The Dievturi Movement in the Reports of the Latvian Political Police (1939–1940)
Issue: Vol 14 No. 1 (2012)
Journal: Pomegranate: The International Journal of Pagan Studies
Subject Areas: Religious Studies
Abstract:
The Dievturi movement, a revived Paganism formed in Latvia in the early twentieth century, would have seemed to to be in accordance with national politics of the Latvian Republic after the coup of May 15, 1934, but the authoritarian regime of Kārlis Ulmanis (1877-1942) showed a deep lack of trust towards Dievturi. The reports of the Latvian Political Police stored in the funds of Latvian State Historical Archives deal with the Dievturi movement shortly before the occupation of Latvia by Soviet troops in 1940. The paper examines how the Dievturi movement is reflected in the discourse of the authoritarian regime. The narratives of secret agents include information on the political views of Dievturi and on their connections to the Pērkonkrusts (Thunder cross) movement, as well as references on the structure of the movement, detailed description of its ritual celebrations etc.
Author: Anita Stasulane
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