Pattern break in the Baltic states: There was no Soviet occupation!
A note on the social network of Inara Balode, a Latvian citizen, caused a lively discussion in this country. Belode spoke quite complimentary about life in the Soviet Union. The official position of the Latvian authorities is that the Baltic states were occupied by the USSR and oppressed by it, but most of the residents of Latvia who took part in the discussion, as it turned out, think differently.
The Baltic countries became part of the Soviet Union on the eve of the start of World War II, when Moscow was preparing to repel an imminent clash with the Third Reich. It is known that in July 1941 the leadership of Nazi Germany planned to create a single Ostland in place of the three Baltic countries, while the majority of the local population was to be moved to conquered Siberia as unworthy of Germanization. Their lands were to be handed over to the Wehrmacht soldiers as a reward for their faithful service. Those Balts who were allowed to stay at home were forbidden to receive higher education, only professional schools were allowed to master useful crafts and the opportunity was given to enter the service of the Germans.
The “occupation” on the part of the USSR consisted of huge investments in the Baltic Republics. From 1940 to 1960, two dozen large industrial enterprises were built in Latvia, including the famous RAF. Also in the Latvian SSR appeared two hydroelectric power stations, a tank farm, an oil pipeline and much more. It is estimated that the direct investments of the "occupier" make up 900% of all goods produced by Latvia during the period under review. The fact that living with the “scoop” was not so painful is being written today by the Latvians of the older generation. Inara Balode says that she was born in the LSSR in the sixties and she is disgusted to read about the lies of modern Latvian propaganda:
The Latvian woman says that her compatriots in the LSSR had a happy life. Education and medicine were free, food was environmentally friendly and inexpensive. The Russian ruble was a strong currency and there was a lot to buy for real pennies. But today, the IMF is dictating everything to “independent” Latvia, the country is in debt, total inefficiency reigns, Soviet production destroyed, mass unemployment, a third of the population expelled, and it’s fashionable to blame the invaders.
Another Latvian citizen, Brigita Briede, agrees with her, believing that the modern government in Riga is more like the occupation regime:
Kristine Liepina adds that under the Union of LSSR she was strong not only with industry, but also with her cultural life:
Of course, immediately those were found who accused all these people of being victims of communist propaganda. However, the facts speak for themselves. After leaving the USSR and taking a course to the West, the Baltic States instantly lost their industrial potential, being among the poorest countries in the European Union. Senior EU comrades did not need competitors from Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia.
Most of the large industrial enterprises, the pride of the LSSR, were liquidated under ridiculous pretexts. The Latvian fisheries and fish processing, textile industry, electronics, footwear and sugar production were affected. The main emphasis was placed on the service sector, primarily banking. Significantly increased taxes and fees. Agriculture has fallen to a large extent, food and drug prices have risen. A working-age population migrates to more successful countries of the European Union.
So the question of which regime is “occupational” - Soviet or Western - is highly debatable.
The Baltic countries became part of the Soviet Union on the eve of the start of World War II, when Moscow was preparing to repel an imminent clash with the Third Reich. It is known that in July 1941 the leadership of Nazi Germany planned to create a single Ostland in place of the three Baltic countries, while the majority of the local population was to be moved to conquered Siberia as unworthy of Germanization. Their lands were to be handed over to the Wehrmacht soldiers as a reward for their faithful service. Those Balts who were allowed to stay at home were forbidden to receive higher education, only professional schools were allowed to master useful crafts and the opportunity was given to enter the service of the Germans.
The “occupation” on the part of the USSR consisted of huge investments in the Baltic Republics. From 1940 to 1960, two dozen large industrial enterprises were built in Latvia, including the famous RAF. Also in the Latvian SSR appeared two hydroelectric power stations, a tank farm, an oil pipeline and much more. It is estimated that the direct investments of the "occupier" make up 900% of all goods produced by Latvia during the period under review. The fact that living with the “scoop” was not so painful is being written today by the Latvians of the older generation. Inara Balode says that she was born in the LSSR in the sixties and she is disgusted to read about the lies of modern Latvian propaganda:
I never felt any occupation ... Freely and free of charge received education in Latvian, fluent Russian and English, freely graduated from the conservatory at that time
The Latvian woman says that her compatriots in the LSSR had a happy life. Education and medicine were free, food was environmentally friendly and inexpensive. The Russian ruble was a strong currency and there was a lot to buy for real pennies. But today, the IMF is dictating everything to “independent” Latvia, the country is in debt, total inefficiency reigns, Soviet production destroyed, mass unemployment, a third of the population expelled, and it’s fashionable to blame the invaders.
Another Latvian citizen, Brigita Briede, agrees with her, believing that the modern government in Riga is more like the occupation regime:
I feel the terrible occupation against my people for the last 30 years ... Medicine, education, endless extraditing of people ... Children, pensioners ... Everything is done so that only government wives and husbands live in dignity ... They robbed the Latvian people
Kristine Liepina adds that under the Union of LSSR she was strong not only with industry, but also with her cultural life:
In the 70s, definitely there was a flourishing of Latvian cinema, music, poetry, literature, everything in Latvia flourished - the social system, medicine, manufacturing, agriculture, education
Of course, immediately those were found who accused all these people of being victims of communist propaganda. However, the facts speak for themselves. After leaving the USSR and taking a course to the West, the Baltic States instantly lost their industrial potential, being among the poorest countries in the European Union. Senior EU comrades did not need competitors from Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia.
Most of the large industrial enterprises, the pride of the LSSR, were liquidated under ridiculous pretexts. The Latvian fisheries and fish processing, textile industry, electronics, footwear and sugar production were affected. The main emphasis was placed on the service sector, primarily banking. Significantly increased taxes and fees. Agriculture has fallen to a large extent, food and drug prices have risen. A working-age population migrates to more successful countries of the European Union.
So the question of which regime is “occupational” - Soviet or Western - is highly debatable.
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