The Glorification
of the Executioners
1
Jonas Noreika
(1910–1947)
Lithuanian collaborationist, active participant in the Holocaust in Lithuania. Member of the Lithuanian Activist Front. During the years of Nazi occupation, he organized the forced relocation of the Jews into the Šiauliai Ghetto. According to eyewitnesses, he commanded the shootings of its prisoners and sanctioned the robbery of the prisoners' possessions. He took part in massacres of the Jewis population in the cities of Plungė (was commandant of that city) and Telšiai. One of the organizers of the Lithuanian Underground Council in 1946.
Tried and executed by the Soviet Military tribunal.
(1910–1947)
Lithuanian collaborationist, active participant in the Holocaust in Lithuania. Member of the Lithuanian Activist Front. During the years of Nazi occupation, he organized the forced relocation of the Jews into the Šiauliai Ghetto. According to eyewitnesses, he commanded the shootings of its prisoners and sanctioned the robbery of the prisoners' possessions. He took part in massacres of the Jewis population in the cities of Plungė (was commandant of that city) and Telšiai. One of the organizers of the Lithuanian Underground Council in 1946.
Tried and executed by the Soviet Military tribunal.
- In 1997, Jonas Noreika was posthumously awarded the Order of the Cross of Vytis, which is awarded for "Heroic defense of Lithuania's freedom and independence"
- There is a memorial stone and memorial plaque for Jonas Noreika on the Lithuanian Academy of Sciences.
- A school in the village of Šaukėnai (Pakruojis District Municipality) as well as memorial stone.
2
Adolfas Ramanauskas (Codename: Vanagas)
(1918–1957)
Lithuanian collaborationist and member of the anti-Soviet resistance during World War 2. According to recently uncovered data, during the Nazi occupation, he took part in the massacres of Jews in Merkinė. One of the creators of the "Forest Brothers." He massacred the civilian population as head of the Dainava region and coordinator of the anti-Soviet armed forces.
(1918–1957)
Lithuanian collaborationist and member of the anti-Soviet resistance during World War 2. According to recently uncovered data, during the Nazi occupation, he took part in the massacres of Jews in Merkinė. One of the creators of the "Forest Brothers." He massacred the civilian population as head of the Dainava region and coordinator of the anti-Soviet armed forces.
- A Gymnasium in Alitus was named in his honour in 1994.
- In 2019, a memorial plaque honouring Ramanauskas was set up on the building of Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities of the Klaipėda University
- On May 4, 2019, a monument to Adolfas Ramanauskas was unveiled in Chicago, a decision which was criticised by some organisations, including the Simon Wiesenthal Center, the World Jewish Congress, and the Jewish Agency
3
Kazys Škirpa
(1895–1977)
Lithuanian collaborationist. He was the Lithuanian ambassador to Germany, met Hitler and prepared the creation of the Lithuanian Activist Front which was planning to declare a pro-Nazi regime in Lithuania as early as spring 1941. After Lithuania was occupied by the Nazis, he ran for the leading position of the puppet state. Members of Škirpa's Front regularly took part in the Holocaust and massacres of the Soviet partisans.
He Emigrated and died in Washington D.C.
(1895–1977)
Lithuanian collaborationist. He was the Lithuanian ambassador to Germany, met Hitler and prepared the creation of the Lithuanian Activist Front which was planning to declare a pro-Nazi regime in Lithuania as early as spring 1941. After Lithuania was occupied by the Nazis, he ran for the leading position of the puppet state. Members of Škirpa's Front regularly took part in the Holocaust and massacres of the Soviet partisans.
He Emigrated and died in Washington D.C.
- In Kaunas's Eiguliai subdistrict, by decision of the Mayor's office, named a street after Škirpa in 1991.
- 23 November 2001, a memorial plague was open in the center of Kaunas on Gedeminas street.
- 3 November 2016, in the village of Namajūnai there was a memorial stone in honor of Kazys Škirpa
4
Juozas Ambrazevičius
Juozas Ambrazevičius
(or Juozas Brazaitis)
(1903–1974)
Lithuanian collaborationist. He was acting Prime Minister of the Provisional Government of Lithuania from June 23, 1941 to August 5, 1941 (the starting phase of Nazi occupation). Later he left a few underground anti-Soviet organizations. He moved to USA.
(or Juozas Brazaitis)
(1903–1974)
Lithuanian collaborationist. He was acting Prime Minister of the Provisional Government of Lithuania from June 23, 1941 to August 5, 1941 (the starting phase of Nazi occupation). Later he left a few underground anti-Soviet organizations. He moved to USA.
- Posthumously awarded the Order of the Cross of Vytis on 26 June 2009, which is awarded for "Heroic defense of Lithuania's freedom and independence"
- There is a street named after Ambrazevičius in Marijampolė and in the Panemunė district of Kaunas
- 20 June 2009, in the vestibule of the Vytautas Magnus University, there is a wall carving and memorial plaque in his honour.
- Auditorium #608 was renamed in his honour in 22 July 2007 in the Humanitarian Sciences Faculty, where Ambrazevičius taught at the time.
5
Voldemārs Veiss
(1899–1944)
One of the notable Latvian collaborationists, leader of the Riga Self Defence Organization (appointed by Einsatzgruppen A commander Walter Stahlecker), and then leader of the auxiliary police, Riga's "Police of Order." 1 July 1941 he made a radio broadcast, telling people to kill the "enemy from within", meaning the Jews. He organized the recruitment of the Latvian police battalions. Took direct action in the massacres of the civilian population of Belarus villages during Operation Winterzauber. In January 1944, Veiss became the first Latvian to receive the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross from Nazi Germany
He was killed on the Volkhov Front. Buried in 1944 on a mass grave in Riga.
(1899–1944)
One of the notable Latvian collaborationists, leader of the Riga Self Defence Organization (appointed by Einsatzgruppen A commander Walter Stahlecker), and then leader of the auxiliary police, Riga's "Police of Order." 1 July 1941 he made a radio broadcast, telling people to kill the "enemy from within", meaning the Jews. He organized the recruitment of the Latvian police battalions. Took direct action in the massacres of the civilian population of Belarus villages during Operation Winterzauber. In January 1944, Veiss became the first Latvian to receive the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross from Nazi Germany
He was killed on the Volkhov Front. Buried in 1944 on a mass grave in Riga.
- His grave at the foot of a statue of Mother Lithuania was updated. Every 8th of May, members of the Latvian government and Ambassadors bring flowers to it.
6
Herberts Cukurs
(1900–1965)
Latvian aviator, member of the Lettonia student organization. He volunteered for the Arajs Kommando, according to witnesses he personally took part in the torment of Jews and patrolling the Riga Ghetto. He posthumously became known as the Butcher of Riga.
After the war he fled to South America, but was killed in a Mossad special operation.
(1900–1965)
Latvian aviator, member of the Lettonia student organization. He volunteered for the Arajs Kommando, according to witnesses he personally took part in the torment of Jews and patrolling the Riga Ghetto. He posthumously became known as the Butcher of Riga.
After the war he fled to South America, but was killed in a Mossad special operation.
- Summer 2004, there was a series of commemorative envelopes with his image
- In June 2005, in Liepāja (Cukurs hometown) held an exhibit in his honour.
- 11 October 2014 saw the premiere of the Cukurs. Herberts Cukurs musical, which aimed to whitewash his image in the eyes of the common viewer and make him out to be a hero.
- February 2019, the Latvian Prosecutor General's office declared him innocent of any Holocaust crimes.
8
Rūdolfs Bangerskis
(1878–1958)
Latvian military leader, veteran of World War I as part of the Russian Empire (colonel). He would go on to become the Minister of Defense of Latvia in the interwar period. During Nazi occupation he was one the founders of the Latvian Legion of the Waffen-SS. His official rank: SS Gruppenführer and Generaal-Inspector of the Latvian Legion. He moved to Germany and died in a car accident.
(1878–1958)
Latvian military leader, veteran of World War I as part of the Russian Empire (colonel). He would go on to become the Minister of Defense of Latvia in the interwar period. During Nazi occupation he was one the founders of the Latvian Legion of the Waffen-SS. His official rank: SS Gruppenführer and Generaal-Inspector of the Latvian Legion. He moved to Germany and died in a car accident.
- 16 March 1995, he was reinterred at the foot of the Mother Latvia statue on the Brethren Cemetery with military honours, with the Latvian army reserves and current Latvian Army officers in civilian clothes present.
9
Harald Nugiseks
(1921–2014)
Military figure in Estonia and the Third Reich, Unterscharführer of Waffen-SS.
During World War 2 he volunteered for the 20th Estonia SS Division. In 1944, he was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross for the Narva operation, becoming the second Estonian to receive such an award.
Harald Nugiseks died on 2 January 2014 in Tallinn
(1921–2014)
Military figure in Estonia and the Third Reich, Unterscharführer of Waffen-SS.
During World War 2 he volunteered for the 20th Estonia SS Division. In 1944, he was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross for the Narva operation, becoming the second Estonian to receive such an award.
Harald Nugiseks died on 2 January 2014 in Tallinn
- After 4 229 signatures were collected in October 2008, Captain Nugiseks was awarded the Medal of Gratitude by the people of Estonia "for his part in the fight against Bolshevism"
- He was buried with military honours on 10 January 2014 on a military cemetery in the village of Tori
- The Laupa school in Türi Parish, Järva County, a bronze bust of Harald Nugiseks was unveiled.
On the map:
10
Monument to the Latvian SS battalions
Located in Bauska (Latvia). It is dedicated to the 23rd, 319th and 322nd Latvian battalions of Waffen-SS and is the first monument for the SS in Latvia.
It was festively unveiled on 14 September 2014 in the presence of the City Mayor's Office.
The inscription reads: "To the defenders of Bauska against the second Soviet occupation on July 28 – September 14, 1944", followed by "Latvia should be a Latvian state".
Located in Bauska (Latvia). It is dedicated to the 23rd, 319th and 322nd Latvian battalions of Waffen-SS and is the first monument for the SS in Latvia.
It was festively unveiled on 14 September 2014 in the presence of the City Mayor's Office.
The inscription reads: "To the defenders of Bauska against the second Soviet occupation on July 28 – September 14, 1944", followed by "Latvia should be a Latvian state".
On the map:
11
SS Veteran gatherings in Estonia
In late July, on the anniversary of the battles near Sinimäe in the Vaivara County (Narva Operation 1944) there is an annual meeting of veterans of the 20th Waffen Grenadier Division of the SS (1st Estonian) and members of the "Union of Fighters for the Liberation of Estonia" (Forest Brothers).
In late July, on the anniversary of the battles near Sinimäe in the Vaivara County (Narva Operation 1944) there is an annual meeting of veterans of the 20th Waffen Grenadier Division of the SS (1st Estonian) and members of the "Union of Fighters for the Liberation of Estonia" (Forest Brothers).
On the map:
