Londonas Avīze (“The London Gazette”) was one of the most important printed publications of the Latvian emigration in Great Britain after World War II. The newspaper was published in London from 1942 and became an important information, cultural and political centre for Latvians who found themselves in the West as a result of the Soviet occupation of the Baltic States. Later, the publication became the basis for the creation of the pan-European emigrant newspaper “Brīvā Latvija”.
The issues presented are a typical example of the Latvian émigré press of the Cold War period. At that time, the newspaper covered international politics, the situation of occupied Latvia, the activities of Latvian communities abroad, cultural events, and issues of preserving national identity. The editorial staff paid considerable attention to criticism of the Soviet regime and support for the idea of restoring Latvian independence.
The publication played an important role in uniting the Latvian community in Great Britain. Its pages published news of public organisations, church life, cultural societies, art reviews and materials about the lives of Latvian refugees and migrants. It was through such newspapers that the emigrant community maintained contact between different generations of Latvians outside the Motherland.
The historical value of these issues of the newspaper lies in the fact that they reflect the mood of the Baltic political emigration in the early 1970s. For researchers of Baltic history, the anti-communist movement, and diaspora communities, this is an important source that allows us to trace the emigrants’ reaction to international events and policies regarding the Russian occupation of Latvia.
Архів ОУН. - Бібліотека. - Газети. - Інв. N 250. - Londonas Avīze. - 1970-1972
