Birth: Ukraine
Nationality/ethnicity:
ukrainian
Religion:
Orthodox
Education:
Ukrainian secondary school
Content
and themes: Even though the interviewee has difficulty
expressing himself in Latvian, the interview takes place in
Latvian. He recalls that he was persuaded by friends to come
to Latvia to find work. he met his future wife, married, and
did not return to Ukraine. He is not the only Ukrainian who
married a Latvian and stayed. He recalls his life in Aizkarpat,
Ukraine. At one time he was interested in religious studies
and attending a seminary. He has now worked in Latvia twenty-five
years, understands Latvian and notes the differences between
Latvians and Ukrainians. His wife also speaks Ukrainian, and
their children speak three languages - Latvian, Russian, and
Ukrainian.They usually spent their summers in Ukraine. He
thinks that, on the one hand, being a non-citizen in Latvia
is advantageous for him--he does not have to pay for expensive
travel visas--but on the other hand, it is disadvantageous
because he does not have the right to vote. He describes his
property. He does not believe that it is possible to provide
for children with farming.
NR:
1400/1-2
Index:
Ilgdz [Centenarians]
Age
at Time of Interview: 90
Year
of Birth: 1911
Place
of Birth: Russia
Nationality/Ethnicity:
Russian
Religion:
Education:
Three year elementary school in Lithuania
Content
and themes: The author was baptized as a Catholic, but
confirmed in a Lutheran church. A story of difficult childhood.
She and her mother went to Riga when the author was four years
old. Life in Riga was difficult, and her mother turned to
stealing to provide. The author's childhood as a shepherd.
War and end of World War II. She recalls contacts with Russian
soldiers, especially Russian aviator dances. She reflects
on the roles of dreams.
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