Excerpt from the founding of the Northern Latvian Army on the Rūjiena side
The Army of Northern Latvia was a Latvian military formation during the Latvian War of Independence, which was established on the territory of Estonia and in the liberated regions of North Vidzeme from February 3 to March 31, 1919. Until July 1919, the brigade was subordinate to the Estonian Armed Forces Headquarters and the Commander-in-Chief of the Estonian Army in terms of logistics and operations. It was then merged with the Southern Latvian Brigade to form the Latvian Army.
Agronomist Murītis was among the passengers who sailed from Liepāja to Rēvelis (Tallinn) on January 12 with the legendary ship "Maiga" from the beginning of Latvia's independence. The events related to the trip have been described in the memories by their active participant agronomist Eduards Dunnens.
On January 15, "Maiga" stopped in Rēvē and on the same day Murītis and Duņens visited the Latvian Consul in Estonia, Pastor Jānis Ramani, who informed that the Estonian troops had already liberated five Latvian parishes and needed a man to turn to. Thus, Murītis, who had powers as a member of the People's Council, came to be called.
According to his authority, agronomist Murītis was able to "operate in the liberated territory of Northern Latvia and do what he deems necessary, accept his assistants and appoint officials in parishes where it would be necessary".
After receiving permits, the Rüjans went by train to Moisekull by Estonian military transport train and then to the Ķirbeni station of the headquarters of the 6th Estonian Regiment. As Murītis was allowed to organize armed units to fight the red riflemen, the Estonians gave 5 rifles and ammunition, one of which was to Murītis. Thus, on January 16, the foundations were laid for the Northern Latvian Army. The agreement between Latvia and Estonia on the formation of the troops of Northern Latvia was officially signed on 18 February.
At the meeting of the representatives of the parishes, Murīte was elected the manager of all the manors, which had been abandoned by the managers. Until the establishment of the Civil Administration of Northern Latvia, Pēteris Murītis was the official representative of the State of Latvia in the liberated territory of Northern Latvia.
Eduards Duņēns described the difficult situation in the vicinity of Rūjiena and the multifaceted activities of Murītis, helping to organize commandantship and promoting mobilization for the Northern Latvian Army. It was in Ķirbeļi on February 26 that the young people called up for the first mobilization gathered from the parishes liberated from the Rūjiena area. On the day of mobilization - February 26, 16 officers and 615 soldiers and instructors applied. Among those called up for this mobilization was Pēteris Murītis' younger brother, later Lāčplēsis Military Order Knight Alfreds Murīts (1899 - 1984).
During the Latvian War of Independence, Pēteris Murītis contributed to the liberation of Northern Latvia and often came into direct danger.
Dunnens E. Freedom fights in Northern Latvia. London Newspaper, no. 706, 1 January 1960.
Dunnen E. London Newspaper No. 706, January 1, 1960.
Knights of the Lāčplēsis War Order. Biographical dictionary. Riga, 1996, pp. 360-361.
Tālis Pumpuriņš, Cēsis History and Art Museum
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Monument dedicated to the liberation of Rūjiena and the fallen soldiers of the Northern Latvian Brigade "Tālava Trumpeter"
Located in Rūjiena Center Square.
The three-meter-high image of an ancient Latvian guardian carved in gray Finnish granite, called the “Tālava trumpeter”, is placed on a three-meter-high granite pedestal, but the total height of the monument reaches 7.5 meters. In the initial sketches and models, K. Zemdega had placed a sword in his hands, which was later replaced by a trumpet. The monument was unveiled on August 15, 1937.
This monument reflects the difficult situation in the formation of our country and army, as well as in the assessment of these events. Immediately after the proclamation of the Latvian state, the Red Army invaded and the interim government of Kārlis Ulmanis established a refuge in Liepāja. In February 1919, with the help of the Estonian army, the liberation of Latvia from the north began and the first mobilization took place in the Rūjiena area for the Latvian troops formed in Tartu, which became the Northern Latvian Brigade under the command of Colonel Jorgis Zemitans. The Northern Latvian brigade fought not only against the Bolsheviks, but also against the Landeswehr and Iron Division in the battles of Cēsis. The soldiers of Northern Latvia, mobilized in the vicinity of Rūjiena, also fought in the subsequent battles for the War of Independence. After the war, the main laurels were won by General Jānis Balodis and the Southern Latvian Brigade he commanded, but he often forgot about the Northern Latvian Brigade. The monument to Rūjiena, which was planned in Rūjiena, was built for a long time, and the monument, unveiled in 1937, was officially popularized as a monument to the liberation of Rūjiena and the memory of fallen soldiers, not to mention the beginning of all regiments in Northern Latvia.
The monument is not only a popular sight for Latvian and Estonian tourists, which is to some extent a starting point for visiting several other places of remembrance of the War of Independence in Rūjiena, but "Tālavas taurētājs" is also a stopping place for Estonian and Latvian officials of various levels.
The monument to the liberation and fallen soldiers of Rūjiena, more commonly known as the “trumpet of Tālava”, was included in the list of cultural monuments protected by the state as an art monument of national significance on October 29, 1998 (monument protection registration number 4522).
Monument in memory of the soldiers killed in the War of Independence
Located in Bertulis cemetery.
A monument to the soldiers who died in the Latvian War of Independence can be seen.
Discovered on August 4, 1934. The monument was designed by Teodors Šķiņķis and Luda Švalbe.
In front of the monument, which symbolizes the triumph of victory, there is a bronze sword, an oak leaf wreath and four stars (earrings), which symbolize four historical regions of Latvia - Vidzeme, Kurzeme, Zemgale and Latgale.
On the other side, which symbolizes the path of past suffering, a bronze cross is attached to the obelisk, which was originally wrapped in a wreath of barbed wire. The barbed wire used for the wreath was brought from Death Island.
The monument was restored in the summer of 1989 and all bronze details were remade.
