The first monument in memory of the Battle of Cēsis and the fallen Estonian soldiers
Memorial site
97
Located next to the Veselava cemetery chapel.
The first monument to commemorate the Battle of Cēsis and the fallen Estonian soldiers was unveiled on August 5, 1923.
Its opening was attended by the first President of the Republic of Latvia, Jānis Čakste, and the Estonian Ambassador to Latvia, Jūlijs Saljemā.
The cemetery contains the remains of 16 Estonian soldiers who fell in the battles of Cēsis with the Baltic Landeswehr and the Iron Division in June 1919. Four of them were later reburied in their homeland. The monument was built with donations collected from local residents. It was designed by craftsman Dāvis Gruzde, after the owner of the Ķikuri house, Kārlis Bierņš.
Used sources and references:
Lismanis, J. 1915-1920. In memory of battles and fallen soldiers: Memorial sites of the First World War and the Latvian Liberation Struggle. Riga: NIMS, 1999
http://veselava.lv/i.php?id=53
Related timeline
Related topics
Related stories
The beginning, course and conclusion of the Battle of Cēsis
The victory in the Battle of Cēsis was destined to become a turning point in the Latvian and Estonian struggle for the independence of their country. This victory put an end to the plans of the Andrievs Niedra government and the German general Rüdiger von der Goltz to conquer the Baltics. Instead, the Latvian Provisional Government of Kārlis Ulmanis resumed its activities in Liepāja.