Return of Memory: The Conception of Lithuanian tremtis and Latvian trimda During the National Revival of the Late 20th Century

Abstract

Latvian and Lithuanian National Revival (or Awakening) of the late 20th century can be defined not only as a time of restoration of independence but also as a time of recovering memory. This article explores one of the main traumatic moments for the Baltic nations in the 20th century – deportations and other kinds of displacement. It was prepared based on a fragment of the dissertation thesis “Collective Memory in the Lithuanian and Latvian Literary Press during the National Revival of Late 20th Century” (defended in 2020). The article mainly relies on texts published by the Lithuanian and Latvian Writers’ Unions: the weekly Literatūra ir menas (Literature and Art) and the monthlies Pergalė, since 1991 Metai (Victory, since 1991 The Year) and their almost analogous Latvian counterparts Literatūra un Māksla, Karogs (Flag) and Avots (Spring). The first part of the text discusses the problems of Lithuanian and Latvian concepts of deportations and émigré, and terms Lith. tremtis, Latv. trimda. The second part provides a concise overview of reflections on Lithuanian deportations and Latvian émigré, political emigration. The article ends with conclusions about the main differences and similarities between those displacement experiences.