Invitation to attend a book "Escaping Stalin" presentation

On Wednesday 19 November at 16.00, the Museum of the Occupation of Latvia, together with the Danish Cultural Institute in Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, and the Royal Danish Embassy in Latvia, invites you to attend a presentation of the Danish book Flugten fra Stalin: Historien om de baltiske flygtninge i Danmark og den lange vej hjem (Escaping Stalin: The Story of the Baltic Refugees in Denmark and the Long Road Home), written by Brian Traantoft Rasmussen and Thomas Græsbøll Svaneborg, published in 2025.

The book presentation will be followed by a panel discussion on the lives and experiences of Baltic refugees during the Second World War.

The event will be held in English.

PROGRAMME

16:00

Welcome remarks

Solvita Vība, Director of the Museum of the Occupation of Latvia

Morten Jespersen, Ambassador of Denmark to Latvia

16:10 – 16:30

Introduction of the book by Thomas Græsbøll Svaneborg

16:30 – 17:30

Panel discussion moderated by Dr. hist. Valters Ščerbinskis

Participants:

Thomas Græsbøll Svaneborg, author of the book

Guntis Bērziņš, Refugee during Second World War, former activist of Latvian diaspora, politician in independent Latvia

Viktorija Piven, guide at the Museum of the Occupation of Latvia and a Ukrainian refugee

17:30 – Final remarks

by Anna Enemark, Director of the Danish Cultural Institute in Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania

17:40 – 18:30

Informal discussions with refreshments

ABOUT THE BOOK

The book Escaping Stalin by historian Brian Traantoft Rasmussen and journalist Thomas Græsbøll Svaneborg, brings forward the – so far – untold story of thousands of people from Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania who fled across the Baltic Sea by the end of World War II and found temporary refuge in Denmark while their homelands were occupied by the Soviet Union.

Based on intensive research, interviews with refugees and descendants, letters and diaries, the book sheds light on the experience of being a refugee – of loss, hope, courage and sense of belonging.

The book was released the 10th of April 2025 in Denmark and has been well received by the Danish public and critics. It is not translated in Latvian in full length yet, but a translated excerpt is available here: https://issuu.com/baltics_danishculture.com/docs/escaping_stalin_-_excerpt_in_latvian?fr=xKAE9_zU1NQ

Escaping Stalin book presentation events and discussions in the Baltics are part of the Danish EU Presidency 2025 cultural programme in the Baltic States, which aims to highlight the close ties between Denmark and the Baltic countries and to show how cultural exchange continues to reinforce understanding, solidarity, and democratic values.

The event organizers or their representatives may take photographs and/or film during the event for publicity purposes.

By attending the event, you confirm that you agree to the use of photographs and videos for the purpose specified above.