Exhibition "Ziemeļlatgale in the freedom struggle" in Balvu County Museum
Museum
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The museum is located in the territory of the Balvi Manor complex, in the building of the former manor barn. The exhibition allows you to look into the history of the Latvian War of Independence from the point of view of Northern Latgale, tracing the history of the formation and activities of the Latgale Partisan Regiment. There are photographs and copies of documents that are not available elsewhere, including the order of 5 July 1919 on the formation of the regiment. The internal orders of the regiment are unique – they were written in Russian between July and October 1919. This reflects the peculiarities of the formation and composition of the regiment as a local unit, where Latvians, Latgalians, Russians, and Jews fought together. The regiment only switched to Latvian in its internal orders after it was fully integrated into the Latvian Army system when it was supplemented by mobilised soldiers from other regions of Latvia. The exhibition also reflects the liberation operation of Northern Latgale, during which the Latgale Division of the Latvian Army liberated the surroundings of Viļaka, Jaunlatgale and Kārsava in battles that lasted from 9 to 15 January 1920. Evidence of both the operation as a whole and the combat activities of the Latgale Partisan Regiment during the liberation of Kārsava are on display in the exhibition.
Used sources and references:
Balvu County Museum
https://lv.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zieme%C4%BClatgales_atbr%C4%ABvo%C5%A1anas_oper%C4%81cija
Educational programs
Museum pedagogical lesson "General Valdis Matīss"
In the lesson, students will get to know a prominent figure in Latvian military history - Valdis Matīs. They will view an exhibition dedicated to him with uniforms, awards and photographs. They will complete various tasks that promote understanding of history.
Excursion "Latgalian Partisan Regiment"
In the Balvi Regional Museum, in the exhibition "Northern Latgale for the Independence of Latvia", you can learn about the history of the Latgale Partisan Regiment. Then, you can take a walk around Balvi, visiting places related to the Latgale Partisans - the monument dedicated to the Latgale Partisans and the place where the regiment's headquarters was once located.
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Liberation of Northern Latgale from the Bolsheviks
On December 1, 1918, parts of the Red Army, based on the Red Rifle units, invaded the territory of Latvia. In order to protect their homes, families, native counties and escape from terror, the men around Balvi took up arms and went into the forests, and the first "green" groups began to form. In the spring of 1919, when the mobilization was announced, many men in the Balvi area were not allowed to fight in the Soviet Latvian army and they joined the "green" groups. Balvi, Silakrog, Rugāji, Teteru-Dūrupe and Liepna groups were formed. In the vicinity of Balvi, the activity of "green" groups became more active in March 1919.