What is perkonkrusts?

Perkonkrusts is a Latvian political movement that emerged in the 1930s, during the period between World War I and World War II. The name Perkonkrusts means "thunder cross" or "thunderbolt cross" in Latvian and is derived from the symbol used by the group, which was a variation of the swastika.

The movement was founded by Gustavs Celmiņš, who served as its leader and ideological guru until his arrest by the Soviet authorities in 1941. Perkonkrusts was a radical right-wing organization that combined nationalist and anti-Semitic ideas with a desire for social reform. It advocated the creation of a new Latvian state, based on the principles of racial purity and social justice.

Perkonkrusts enjoyed some support from sections of the Latvian population, particularly among youth groups and rural peasants. However, it faced opposition from both the Latvian government, which viewed it as a threat to stability, and from left-wing and liberal groups, who condemned its extremist views.

During World War II, some members of Perkonkrusts joined the Nazi German forces as volunteers, while others joined anti-German guerrilla groups. After the war, the movement was banned and most of its leaders were either imprisoned or exiled. Today, Perkonkrusts is considered a defunct historical movement, but its legacy remains controversial in Latvia, where some far-right groups have attempted to revive its ideology.