Memorial stone to the Finnish Volunteer Regiment "Boys of the North"
Memorial site
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Located in Alūksne, Jāņkalna Street 52, near Alūksne Narrow Gauge Railway Station.
On February 23, 2019, to mark the centenary of the Latvian War of Independence, a special memorial was created at the initiative of the Association of Independence Fighting Traditions (Finland) to honor the fallen Finnish volunteers, with a special boulder and information board. The memorial stone to Alūksne was removed from the Salpa line in Finland, which was built in 1940-1944. to protect the eastern border of Finland. The 1,200 km long Salpa line is one of the most important lines of defense in independent Finland, as well as one of the strongest and best-preserved defenses of its kind in Europe since World War II.
The stone brought to Aluksne symbolizes the struggle for independence of two nations - the Finns and the Latvians. A group of Finnish volunteers "Northern Boys" went to help Latvians protect the freedom of the new Latvian state. On February 21, 1919, the "Northern Boys" took part in fierce battles around Alūksne (Marienburg). After a five-hour battle at Alūksne railway station, the Finns occupied Alūksne. 23 Finnish volunteers were killed and many injured in the fight.
Used sources and references:
Tuomo Juntunen. Marnienburg 21. 2. 1919. Pirkkala 2019, p.
A memorial place for Finnish soldiers has been unveiled in Aluksne. Alūksne District News. March 6, 2019. No. 3 (111).
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