Exhibition "Latvian Army in Pļaviņas in the 20th Century"
Infrastructure

The exhibition features information stands with historical photographs, maps, and information about the establishment of the Latvian Eastern Front Headquarters. The composition of the exhibition is made up of interior elements corresponding to historical events.

The exhibition “Latvian Army in Pļaviņas in the 20th Century” is located in Pļaviņas, Odzienas Street 2, a historical building where the headquarters of the Latvian Eastern Front was located in July 1919 during the War of Independence. The two-story building has a rectangular layout with a gable roof, the building is built of red brick. Today, the second floor of the building has survived from the original facade, with visible window openings. Today, the facade of the first floor of the building has been plastered and painted, the ancient window openings have been expanded and the shop windows of the “Lats” store have been inserted. On the second floor, plastic windows have been installed in the window openings instead of the historical wooden windows.

The building has a long history – from the time when Stukmaņi wholesaler Hugo Apeltofts began active economic activities there, thus contributing to the development of the town of Pļaviņa.

In 1934, a memorial plaque was unveiled near this house with the inscription: “In 1919, the Eastern Front headquarters was located in this house, and here General Jānis Balodis assumed the supreme command of the Latvian National Army.” The Soviet government removed and destroyed it in 1940, but on June 16, 1990, with the support of the Pļaviņa branch of the Latvian National Liberation Army, it was restored.

Now, near the former headquarters building, there is a memorial stele dedicated to the 15 Cavaliers of the Lāčplēsis War Order born in the Pļaviņa region. After the Bolsheviks were driven out, the building was taken over by the Latvian Army in 1925, which housed the headquarters of the Latgale Division. 10 generals and other officers of the Latvian Army spent their military careers in this building. In 1940, the building was taken over by the Red Army. In the post-war years, it housed a school, as well as the municipality. Around 1970, the building began to be used by the production association “Rīgas Apērbs”.

Visiting the exhibition must be booked in advance by calling Tel. +371 28442692.