Several hundred people march through Riga's Old Town to commemorate Latvian Legionnaires

RIGA - Several hundred people marched through Riga's Old Town to the Freedom Monument to commemorate Latvian Legionnaires on Monday, LETA observed.

A few National Alliance members also took part in the march. As usual, a large police force observed the march.

Several marchers carried Latvian and Estonian flags.

As reported, the March 16 Latvian Legion Day is the day of remembrance of Latvian Legionnaires. Latvian Legion Day was established in exile by the Daugavas Vanagi association. March 16 was chosen as the most appropriate date because on March 16, 1944, both divisions of the Latvian Legion fought alongside for the first time against the Red Army. It was the only battle in World War II led solely by Latvian commanders.

Many Latvians, who were forcibly called up to join the Latvian SS Legion, saw the German army as a lesser of two evils. For many of these soldiers, the choice to join the Latvian SS Legion was a result of the brutal Soviet occupation between 1940 and 1941, during which tens of thousands of Latvians were executed or deported to Siberia. Many soldiers naively believed that, if they helped Germany win the war, Latvia might be rewarded with independence or autonomy.