Anita Terauds
Latvia
At the start of World War II, six-year-old Anita Terauds was living with her family in Latvia. The following year, in 1940, the Soviet Union invaded, for the first time, initiating destruction and fragmentation in Latvian society and culture. It would take eleven years before her family reached the United States to build a new life.
The 1940-41 Soviet Union seizure of Latvia was part of a general competitive campaign against the expansion of Nazi Germany. In this “Year of Terror,” as it is known, a large number of Latvians fled or were expelled, tortured, or killed. Then, in 1941, Nazi Germany invaded and remained until 1944 when the Soviet Union retook Latvia. Again, Latvians fled, some on German ships, unclear of their final destination. Anita's family was among those fleeing.
Anita recalls leaving Latvia with her parents in October 1944, escaping the communist regime in order to stay alive. She was ten years old. Click arrow at right for transcription.
AT: Well, October 3rd, 1944, I was standing on the deck of a German ship in Riga, Latvia, and it was sort of… [an] overcast day. It was raining a little bit, but everybody was on the deck, and when the ship started moving very slowly, they all started to sing the Latvian national anthem. And that was the second time in my life when I saw my mom cry. Because I had been so excited – we’re going on a ship, God only knows where – I didn’t care, but that was exciting. And mom was crying.
MS: And you were fifteen?
AT: No, ten.
MS: You were ten? Oh wow, you were ten.
After a two-day trip on the sea, Anita and her family arrived in Poland where they boarded trains for Germany. For the next seven years they lived in displaced persons (DP) camps. Surprisingly, Anita recalls the camps as a positive experience for the children who enjoyed friendships with one another, went to DP camp schools, and were kept busy with crafts and performances. She reminisced that the “...kids had a wonderful time. I don’t know how our parents survived the whole thing.”
By 1951, most displaced peoples in Germany had immigrated to Australia, Canada, the United States and other parts of the world. Stateless, Anita and her parents arrived in Washington, DC, in 1951.
Anita Terauds recalls her family’s immigration sponsor in the United States. Click arrow at right for transcription.
"Everybody had to have a sponsor. That was true for those who wanted to go to America. There was also rules and regulations. They – my parents – for instance, had to promise not to become economic burdens to the United States. Thanks to Communists, my dad had--well he was paralyzed. His right arm couldn’t be used any more. He regained use of his right leg. But there was only one person who could earn a living, because I was still officially not able to work. And he was an invalid. So, we had difficult times trying to find a sponsor.
And this Latvian pastor, he was a Baptist pastor, he had been in the States since, I don't know, the ‘20s or something like that? He realized that there were all kinds of people like us and he decided to sponsor, help find sponsors for those families, and that’s how it came. And our first stop was at his house. It was kind of a big building near Dupont Circle and unfortunately it’s been torn down now, and, we were laughing – okay, from one DP camp in Germany to another one in the United States! Because we’re about 25, 30 families sleeping together. And he let us stay until the time anybody found work and a place to live, and that was perfect."
Soviet political repression, economic change, deportations, and Russification in Latvia resulted in large-scale immigration. The corresponding Soviet takeovers of thirteen other countries and eight satellite states forced thousands more to flee. The United States welcomed many of them. The U.S. Refugee Relief Act (1953 to 1956) allowed people escaping Soviet oppression to come to the United States. This legislation defined this population, those persecuted by the Soviets, as escapees rather than refugees. The quotas established by the Refugee Relief Act accounted for 45,000 immigrant visas to be issued to those of any origin who escaped Soviet territories. All immigrants had to be sponsored. By 1960, more than 17,000 residents in Montgomery County had immigrated from Soviet-controlled countries.
Among them was Janis Stepe, also from Latvia, who became an American citizen in 1955. The Washington Post (pictured article) covered his story of tragedy, resilience, and survival.
Eventually Anita started her own family and moved to Montgomery County. She married John Terauds and their family grew with three daughters and six grandchildren. She also became the Secretary General of the American Latvian Association, headquartered in Rockville, a position she used to strengthen the American Latvian community, their identity, culture, and language. In 2006, the President of Latvia awarded her the Cross of Recognition.
"Kas tos trimdas ratus tālāk stums?!" (Latvian)
Translation: "Who will continue to push the cart of exile onward?!"
This cartoon drawing of Latvian children pushing a cart carrying adults (date unknown) represents the challenges of living in exile, questioning who will continue the work of exiled Latvians. It hung in the foyer of her apartment. Anita reflects on its meaning:
"Well, we were all in exile. We were trying to keep our ethnic identity alive, okay, and all kinds of community work, etc. etc. but time marches on and people change and get, we all get older and then the new generation is taking over and of course the situation changes. So there are all kinds of views about what to do."
In retirement Anita wrote a book about the American Latvian Association and supported the work of the Latvian Museum in Rockville. (Learn more about the Latvian Museum here)
Anita Terauds passed away in 2021. We are grateful for her. In sharing her stories, memories and knowledge, she continues to make the world a better place.
