Baltic states honor the victims of Soviet and Nazi regimes

[Huntsman]

The Prime Ministers of Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia: Algirdas Butkevičius, Valdis Dombrovskis and Andrus Ansip issued a common statement on the European Day of Remembrance for Victims of Totalitarian Regimes, the Press service of the Government has informed.

Today is European Day of Remembrance for victims of Stalinism and Nazism. Today the world commemorates the victims of the totalitarian regimes of the 20th century.

On 23 August 1939, the Soviet Union led by Joseph Stalin and the German Reich ruled by Adolf Hitler entered into a secret pact to divide and conquer Europe.

The totalitarian regimes occupied freedom-loving European nations and a reign of terror was unleashed.

Communism and Nazism took the lives of millions of people. In the Baltic States, no families were left untouched by the violence of these malicious regimes. Misery affected all ethnic and social groups.

We remember the victims of the totalitarian regimes and honour those who fought against tyranny and oppression. We also commemorate the most vivid expression of the Baltic nations’ desire for freedom.

On 23 August 1989, two million people from Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania stood hand in hand in the Baltic Way from Vilnius through RÄ«ga to Tallinn in order to demand the restoration of their independence, which had been robbed by the Soviet regime.

Our peaceful aspiration for freedom was stronger than the Soviet might, because justice was on our side.

[JayL]

European Day of Remembrance

Today the world commemorates

Denied the education that z0mg evil Stalinists brought to Baltics and look what happened to levels of Geography...

[Mikal]

The UK is in Europe, I ain't seen nobody give a shit.
Not even on BBC news!

Someone educate me on what Stalinists are, never heard of it.

[Gandalf]

Unfortunately the independence of the Baltic was short-lived.

[Huntsman]

Denied the education that z0mg evil Stalinists brought to Baltics and look what happened to levels of Geography...

A simple mistake? Wanna go and make a big deal about it? Do it somewhere else. And FYI, Lithuanian education is one of the highest level ones in Europe. My classmate moved to UK while he was a 7th grader. By the level of his knowledge, he was moved to 9th grade in UK instantly.

Education Soviets bought? Really? What education? Soviet union itself was a third world country, knowing nothing but how to murder and drink vodka. Yes, it's true, and you cant run from it. Russia was a third world country ever since the Russian Empire. Every advancement in technology that was already available in europe reached Russia only after hundreds of years, the only thing Soviet taught was - American capitalist bad guy, Russian socialist good guy, or "Lithuanian Grand Duchy never existed, so never existed Lithuania, you're all Russians" . You tried to destroy everything Lithuania has developed in the inter war period. You stole the gold we had in our banks, yes, Lithuania was a fucking rich country, unlike your Soviet Union, we had developed a lot during the period, we had a strong army that beat your Red drunktrads to a pulp twice, and it would have did it the third time, and if needed united with the other Baltics, if not Smetona running away and not giving the order to attack, which the army was already ready to do, so Russians caught them by surprise. This is what your so called education done to Belarus, a once great country, now living in pretty much communist regime, pretending to be democratic.
On the other hand, the soviet regime MIGHT have worked under policies that Gorbachev was enforcing.. But Stalin ruined the soviet union, killed thousands of Lithuanians, Latvians, Estonians, Belarussians, Ukrainians and RUSSIANS THEMSELVES, yet you worship a murderer. You definatly need to take some sort of medication...

Unfortunately the independence of the Baltic was short-lived.

Depends on which side of the EU you look at. At one point, they indeed interffeer with our decisions, government, and go against the will of our people. At the other side of it, thanks to them we can now enjoy proper roads in the whole country, a lot of villages, towns are reconstructed, they help smaller villages to develop and so on. The only bad thing about it is the fact that our borders are open and that they tend to pass stupid laws that dont satisfy our people.

The UK is in Europe, I ain't seen nobody give a shit.
Not even on BBC news!

Someone educate me on what Stalinists are, never heard of it.

Stalinism is being loyal to the Stalins regime, worshipping him and so on. Stalin was the reason why everyone hates communism and socialism, because this man has murdered thousands of people all around the Soviet block, yet there are some idiots who take him for a hero. He was as bad as Hitler, maybe even worse.

[Gandalf]

A simple mistake? Wanna go and make a big deal about it? Do it somewhere else. And FYI, Lithuanian education is one of the highest level ones in Europe. My classmate moved to UK while he was a 7th grader. By the level of his knowledge, he was moved to 9th grade in UK instantly.

Depends on which side of the EU you look at. At one point, they indeed interffeer with our decisions, government, and go against the will of our people. At the other side of it, thanks to them we can now enjoy proper roads in the whole country, a lot of villages, towns are reconstructed, they help smaller villages to develop and so on. The only bad thing about it is the fact that our borders are open and that they tend to pass stupid laws that dont satisfy our people.

The Soviets set up your education system and provided free health care.

Thing is your government chose to be part of the Soviet Union, and as you learned nothing from history, your government chose to be part of the EU. When the choice was made people were happy, things can change over time.
But the fact remains that the independence gaind was given to a similar conglomeration of states.as you were so happy to leave.

[Huntsman]

The Soviets set up your education system and provided free health care.

Thing is your government chose to be part of the Soviet Union, and as you learned nothing from history, your government chose to be part of the EU. When the choice was made people were happy, things can change over time.
But the fact remains that the independence gaind was given to a similar conglomeration of states.as you were so happy to leave.

I'm not surprised that it's what they teach in Russian schools. We always had free health care and we had top notch economy.

Chose ? Really? Do you really think Smetona CHOSE to be part of the Soviet Union when he actually FOUGHT it multiple times to defend Lithuania? Also, why would he run away from Lithuania then? You're ignoring simple facts of history that are already proven. As under the Lithuanian-Soviet peace treaty, Lithuania allowed Soviet forces to have unlimited movement around Lithuania while they're at war with Poland, and in return you get Vilnius back for us. Yet Soviets used the situation and backstabbed us in the back, quietly invading every important section of the government and then called a fake referendum whenever we want to be part of the Soviet Union or not. The man you see in those propaganda videos who is signing the contract of joining the soviet union - Paleckis, the traitor of Lithuania and the traitor of humanity, whose son is now the most hated man in Lithuania most likely, due to the fact he's following the steps of his father.

We had the choice? Oh really? Explain the 13th of January, 1991 in Vilnius then.

[Gandalf]

As I mentioned, decisions that look good today can be looked upon as corrupt and forced tomorrow.
It says a lot that you shit on the Soviet Union while already being part of a similar system. You precious independence was not worth keeping, so it seems.

[Huntsman]

As I mentioned, decisions that look good today can be looked upon as corrupt and forced tomorrow.
It says a lot that you shit on the Soviet Union while already being part of a similar system. You precious independence was not worth keeping, so it seems.

I never said I agree to being in the European Union, in fact, I think that we should quit it and not be part of any union/alliance, even NATO, and instead try to increase warmer relations with the Eastern Block who actually cares about us.
Neither I ever hate Russia, I hate the Soviet Union, not Russian Federation, two different things that are led by different people.

[Gandalf]

I never said I agree to being in the European Union, in fact, I think that we should quit it and not be part of any union/alliance, even NATO, and instead try to increase warmer relations with the Eastern Block who actually cares about us.
Neither I ever hate Russia, I hate the Soviet Union, not Russian Federation, two different things that are led by different people.

I am aware of that, and I know very well the Baltics have suffered enormous from the paranoia of Stalin. Many people were taught that Soviet Union = Stalin and forget that is also brought good things, just like the EU has brought many good things
Let's remember the good time we have and forget the demons we had to fight. And if we have to fight again, lets fight together.

[~Legend~]

It's interesting how different societies 'recognise' these regimes and other regimes of the past.
Certain ones, particularly the Nazi movement (rather than Nazism as an attitude and/or political affiliation) in some parts of the world is altogether shunned. Of course, you would expect their actions to be, but interestingly unlike other acts in history the word itself is considered almost uncustomarily sinful. Perhaps still a reflection of the scar that it has left on modern history.

[JayL]

You definatly need to take some sort of medication...

I counter-propose that: I suggest you take some medication against this rear pain that you feel about Russia and that is fuelling your speech.

The USSR did bring good welfare basis to the Baltics, among other good things which are denied because of some nation-wide rear pain. The Baltic people ''rose'' against the USSR only when it was deep in crisis, 40 years after it was made a part of that country. So if the Lithuanians and neighbors kept their cool for four decades, it obviously means something was making them happy, unless Baltics are autists or something and I had no idea about it... That said, your ''Russia is Third World'' speech also makes no sense, as a country that has the welfare capacity to make one of its biggest haters cool for a long time is completely out of the range of Third World concept.

What you wrote is as much propaganda as what you claim the Soviet education to have been. You shit on the USSR because apparently inside it Lithuania was shitty - I can not see what is better in changing the first name of your controller ("Soviet" to "European"). Baltics are the poor cousins of Europe, they send their minds to be low-budget workers in the UK, they are defended by a meager half-dozen air fleet from NATO and pretty much the reason which they are a part of EU/NATO is because EU/NATO think having a border with Russia scares them (loool). That doesn't make contemporary Lithuania any better than what you claim the Lithuanian SSR was.

And about the topic itself - why hasn't the EU made a day of rememberance for all the people who died and still die and suffer in masses, in the so-called Third World, in the name of freedom, democracy and capitalism enjoyed by them? Getting mad about Stalin and Hitler is really that addictive?

[KhornateMonkey]

My classmate moved to UK while he was a 7th grader. By the level of his knowledge, he was moved to 9th grade in UK instantly.

While your system works like this:

1st grade: 7–8 years
2nd grade: 8–9 years
3rd grade: 9-10 years
4th grade: 10–11 years
5th grade: 11–12 years
6th grade: 12–13 years
7th grade: 13–14 years
8th grade: 14–15 years
9th grade: 15–16 years

Ours works like this:

Nursery: 4 years
Reception: 5 years
Year 1: 6 years
Year 2: 7 years
Year 3: 8 years
Year 4: 9 years
Year 5: 10 years
Year 6: 11 years
Year 7: 12 years
Year 8: 13 years
Year 9: 14 years
Year 10: 15 years
Year 11: 16 years

Now you see why your friend was in a higher year compared to your graded system. His level of knowledge was no higher.

[Mikal]

A simple mistake? Wanna go and make a big deal about it? Do it somewhere else. And FYI, Lithuanian education is one of the highest level ones in Europe. My classmate moved to UK while he was a 7th grader. By the level of his knowledge, he was moved to 9th grade in UK instantly.

Complete fucking derp.

While your system works like this:

1st grade: 7–8 years
2nd grade: 8–9 years
3rd grade: 9-10 years
4th grade: 10–11 years
5th grade: 11–12 years
6th grade: 12–13 years
7th grade: 13–14 years
8th grade: 14–15 years
9th grade: 15–16 years

Ours works like this:

Nursery: 4 years
Reception: 5 years
Year 1: 6 years
Year 2: 7 years
Year 3: 8 years
Year 4: 9 years
Year 5: 10 years
Year 6: 11 years
Year 7: 12 years
Year 8: 13 years
Year 9: 14 years
Year 10: 15 years
Year 11: 16 years

Now you see why your friend was in a higher year compared to your graded system. His level of knowledge was no higher.

Win.

[Salmonella]

So if the Lithuanians and neighbors kept their cool for four decades, it obviously means something was making them happy.

Any Lithuanian civilian that actually lived there in these times would disagree with you. It's easy for you to talk about this, pretending to know everything, but in the end you're just someone from Argentina who was born after the Soviet Union ceased to exist.

A more logical explanation would be to blame the Soviet way of handling 'problems'. In any Soviet occupied country there was no such thing as freedom of speech. If you didn't support shit you'd be sent off to a working camp the minute they found out. They didn't 'keep their cool for four decades', they just wanted to try and live a normal life in a crazy world full of soviet propaganda and censorship. It's easy not to lose your cool when you know it means prison, death or workcamps if you lose it.

The worst part? It's still going on in Russia. Protestors being victims, journalists who try looking into it and discover stuff suddenly 'commiting suicide, jumping off an apartment'... Do some research, man.