A History of the Daugavas Vanagi organization
The origins of the DV organization may be traced to a British
administered POW camp
located in Belgium after the close of World War II. The DV organization was founded in
this POW camp on December 28, 1945, by former members of the Latvian Legion. The
organization's initial goals were to provide support to Latvian former soldiers and their families.
Nearly 25,000 Latvians were interned in POW camps administered
by the Western Allies, mainly those run by the British in northern Germany. While many were scattered among
numerous camps, some 12,000 were housed at the Zedelgem camp in Belgium. From its inception in late 1945 through 1946, the DV organizers
were allowed to communicate with Latvians in other camps to help form a support
network. Although the original membership was composed of former legionnaires, the
founders of the DV organization hoped to eventually include all Latvians in the ranks of
membership. After their release from POW camps in 1946, the soldiers were transferred to
Displaced Persons camps, where they continued in their efforts to provide mutual
support and maintain their unity.
Eventually, the Latvians left Displaced Persons camps and moved to their
new homes in Australia. Western Europe, Canada, South America, and the United States. The
Daugavas Vanagi organization went with them.
The first DV chapter in the United States was founded on January 6, 1950
in New York. From that beginning, DV grew to encompass 22 chapters and 3 sections
located throughout the United States, from coast to coast.
Over the decades, the DV members perpetuated their mission to gather and
unite Latvians for the preservation of the Latvian nation. For many years this was
interpreted as a tireless struggle in defense of Latvia's right to freedom, which earned
DV the eternal hate of the Soviet occupiers. DV has also striven to foster the
education and involvement of young Latvians in the expatriate Latvian community providing
stipends to students and facilitating the work of Latvian schools, choirs, folk dance
groups, theater troupes, sports teams, and various other cultural activities.
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