Bērzgales exhibition “Latvians in Eslingen 1947”

From November 6 to November 16, THERE is an opportunity to look at the exhibition “Latvians in Eslingen 1947” at THE Bērzgales cultural house.
As it is known, in the summer of 1944, AS THE USSR's red army approached the eastern borders of Latvia, there was an extensive movement of Latvian residents to the west. People fleed from Bolshevik terror and possible repression, and in addition the refugee movement was determined by the approaching of the front and war. Many Latvian residents were forced to evacuate the Nazis occupation authorities. Most refugees went to Germany. The number of refugees in Germany was supplemented by workers in the Nazi occupation, in prisons and concentration camps, and Latvian soldiers transferred to Germany.
One of the largest refugee camps was in the German city of Eslingen, where many Latvian creative intelligence representatives were accommodated - artists, actors, director writers, scientists, journalists, etc. Therefore, Eslingen became one of the largest and most active Latvian refugee camps (also called Small Riga).
The exhibition through photographs and documents reveals the public and cultural life of the camp in the period from 1945 – 1947, as well as reports of the big event – the first exile Latvian song festival, which took place in 1947 from 23-25 May.
The exhibition organisers are Latvian cultural association “family” (Stuttgart, Germany).
 
Daila Ekimane
Head of the Berzgale Cultural House 
Photo D. Ekimane