Between the hammer and the anvil! The most accurate explanation of the situation in Baltic States during World War II one can find in English language so far!
The Baltic States during World War II
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The Baltic States in World War 1
Great video explaining complicated history of Baltic states ( Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia) during the times of World War I and our way to independence.
To quote author: ” I personally think it’s some of the most fascinating history of the whole era!”
Latvian riflemen in World War I
Here you can watch story about the Latvian Riflemen in times of World War I: how it all started and how they became legendary heroes of Latvian nation. With English subtitles!
Kurši/Curonians, the Baltic vikings
A short movie about Baltic tribe Kurši/ Curonians with English subtitles. One of the pagan tribes, who formed Latvian nation, in early Middle Ages was known as fierce warriors and sea riders, kinda Baltic vikings.
Skyforger have song about them in album Kauja pie Saules, called Kurši.
“Christmas time” is not a birthday of Jesus Christ
I bet 90% of people, who celebrates Christmas, have absolutely no idea that this day has nothing to do with a birth of Jesus Christ or Christianity at all. What’s more, many times those “true believers” despise other opinions and deny everything – as soon as they hear something about Winter Solstice and why it is an old pagan festivity.
Unfortunately, it is the clear result of centuries old brain-washing of people who had no will to think by themselves.
I had no reason to write it all myself, as they are already well known facts acknowledged by historians, so I just did quick search on Internet and used first source I found about this topic, so here you are: Continue reading
The Battle of Saule 1236
Continuing on from my last post, let me tell you some more about the historical events mentioned on Skyforger‘s album KAUJA PIE SAULES, or translated to English “The Battle of Saule” (where Saule is a place near the Latvian / Lithuanian border).
KAUJA PIE SAULES – both the album and its title song – are dedicated to the battle between European Crusaders and Lithuanian / Semigallian pagan tribes. It was one of greatest battles won by Baltic pagan tribes and to commemorate the battle, in 2000 Lithuanian and Latvian parliaments declared September 22 as the Day of Baltic Unity.
So for those of you who are interested what’s behind that song I made this article. Though I must confess that I shamelessly took majority from Wikipedia page (because in short all was already there) and some excerptions from Māris Goldmanis blog. Māris is Latvian Historian and his very informative blog in English can be found here.
And his actual full article about Kauja pie Saules is here. Continue reading
Battle at Garoza forest.1287
There is the song from Skyforger album “Kauja pie Saules” (1998) called “Kauja Garozas silā/Battle at Garoza forest“. This battle occurred in 1287, in the nowadays Latvia territory, in Zemgale/Semigallia.
Not long ago (March of 2012) there was a special remembrance event held in Joniškis (Lithuania), so I decided to write about this battle.
Situation before the battle
The things were looking really bad for Semigallian pagans at that time – all surrounding tribes (Kurshi, Latgallians, Livs and Estonians) except Lithuanians, were already converted and subdued by invaded Crusaders. Their local built Livonian military Order and bishopric of Riga now finally had time and resources to attend all their attention on Zemgale and its still free pagan people.
After a few tries crusaders conquered Tērvete – the main stronghold and centre of Semigallians. That way they occupied some part of Zemgale and started to build own castles in strategically important places. Continue reading
Herkus Monte, the hero of Old Prussians
To continue the topic I started in a post about The Baltic Crusades, here you will find more about Old Prussians and one of their greatest hero: Herkus Monte. Also you will find information about Old Prussian life style, religion and some of the important events of those times, such as The Great Prussian Uprising (1260-1274).
This is writing by the Crusades historian William Urban, the Monmouth College Lee L. Morgan Professor of History and International Studies – one of the top U.S. experts on the Baltic Crusades and the Teutonic Order. I have only a little edited and added some small things to complete the story. Continue reading
The Baltic Crusades and European paganism’s last stand against Christianity
INTRO
When there is a talk about the Crusades, people usually think only of the wars against the Muslims in the Holy Land in the 11th through 13th centuries. But there were another Crusades going on in same time in North Eastern Europe – the Baltic Crusades. Continue reading
What’s in this picture?
This is the cover artwork from our old demo Semigalls’ Warchant (1997 and re-released in 2005). It also can be seen on album t-shirts, we have made with this picture. Now I want to tell you what exactly is what you can see in this picture.
It was painted by Rihards Zariņš back in 1920’s and it’s called – “Viestard’s fight with Crusader”.
Viestards (or Viesturs, Vestards, Vester, Viesthardus, Vestardus) was a famous Semigallian warchief from Tērvete land. Lately he became known as chief (kunic) of all Semigallia (Zemgale region today, see map). Continue reading