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interesting sidelight on the lack of coordination between various army units that the best efforts of Military Government and the CIC, to whom they were extremely useful, failed to get billets for them, and in December they all returned to the British Zone.
Camp Courts
In early 1946, the Latvians set up a camp court composed of a chairman and two other members, a secretary, a prosecutor, and an attorney for defense. This court can impose sentences of forced labor up to one month without extra rations of privileges, but its sentences must be passed upon by the Camp Director. The court, which sits as often as necessary, can not impose sentences of imprisonment.
Schools
The schools continued to flourish in 1946, and the Latvians succeeded in following their national traditions very closely in their curricula and their ceremonies of graduation, and so on.
On July 27th., the Latvians opened in Junkers Camp an institution of higher learning with the name of "Latvian People's University in Kassel", the curriculum, distributed in booklet form at the opening ceremony, contained the rather touching introduction:
"The People's University provides instruction in philosophy,
art and technic. It admits every resident of our camp. No
previous education is required. The lectures will be delivered
in a popular way. There are no restrictions as regards to age
and sex. However, it is not advisable for women to go to the
forestry faculty. The teaching will take place in the morning
and in the evening, to make it possible for the working people
to attend the university lectures. Our People's University
fees - Rm. 20. - for the whole term. Poor people may be let
off from paying it. The students may attend the lectures of
other faculties too. Certificates will be conferred upon those
successfully finished in the course of study.
Special attention is paid to religious-philosophical questions
that enable us to understand eternal problems and carry
us nearer to God.
The lecturers of the People's University have overcome difficulties
in supplying the necessary literature and sacrifice
their free time for the benefit of others. They hope that the
students will do their best.
Prof. Dr. E. Roze Director of the Latvian People's University in Kasel." |
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The curriculum, a copy of which is enclosed, included courses in such diverse subjects a philosophy and cheese making. There is also enclosed a copy of the curriculum for the second semester together with a chart showing the organization of the University.
In