Latvian police battalions in the territory of Belarus during the Great Patriotic War

The article attempts to highlight the activities of Latvian police battalions and Legionnaires "Wafen SS" during the great Patriotic war in the territory of the Belarusian SSR. Some issues related to the establishment, structure and participation of Latvian police units and formations in punitive operations carried out by the occupation authorities on the territory of Belarus against partisans and civilians are highlighted. The author focuses on the fact that during the struggle against the Nazi occupiers and their accomplices, the Belarusian people suffered huge losses. The article provides examples of cruelty and atrocities committed by the punishers of special SS units and police units that took part in the massacres of the civilian population of the Republic. The conclusion is confirmed that the Nazi occupation authorities, during the great Patriotic war, purposefully pursued a policy of genocide against the population who found themselves in the occupied territory, including in Belarus.