Vilaka Museum Museum
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Viļaka Museum operates in two buildings – the Catholic parish house, built in 1913, which is an important cultural heritage object of the town, and the other building of the museum – a former monastery of Capuchin monks, whose cellars are closely related to the national partisan movement in Stompaki and the Soviet Cheka. According to the memories of the locals, people were held and tortured in these cellars. The old museum building houses several exhibitions, with one of the exhibitions dedicated to the 1920 freedom battles in Northern Latgale, and the second – to the events of the Second World War – the Jewish Holocaust in Viļaka and information about the families who were shot. More information about each family is available based on their street address.
The exhibition is supplemented by information about the national partisan movement in Stompaki – various testimonies, photographs and objects. Visitors can learn about the military heritage sites in and around Viļaka, such as the Freedom Fighters Monument in Jaškova, which was demolished during the Soviet era and restored in 1990, and the stele dedicated to the recipients of the Order of Lāčplēsis. The sound of World War II aircraft is incorporated into the exhibition of the museum, as the German Luftwaffe airfield was located near Viļaka. The museum offers an opportunity to see some memories of the Second World War events in Viļaka, as well as to receive information about the German prisoner-of-war camp in Rači.
Educational programs
Museum educational program-excursion "We create history ourselves"
The Viļaka Museum offers pupils and students a unique excursion-museum pedagogical program to the national partisan settlement in Stompaki. During the excursion, we get to know the activities of the national partisans in Northern Latgale, see the restored bunkers and participate in various tasks. We learn to encrypt text, get to know the areas of activity of the national partisans (camp, saboteur group, supporters, attitude at different times, the Battle of Stompaki and the composition of the warriors of the Battle of Stompaki), subscribe to a special magazine with your own invented nickname, search for lost texts).
Excursion for students "Traces of War in the City of Viļaka"
A city tour, during which we explore places related to World War II, visit the military section of the Viļaka Museum exposition, the Viļaka Catholic Church and the nearby national partisan memorial site, as well as visit the Jewish Holocaust memorial site.
Related timeline
Related stories
Liberation of Northern Latgale from the Bolsheviks
On December 1, 1918, the Red Army units, based on the Red Riflemen units, invaded the territory of Latvia. In order to protect their homes, families, native region and escape from terror, the men of the Balvi area took up arms and went into the forests, the formation of the first “green” groups began. In the spring of 1919, when mobilization was announced, many men of the Balvi area found fighting in the Soviet Latvian Army unacceptable and joined the “green” groups. The Balvi, Silakrogs, Rugāji, Teteru-Dūrupe and Liepna groups were formed. The activities of the “green” groups in the Balvi area became more active in March 1919.
Pēteris Supe - initiator of the establishment of the Latvian National Partisan Association
From 1944 to 1946, Pēteris Supe managed to unite the national partisan units scattered in the forests into an organized movement, which continued to fight against the occupation of Latvia in Abrene County for several years after World War II. Pēteris Supe, nicknamed “Cinītis”, was one of the most outstanding organizers and leaders of the national partisan movement in Northern Latgale.