Beginn, Verlauf und Ende der Schlachten von Cēsis
The victory in the battles of Cēsis was destined to become a turning point in the struggle of Latvians and Estonians for the independence of their country. This victory crossed the line between Andriev Niedra's government and German General Riediger von der Goltz's plans to conquer the Baltics. Instead, the Provisional Government of Kārlis Ulmanis resumed its activities in Liepāja.
Events in Latvia before the battles of Cēsis
After more than four years of World War II fighting and the Bolshevik coup in Russia, on November 18, 918, a week after the conclusion of the World War I ceasefire, the state of Latvia was proclaimed in Riga. Kārlis Ulmanis became the head of the Provisional Government. The territory of Latvia was devastated, out of 2.5 million inhabitants, about one million were refugees in Russia.
Latvia and part of Estonia were occupied by the Germans, but on the eastern border stood Bolshevik troops, which, after the annulment of the Brest Peace Treaty of November 13, 1918, attacked with the aim of conquering the former tsarist Russian outlying provinces of Latvia and Estonia. On December 17, the Bolsheviks entered Valka and proclaimed the Soviet Republic of Latvia, another group of troops went to Riga via Daugavpils. German troops did not show serious resistance to the Bolsheviks.
To save the situation, on 7 December the Interim Government signed an agreement with the German government to set up a joint force to fight the Bolsheviks. The agreement provided for the creation of 18 Latvian jewelry, 3 Latvian batteries, 7 German jewelry and 2 batteries, with a total of 6,000 soldiers and 870 horses. The Germans only partially complied with the agreement, mainly by forming their own units, but without providing Latvians with weapons. Meanwhile, the communist troops occupied Latgale and Vidzeme in less than a month and approached Riga.
The representative of the German government A. Vinnigs, contrary to his earlier promises and the will of the allies to delay the occupation of the city, announced that the German troops would not defend Riga. On January 4, 1919, the Bolsheviks entered Riga. Two Latvian companies, led by Lieutenant Colonel Oskars Kalpaks, retreated in the direction of Kurzeme. The caretaker government moved to Liepaja. At the end of January, Bolshevik troops were stopped at Venta, about 100 km east of Liepaja. On February 1, 1919, German General Riediger von der Goltz arrived in Liepaja from Germany. He was entrusted with the command of the Landeswehr (consisting of the Baltic German bodyguards and the iron division formed of German volunteers) and the Latvian Separate Battalion in the fight against the Bolsheviks.
Thanks to the efforts of the Provisional Government, the Separate Battalion eventually became a brigade. The offensive against the Bolsheviks, which began on March 3, 1919, improved the situation on the front, and the communist-led troops gradually had to retreat towards Riga.
In Estonia, the situation was much better: the casualties in World War II were much lower, the influence of communist ideas and Finland's support after the initial failures led to a counterattack and in January 1919 to clear its territory of the Red Army.
Estonian troops had the opportunity to participate in the liberation of Northern Latvia from the Bolsheviks. On February 18, 1919, an agreement was concluded between the Government of Estonia and the Provisional Government of Latvia, which gave Captain Jorģis Zemitāns, the Military Authorizing Officer of the Provisional Government, and Markus Gailītis, an engineer for civil affairs, the opportunity to organize Latvian troops in Estonia. The 1st Latvian Valmiera and 2nd Cēsis Infantry Regiments were formed in Tartu (now Tartu). This laid the foundations for the Northern Latvian Brigade, which was operationally subordinated to the Commander of the Estonian Army's 2nd Division.
On April 16, at a time when the first success in the fight against the Bolsheviks was felt, the Germans made a coup in Liepaja, overthrowing the legitimate Provisional Government, which had to seek refuge on the steamer "Saratov". The Germans managed to form a puppet government led by the pastor and writer Andriev Niedra.
On May 22, 1919, German units liberated Riga from the Bolsheviks. A day later, a brigade of Colonel Jānis Balozs arrived in the city, which stopped the massacres of civilians by the Germans.
Pēteris Stučka's Bolshevik government and troops fled to Latgale, because in May the combined Estonian-Latvian forces had liberated the northern Latvian border from the Bolsheviks and, starting from Ainaži, Rūjiena, Valka and Alūksne, moved to Valais via Valmiera. On June 1 and 2, the Cēsis Infantry Regiment, led by Commander Krišjānis Berkis, arrived in Cēsis. It seemed that the Northern Latvian brigade, the Estonians, the Landesweig, and the Jānis Balozis Southern Brigade had one goal - to continue the fight with the Bolsheviks and to expel them from Latvia. However, instead of moving from Riga to the East and persecuting the Bolsheviks, the Landeswehr and the German Iron Division turned north - towards the combined Estonian-Latvian forces in Vidzeme.
Battle of Cesis
German General Riediger, Count von der Goltz, planned not only to abolish the independent states of Latvia and Estonia, but to go to Petrograd to restore the Russian monarchy and later revenge the Entente countries for the defeat of Germany in World War I.
The German forces did not go in the direction of Rēzekne-Daugavpils, but on June 2 entered Ieriķi station (12 km from Cēsis) and demanded a free road to Cēsis. The brigade of Northern Latvia, in contact with the Commander-in-Chief of the Estonian Army Johan Laidoner, refused to allow the Germans into Cēsis. On June 3, two Landeswehr squadrons entered Cēsis. Thanks to the actions of the Chief of Staff of the Northern Latvia Brigade Voldemārs Ozols, the Germans were besieged and left Cēsis without fighting on June 5. Between Cēsis and Ieriķi, the Germans attacked an Estonian armored train. The battles of Cēsis began, which can be divided into two stages.
On June 6, at 3:00 a.m., Landeswehr launched a rapid attack backed by strong artillery. The 7 km plateau front had to be defended by three less trained ornaments of the 2nd Cēsis Infantry Regiment and three ornaments formed during the last two days, one of which was a school ornament - boys aged 16-18, supported by two Estonian armed trains. After 10 hours of fighting, the Latvian troops could not withstand the triple German superiority and retreated to the right bank of the Rauna River, leaving Cēsis. On June 8, the Estonian sections (Regiments 6 and 9) launched a counterattack, which failed. The attack on Rauna Bridge launched by the Landesver on June 9 was also unsuccessful. On June 10, a mission of Anglo-American allies intervened in the conflict between the two sides. The battle was suspended for 10 days. The second stage of the battle of Cēsis began with the ultimatum of Landesver Commander Major A. Fletcher to the Commander-in-Chief of the Estonian Army J. Laidoner - to withdraw Estonian troops to the ethnographic borders of Latvia. The Estonian Command did not respond to this ultimatum, as, according to the Allies, the Landesvere's representatives were scheduled to attend the talks in Valka on 20 June.
The battles began on the right bank of the Gauja at noon on June 19, when near Vidriži the front parts of the Iron Division collided with the scouts of the 9th Estonian Regiment. On June 20, at 6.30 pm, the commander of the Estonian Division III, Ernest Peders, ordered the start of hostilities against the Landeswehr.
However, on the night of June 20-21, the division headquarters received a report that German main forces had launched an attack on the left bank of the Gauja, from Cēsis to Jaunrauna and Veselava, and desperate fighting was taking place at Rauna Bridge, Lode Station and Liepa Manor.
On the morning of June 21, Landeswehr managed to break the front between the 2nd Cēsis Regiment and the 3rd Estonian Regiment. In the vicinity of Jaunrauna, the left wing of the 2nd Cēsis Regiment had to retreat. The course of the battle was significantly changed by the Kuperjanov partisan battalion commanded by Captain Unta. Landing from the train, it switched to the counterattack from Lode station in the direction of Liepa manor.
J. Kuprejanov's battalion, based on the batteries of an armored train and Latvian cannons, fought the Germans all day and in the evening occupied Liepa manor. Despite this Estonian guerrilla struggle, the Landeswehr managed to bring in enough troops to break (about 6 km), which was divided into three parts. One, in the direction of Jaunrauna, went to Lode station, where he collided with the aforementioned J. Kuperjanov battalion. The second part went further to Skangaļi manor, but German scouts even to Mūrmuiža (10 km from Valmiera); thus endangering the movement of armored trains from Valka to Cēsis. The third part, bypassing the right wing of the 3rd Estonian Regiment, went in the direction of Rauna. The Estonians stopped this German group in the Rauna highlands.
A dramatic situation developed in the area of Skangaļi manor, where there were a lot of Landesvere forces. The situation was saved by an echelon with fighters of Kalev Battalion and 1st Regiment II Battalion, who arrived on June 22 at 3.00 am. 3 km north of Lode station, the soldiers disembarked and, armored train no. Based on 2 landings, went in the direction of Skangaļi manor. At 6.30, these forces broke into the manor, but after a short time, the Landeswehr seized Skangaļi manor. German losses - 60 dead. The number of fallen, injured, and injured people in Kalevė was 62. Landeswere began to retreat in the direction of Cēsis. A few kilometers away, at the Start, the Germans lost another 31 dead. The rest of the Estonian-Latvian part also engaged in active hostilities. The guerrillas of the J. Kuperjanov Battalion continued their attacks in the direction of Jaunrauna, cutting off the retreat of 3,000 Germans from Skangaļi. It ended on a decisive day in the historic battle. The enemy was defeated in the center.
In the late evening of June 22, N. Riekk, the Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Estonia, issued a directive:
"We must not allow the enemy to organize and regroup after the blow of two days of fighting. The defeat of the enemy must be continued and occupied by Cesis. ”
Thus, June 23 was marked by the attack of the Estonian-Latvian joint forces on both banks of the Gauja.
At 7.30 Cēsis was captured, at 8.00 the 6th Estonian Regiment on the right bank of the Gauja also attacked. In the evening of the same day, the enemy was shot down 50 km from Cesis to Inčukalns. On June 26, German forces were also expelled from these positions to the outskirts of Riga. On July 3, under pressure from the Allies, a ceasefire was signed in Strazdumuiža, which saved the Germans from complete disaster and gave them the opportunity to start fighting the new Latvian state under the Avalov-Bermont flag again in October. Today we can say with confidence that in the battles of Cēsis, Latvians fought for the independence of Estonia and Estonians for Latvia.
The role of the countries that won the First World War - the USA, England, France in the creation of the free states of Latvia and Estonia
The right of self-determination declared by the Allies was intended to destroy the adversaries - the German, Austro-Hungarian, Turkish empires, and to create difficulties in the German-occupied territory of Eastern Europe, but it was not intended to crush themselves and the Russian Empire. There was no unity among the Allies - England, France and the United States - regarding the status of Latvia and Estonia. Only for a short time, until December 31, 1918, the British supported the independence of Russia's border lands.
It was in the interests of the Americans and the French to rebuild the Russian Empire in order to preserve their deposited capital. As a result of Allied pressure, the British government decided to end active support for the Provisional Governments of Russia's border states, using them only in anti-Soviet and anti-German combinations. We can justify this with the decision of the Entente of 26 May 1919 on the recognition of the autonomy of the Baltic nations within the Russian Empire.
Only when the Germans in Latvia became unmanageable to the Allies (on May 23 and 24 in Liepaja the Germans arrested Entente officers and instructors), after the discussions in Liepaja on June 5-7, the Allies decided to use the Latvian-Estonian national armed forces to restrain the Germans. This was also necessary because the German attack on the combined forces had stopped the persecution of the Bolsheviks, and it was not in the interest of the Entente. On June 22, the German National Council decided to sign a peace treaty with the Entente. Thus, the Estonians and Latvians, fighting for their own interests, had done a valuable service to the Entente, preventing the German attempt to take over absolute power in the Baltics. It was not until June 25 that the Entente's top leadership decided that the Germans should no longer be supported. On June 28, the Germans signed the humiliating Treaty of Versailles.
Latvia 1919 - different governments during the War of Independence
The government of the Latvian Socialist Soviet Republic, led by Pēteris Stučka and supported by the Red Army, was located in the territory of Latvia. The goal of P. Stučka's government is to liberate the territory of the newly founded state and strengthen the Soviet power here.
The Provincial Government of Andrieva Niedra, based on the German Landeswere and the Iron Division, was located in Kurzeme. The aim of this government was to expel the Bolsheviks from Latvia, to conquer as much territory as possible and to retain German power in the Baltics.
The third - the Provisional Government of Latvia led by Kārlis Ulmanis - had found refuge on the steamer "Saratov" on April 16 after a coup organized by the Germans. The Southern Latvian Brigade in Kurzeme, commanded by Jānis Balozs, and the Northern Latvian Brigade in the northern part of Latvia, commanded by Colonel Jorģis Zemitāns, remained loyal to the government of K. Ulmanis. Politically, both brigades were loyal to the Provisional Government of Latvia, but militarily, the Southern Latvian Brigade was subordinate to General von der Golz, who also commanded Landeswehr and the Iron Division, while the Northern Latvian Brigade was subordinate to the Commander-in-Chief of the Estonian Army, General Johan Laidoner.
Tālis Pumpuriņš, Cēsis History and Art Museum
Historical materials of Edgar Anderson
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Siegesdenkmal in Cēsis
Das Siegesdenkmal für die in der Schlacht von Cēsis gefallenen Letten und Esten befindet sich in Cēsis auf dem Vienības laukums. Im Angedenken an die in der Schlacht von Cēsis (dt. Wenden) 1919 Gefallenen wurde am 22. Juni 1924 der Grundstein für das Siegesdenkmal gelegt, das vom Architekten Pauls Kundziņš entworfen, und Dank der Spendengelder der Einwohnerschaft errichtet wurde. Unter sowjetischer Besatzung wurde das Denkmal in der Nacht des 25. März 1951 gesprengt und vollständig abgerissen. Von 1959 bis 1990 stand auf dem damaligen Siegesplatz, dem vormaligen und heutigen Vienības laukums (Platz der Einheit) ein Lenin-Denkmal des Bildhauers Kārlis Jansons. 1997 gelang es dem Vorsitzenden des Bezirksrates von Cēsis, Māris Niklass, estnische staatliche Institutionen für den Wiederaufbau des Denkmals zu gewinnen. Der aus Estland gestiftete Dolomit von der Insel Saaremaa diente schließlich als Baumaterial. Am 22. Juni 1998 konnte anlässlich der Feierlichkeiten zum 79. Jahrestag der Schlacht von Cēsis auf dem Vienības laukums der Grundstein zur Wiederherstellung des Denkmals gelegt werden. Am 15. November 1998 wurde das restaurierte Siegesdenkmal eingeweiht (Architekt: Imants Timermanis). Informationen über das Siegesdenkmal finden Sie in der Ausstellung „Cēsis und der lettische Freiheitskampf“ des Stadtmuseums für Geschichte und Kunst Cēsis im Neuen Schloss.
Denkmal für die Gefallenen der Schlacht von Cēsis
Das Denkmal für die in der Schlacht bei Cēsis gefallenen estnischen und lettischen Soldaten befindet sich im Landkreis Priekuļi, in Liepa, etwa 1 km südlich der Bahnstation Lode am Ende der Rūpnīcas iela. Der Grundstein für das Denkmal wurde bereits am 22. September 1929 gelegt, die Einweihung selbst fand am 11. August 1935 statt. Der Bildhauer Augusts Julla, der auf dem Hof Jullas in der Gemeinde Liepa lebte, entwarf das aus Kalktuffstein aus der Nähe von Allaži gefertigte Denkmal. Die Gestalt eines als Hochrelief dargestellten bäuerlichen Soldaten stützt eine Hand auf einen Pflug und erhebt mit der anderen das Schwert. Für die Gestaltung des Soldatengesichts griff der Künstler auf die Totenmaske seines Vaters Jānis Julla zurück. Der Lokalhistoriker Aivars Vilnis hat festgestellt, dass bei Betrachtung des Denkmals aus der Vogelperspektive, sein Sockel, der zum Denkmal führende Weg und die Eingangstreppe eine Art Richtungspfeil bilden, der zum Landgut Liepa zeigt, wo während der Schlacht von Cēsis deutsche Stellungen lagen. Es bleibt zweifelhaft, ob dies wirklich Absicht des Künstlers war, aber es bereichert auf jeden Fall unsere heutige Sichtweise auf das Denkmal. Gleich nebenan befindet sich die Lielā Ellīte (auch Liepas Ellīte, dt. etwa „des Teufels Backofen“) - die einzigen natürlichen Sandsteinbögen in Lettland.
Ausstellungen des Stadtmuseums für Geschichte und Kunst im Neuen Schloss Cēsis
Das Stadtmuseum für Geschichte und Kunst Cēsis befindet sich im Zentrum der Altstadt im Neuen Schloss. Die Dauerausstellung des Museums widmet sich der Geschichte und präsentiert Schlossinterieur. Sie steht unter dem Motto „Cēsis als Symbol der Geschichte Lettlands“. Sie ist unterteilt in zwei Themenbereiche. Die Ausstellung „Die rot-weiß-rote Flagge in der Geschichte von Cēsis und Lettland“ zeigt die Entstehungsgeschichte der nationalen Fahne vom 13. Jahrhundert bis zur Bestätigung als staatliches Symbol - als Nationalflagge Lettlands im 20. Jahrhundert. Auch die Flaggen der lettischen Schützenregimenter und die traditionelle Nutzung der lettischen nationalen Farben während der Unabhängigkeitskämpfe werden thematisiert. Die Ausstellung „Cēsis und der lettische Freiheitskampf“ widmet sich der Gründung des Regiments Cēsis im Dezember 1918, dem gemeinsamen Kampf von Esten und Letten in der Schlacht von Cēsis (dt. Wenden) 1919, der Zeit, als Cēsis während der Bermontiade 1919 kurzzeitig faktisch die Hauptstadt Lettlands bildete, und der Geschichte des städtischen Siegesdenkmals. Im Escape-Room „Legenden der Schlacht von Cēsis“ müssen die Spielteilnehmer innerhalb einer Stunde durch Lösen von Rätseln, Erkennen von Zusammenhängen und Suche nach versteckten Gegenständen den Weg nach draußen finden. Am 8. Dezember 1918 wurde im Schloss von Cēsis, organisiert durch Oberleutnant Artūrs Jansons, eine der ersten Einheiten der lettischen Streitkräfte aufgestellt: die Kompanie Cēsis. Am 8. Dezember 1933 wurde am Neuen Schloss von Cēsis, wo sich seinerzeit das Hauptquartier des 8. Infanterieregiments Daugavpils und der Klub der Garnisonsoffiziere befanden, eine Gedenktafel zu Ehren der Kompanie enthüllt.
Denkmal für das Schülerbataillon Cēsis
Das Denkmal für die in der Schlacht bei Cēsis (dt. Wenden) 1919 gefallenen Soldaten der Schülerbataillons des Regiments Cēsis, befindet sich in Cēsis unweit der Straßenkreuzung Palasta iela/Bērzaines iela. Der Bau des am 26. Mai 1938 eingeweihten Denkmals wurde von der Soldatenvereinigung der Schülerkompanie des Regiments Cēsis initiiert. Das Denkmal wurde nach einem Entwurf des Künstlers Jānis Rozenbergs, der selbst in den Reihen dieser Einheit gestanden hatte, hergestellt. Die 1,8 m hohe Kupferskulptur eines Soldaten in Schuluniform, geschaffen vom Bildhauer Rudolfs Āboltiņš und vom Kupferschmied Jānis Zibens, steht auf einem ein Meter hohen Sockel aus Kalktuff. Zu Füßen des Soldaten sitzt eine Eule als Symbol für Weisheit und Wissen schützend auf den Schulbüchern des in den Krieg ziehenden Jungen.
Unter sowjetischer Besatzung 1952 wurde das Denkmal entfernt und 1957 in der Nähe seines Standortes die Skulptur „Der Flaggenträger des Komsomol“ des Bildhauers Kārlis Jansons aufgestellt. Das restaurierte Soldatendenkmal wurde schließlich unweit der ursprünglichen Stelle am 11. November 1992 erneut eingeweiht und im gleichen Jahr das vom Besatzungsregime errichtete gusseiserne Komsomolzen-Denkmal abgebaut.
Denkmal für die Ornamente der Studenten auf dem Schlachtfeld
An der Landstraße Cēsis-Āraiši, in der Nähe der ehemaligen Pfarrei Livu.
Zu sehen ist ein Denkmal, das dem Schmuck der Freiwilligen des Cēsis-Regiments gewidmet ist, die 1919 an den Kämpfen von Cēsis teilgenommen haben.
Das Denkmal wurde am 29. Mai 1930 in der Nähe der ehemaligen Gemeinde Livu enthüllt.
Das Projekt des Denkmals wurde von dem ehemaligen Freiwilligen der Schulverzierung K.Dzirkalis entwickelt, die Installationsarbeiten wurden von der Firma A.Sproģis in Cēsis durchgeführt.
Bronzedetails nach der Zeichnung des Autors wurden von M.Pluka geschaffen, sie wurden in der Fabrik von V.Minūta in Riga gegossen. Nach dem Zweiten Weltkrieg wurde das Denkmal zerstört.
Am 6. Juni 1989 restauriert, sind die Autoren des restaurierten Denkmals die Bildhauer A. Jansons und M. Balttiņa, der Architekt I. Timermanis.
Später wurden das Bronzeschwert und die Plakette aus Sicherheitsgründen entfernt und durch Holzteile ersetzt.
Gedenkstein in den Schlachten von Cēsis in der Nähe der gefallenen lettischen und estnischen Soldaten
In der Gemeinde Priekuli gelegen, an der Seite der Landstraße Cēsis-Valmiera in der Nähe der Brücke über Rauna.
Zu sehen ist ein Gedenkstein mit einem Granitdenkmal für die in den Schlachten von Cēsis gefallenen Soldaten, das vom Steinmetz Voldemārs Koltovs geschaffen wurde.
Entdeckt im Jahr 2004, als der 85. Jahrestag der Schlacht von Cēsis gefeiert wurde.
Ein Gedenkstein für 110 estnische und 44 lettische Soldaten, die in Kämpfen an den Ufern der Rauna- und Gauja-Ufer getötet wurden.
Das 6. Regiment der 3. estnischen Division (Kommandant K. Tallo), das 3. Regiment (Kommandant J. Krūss) und das 2. Cēsis-Regiment der nordlettischen Brigade (Kommandant K. Berķis) kämpften heldenhaft in den Kämpfen bei Rauna und Gauja.
Das erste Denkmal für die Schlacht von Cēsis und die gefallenen estnischen Soldaten
Befindet sich neben der Friedhofskapelle von Veselava.
Das erste Denkmal für die Schlacht von Cēsis und die gefallenen estnischen Soldaten wurde am 5. August 1923 enthüllt.
An der Eröffnung nahmen der erste Präsident der Republik Lettland Jānis Čakste und der estnische Botschafter in Lettland Jūlijs Saljema teil.
Auf dem Friedhof wurden 16 estnische Soldaten begraben, die im Juni 1919 in den Kämpfen von Cēsis mit den baltischen Landesver und der Eisernen Division gefallen waren. Vier von ihnen wurden später in ihrer Heimat umgebettet. Das Denkmal wurde auf Spenden errichtet, die von Einheimischen gesammelt wurden. Es wurde vom Handwerker Dāvis Gruzde nach dem Entwurf von Kārlis Bierņš, dem Besitzer der Ķikuri-Häuser, hergestellt.
Denkmal für die gefallenen Soldaten des Cēsis-Regiments
Befindet sich auf dem Jaunrauna-Friedhof in der Gemeinde Priekuli.
Ein Denkmal für sechs Soldaten des 2. (5.) Cēsis-Infanterie-Regiments, die am 21. und 22. Juni 1919 in der Schlacht von Cēsis in der Nähe des Herrenhauses Jaunrauna gefallen sind, von denen fünf auf dem Friedhof von Jaunrauna begraben wurden, der sechste jedoch der Familie übertragen wurde Friedhof.
Am 24. August 1924 wurde im Steinbruch O. Zeviško (ehemals R. Teica) in Riga ein Denkmal aus lokalem Granit enthüllt. Das Denkmal ist als Eichenstamm gestaltet, dessen Äste abgeschnitten sind, dessen Wurzeln aber noch bis zum Boden reichen. Der stumpf gestutzte Stamm wird von einem Granitkreuz gekrönt, das gepflanzte Eichenzweige imitiert.
Friedhof der Cesis-Brüder
Befindet sich auf dem Friedhof Cēsis Lejas, Lenču-Straße 15, Cēsis.
Eine der wichtigsten Gedenkstätten des Ersten Weltkriegs und des Unabhängigkeitskrieges in Cēsis ist der Brüderfriedhof auf dem Unteren Friedhof.
Der Friedhof ist das Denkmal des Brüderfriedhofs, das 1927 vom Künstler und Denker von Cēsis Augustus Julla (1872-1958) erbaut wurde und den von 1915 bis 1920 auf dem Brüderfriedhof begrabenen Soldaten gewidmet ist.
Etwa 200 Soldaten sind auf dem Brüderfriedhof des Unteren Friedhofs von Cēsis begraben. Unter ihnen eine unbekannte Anzahl lettischer Schützen und russischer Soldaten, die im Ersten Weltkrieg gefallen sind, sowie Soldaten deutscher (10), polnischer und anderer Nationalitäten. Während des lettischen Befreiungskrieges wurden auf diesen Friedhöfen 22 gefallene Soldaten des 5. (2.) Cēsis-Infanterie-Regiments sowie 11 Freiheitskämpfer begraben, die in anderen Einheiten der lettischen Armee gefallen waren. Auf dem Brüderfriedhof sind 2 Esten, 15 Opfer der Bolschewiki und auch lettische Rote Schützen begraben.
Monument for students of the Viljandi Regiment
The monument to the soldiers of the Viljandi Students’ Company who fell near Stalbe is located by the intersection of the Riga-Limbaži road, after making a turn onto the Stalbe-Stūrīši road, which leads to the Pārgauja Municipal Council (to the right). Latvian and Estonian inscriptions on the granite memorial read: ‘On 19-21 June 1919, during the Battles of Stalbe, the 6th Regiment Viljandi Students’ Company repelled the attack of the Germans’. The monument was unveiled on 19 June 2009. Based on the idea conceived by Mareks Niklass, the monument was created by stonemason Voldemārs Koltovs. The 6th Estonian Regiment fought the Baltic Landeswehr and the Iron Division during the Battles of Cēsis near Stalbe. The Germans tried to break the front line in the area of the Stalbe Manor but were forced to retreat after two days of failed attempts. Every year, Lāčplēsis Day celebrations in Stalbe begin with a torchlight procession to the monument devoted to the soldiers of the Viljandi Students’ Company.
Monument in memory of the fallen soldiers of the Latvian Liberation War
The monument is located next to Limbaži Sv. St. John's Lutheran Church, Lībiešu Street 2. There is a memorial to the fallen soldiers of Limbaži and the surrounding area and to Lieutenant General Vilis Gelbe (1890-1919), who fell in the battle against the Germans on June 19, 1919 in Vidriži.
The monument of Lieutenant General Viļis Gelbe can be seen in the Limbaži cemetery in Jūras Street.
![Limbaži. Valsts prezidents J. Čakste atklāj pieminekli Limbažos I Pasaules karā kritušajiem. Latvijas Brīvības cīņu pieminekļa atklāšana [1923]. Avots: Latvijas Nacionālās bibliotēkas digitālais krājums "Zudusī Latvija".](/g/Poi/00403/44213.png?size=260)
Monument to the sea lieutenant, L.k.o.k. Vilis Gelb (1890-1919)
Located in Limbažu Jūras iela cemetery, Jūras iela 56, Limbaži
The monument opened on September 10, 1922 by the then President of Latvia Jānis Čakste, on which the dedication of the poet Viļas Plūdonis to Vilis Gelb is read:
"Compatriots who pass by me, light up in the love of the fatherland,
for the beloved fatherland, I pledge my life."
Vilis Gelbe (1890-1919) was born in Kurzeme, Zemīte parish, but he is also closely related to the Limbaži side, because at the beginning of the Latvian War of Independence, he returned to Latvia from St. Petersburg and joined the North Latvian Brigade.
In May 1919, V. Gelbi commanded Limbaži, he became the military commandant of the area and was able to inspire local men and also very young guys to join the army.
V. Gelbe's activity at that time in Limbaži and its surroundings was very important, his duties included not only maintaining order in the city and its surroundings, but also mobilization, providing food for soldiers and horses, and solving many other issues that cannot be included in orders and instructions. The Commandant's team organized by him acted as a coordinated mechanism to provide the North Latvian Brigade with the most effective assistance possible. The commander's team went to the aid of the regular army in special cases, and he set an example for the new soldiers. V. Gelbe was the first Latvian army officer who proposed to award his subordinates with the III class of the Order of Imanta. There was no order yet. Imanta's name appeared in the open only on March 20, 1920, when the minister of defense, Karls Ullman, was presented with an outline of the establishment of the military order. However, the name of Lāčplėš was chosen for the order.
Vilis Gelbe died during the battles of Cēsis - on June 19, 1919, during a reconnaissance. Later, Gelb was awarded the Láčplēš War Order, however, historians believe that his contribution has not been properly appreciated until now. This is mainly explained by Gelbe's membership in the Northern Latvian Brigade.
The so-called Southern Latvian brigade, which was initially commanded by Oskars Kaplak, later Jānis Balož, competed with the Northern Latvian brigade, which was commanded by Jorģs Zemitāns.
In Vidriži, a memorial sign at the place where LKOK Vilis Gelbe and two soldiers of his team fell
In Vidriži, at the turn to Lēdurga, during the Freedom Struggle on June 19, 1919, Marine First Lieutenant Vilis Gelbe and two soldiers fell in battle.
Vilis Gelbe is buried in the Limbaži cemetery. Vilis Gelbe was awarded the III class of the Lāčplēš War Order (No. 895) for his heroic deed at Vidrižu manor.
Currently, three commemorative crosses installed in 1989 can be seen at the battle site.
On June 22, 1934, a bronze commemorative plaque made by the artist Stefan Berc was unveiled near the maple growing in the manor park. Already at the beginning of the communist occupation, in the fall of 1940, the memorial plaque disappeared. The maple to which it was nailed also died. At the beginning of the Revival, on June 19, 1989, on the 70th anniversary of the death of Gelbe and two soldiers of his team - corporal Krustiņš and soldier Krūza - at the crossroads where a memorial plaque used to be, on the initiative of the Environmental Protection Club and Latvian People's Front branches of Limbažu county, installed three wooden crosses made in folk style by Jānis Eglīš. By the decision of the executive committee of Limbažu district in April 1991, this memorial place was included in the list of historical monuments of local significance.
Memorial at Skangaļi Manor
The memorial to the victory of the combined Latvian and Estonian troops in the battle for the Skangaļi Manor is located about 20 kilometres from Cēsis. Devoted to the participants of the Battles of Cēsis and the fighters of the Estonian Kalevlaste Maleva Battalion, the memorial stone was unveiled on 22 June 2019. The victory of the combined Latvian and Estonian troops in the battle for the Skangaļi Manor, which took place here, was a turning point in the Battles of Cēsis, as a result of which the troops of Niedra’s government initiated a general retreat. The government of Andrievs Niedra was a provisional pro-German government of Latvia, which existed from 10 May to 26 June 1919. The attack on the Landeswehr unit began in the early morning of 22 June 1919 when the 3rd Kalev company used an armoured train to break into the Skangaļi Manor where they seized 2 cannons, however, the enemy still went on a counterattack. The troops repeated the attack slightly later, in the middle of the day, and the Landeswehr unit was forced out of the Skangaļi Manor following fierce close combat. The trophies from the battle include machine guns, large quantities of ammunition and other combat equipment. Two hours later, the Estonians captured an important road junction at the Starti pub. 58 Kalev soldiers were injured or lost their lives in the battle to capture the Skangaļi Manor. Estonia provided significant support in establishing the memorial site.
Rest area “Forest battles”
Named Forest Battles, the rest area is situated in the main location of the Battles of Cēsis near the Amata bridge. Visitors can listen to stories about the Battles of Cēsis and can take part in various activities, including hikes and trips around the most important venues of the Battles of Cēsis, and team battles. At the end, the visitors can enjoy an invigorating wartime soup. The railway bridge over Amata played a very important role throughout the War of Independence, as the first clashes of the Estonian Army with the Landeswehr took place here. On 5 June 1919, the first battle of the Estonian Army’s armoured trains with the Baltic Landeswehr units took place by the railway bridge over Amata. The Landeswehr, knowing that an armoured train was approaching, planted mines on the railway bridge and secured positions at the homestead Amatas on the riverbank in preparation for a possible battle. The bridge over Amata marked the border between Estonian forces and the Germans. On the night of 23 June 1919, during the Battles of Cēsis, the Landeswehr left Cēsis and retreated to the Amata river line. When retreating, the Germans burned down the Cēsis Latvian Society House and blew up the bridge over Amata.
The railway bridge over the river Rauna
The railway bridge over the River Rauna is located near the P20 highway, in Priekuļi parish. It can be viewed from the right side of the Cēsis-Valmiera highway. The railway bridge is not intended for pedestrians and is watched over by security guards. Built in 1889, the masonry bridge on the Riga-Valka railway line is the highest railway structure of its kind in the Baltics. It is 24 metres high and 78.9 metres long. Trains, especially heavy freight trains, must maintain a speed of 80 km/h. Higher speeds are not allowed on the bridge. However, at lower speeds, the train is unable to deal with the slight incline on both sides of the bridge and may start to slide backwards. In June 1919, during the Estonian and Latvian Wars of Independence, reinforcements to the Estonian Army, which also included the Northern Latvian Brigade, were sent by rail across the bridge from Valka, which was at the back of the front. When the 2nd Cēsis Infantry Regiment was forced to retreat from Cēsis, its units strengthened their positions on the banks of the River Rauna. The railway bridge became part of the fortification and ensured the movement of Estonian armoured trains during the battles. During World War II, on 4 July 1941, the bridge was blown up by the fleeing Red Army when the Soviet occupation of Latvia was replaced by the German occupation. German Army sappers restored the bridge within a week. After World War II, during the Soviet occupation, the bridge over Rauna was of military strategic importance and was heavily guarded.
Railway bridge over Amata
Located in Drabešu parish, Cēsis region, near the recreation place "Meža kaujas".
There is a railway bridge over Amata.
The railway bridge over Amata played a very important role throughout the War of Independence, because on June 5, 1919, the first battle of the Estonian army's armed trains with the Baltic Landesver units took place here. Landeswehr, knowing that an armed train was approaching, nominated a railway bridge and took a position at the Amatas home on the river bank, ready for possible warfare. The bridge over Amata was the border between Estonian forces and the Germans.
Historical evidence of the events at the Amata Bridge has not been preserved. As Latvians did not take part in these events, there are no narratives of their memories, there are memories from Estonian soldiers and other sources. It can be said that this was an Estonian-American joint battle against the Landeswehr, because there was an American officer on the Estonian armored train, who later fought in World War II as well. In general, many future World War II officers and commanders took part in the battles of Cēsis, especially on the German side.
The Estonian armed train arrived in Cēsis on June 2, 1919, a day later went to Ieriķi, where talks took place with the landlord, which was unsuccessful, and on June 5, when the armed train approached the Amata bridge again, a collision with the Germans began. A day later, the armed train also took part in the battles near Cēsis, where it helped the soldiers of the Pupils' Company who were threatened with siege. Although the Germans tried to dismantle the rails to cut off the train's retreat, it managed to retreat across the Rauna bridge.
On the night of June 23, 1919, during the battles of Cēsis, the landesver left Cēsis and retreated to the Amata river line. When they retreated, the Germans burned down the house of the Cēsis Latvian Society and blew up a bridge over Amata.
Monument to the liberators of Northern Latvia
Located in the center of Placa by the Inčukalns - Valka highway (A3). Next to the bus stop and Straupe People's House.
The monument made by Teodors Zaļkalns to the liberators of Northern Latvia in 1919 at the Battle of Cēsis can be seen.
There are two limestone supports on the three-step base, on which the limestone block rests. In front of it, the lower part depicts a horse harnessed to a plow and a plow holding reins in his right hand and a sword in his left. A text engraved on the back of the monument, closed by lines by the poet Eduards Virza:
FOR THE RELEASES OF NORTHERN LATVIA
WHILE THE CEREALS ARE SEED IN THESE FIELDS
YOU WILL BE GLORIFIED AND HONORED
The monument was unveiled on November 8, 1931. President Alberts Kviesis took part in the opening.
Monument in memory of the soldiers killed in the War of Independence
Located in Raiskuma Cemetery near the chapel.
The monument to the soldiers killed in the battles of Cēsis was unveiled on September 7, 1930. The monument was made in the local red-gray granite by Cēsis stonemason A. Sproģis. In 2001 the monument was restored.
At the commemoration of the 93rd anniversary of the Battle of Cēsis, Lieutenant-Colonel Ēvalds Krieviņš, who was retired in the Freedom Fights, revealed to the audience that not only the fate of Vidzeme, but also Latvia and partly Europe was decided in Raiskums parish near Auciemmuiža in 1919.
"Here the Estonian regiment heroically wounded the Iron Division and struck the first plane during the War of Independence," says Ēvalds Krieviņš.
Memorial to Estonian soldiers killed in the Latvian War of Independence
Located on the bank of the river Salaca, near the cemetery, Upes Street 3a.
The cemetery was consecrated for the first time in June 1927. In the spring of 1936, at the suggestion of the local guard organization, a cemetery hill was created, where two unknown Estonian soldiers were reburied. The cemetery was consecrated on August 16, 1936. During both the German and Soviet occupation, the cemetery stood abandoned, surrounded by linden trees.
The Estonian Ministry of Defense, in co-operation with the Latvian Ministry of Defense and the Brothers' Cemetery Committee, accepted the Latvian side's proposal to concentrate all individual burials of fallen Estonian soldiers in Mazsalaca, where an ensemble of 2 Estonian soldiers had already been formed after the Freedom Fights.
On June 18, 2013, the monument to the Brothers' Cemetery of Estonian soldiers killed in the Latvian War of Liberation was unveiled on this cemetery hill. The monument was made of Saaremaa dolomite by the Estonian company Dolokivi OÜ after SIA Arhitektu birojs Vecumnieks & Bērziņi. The Minister of Defense of Estonia Urmas Reinsalu and the Minister of Defense of Latvia Artis Pabriks participated in the opening.
On November 11, 2015, 10 new reburials of unknown soldiers who died in the War of Independence were consecrated.
A monument to the memory of the members of the Drustu parish who fell in the First World War and in the battles for the Liberation of Latvia
It is located near the Drustu Lutheran Church.
The monument was opened on June 19, 1932.
On June 14, 1931, the foundation stone of the monument was laid, on which the text "Hundreds of years will come and go, heroes will sacrifice themselves for fatherhood". A galvanized tin capsule with a memorial letter signed by the then Chief of Army Staff General Aleksanders Kalējs, parents of the fallen soldiers and other honored guests of the ceremony is embedded under it.
During the communist occupation, the text under the tab was cemented, but the bronze tab was hidden by the parishioners. When the Revival began, local activists of the Latvian People's Front cleaned the inscription and placed the preserved tab in its place.
41 members of the Drustu congregation who died in the First World War and the Latvian War of Independence have been identified.
Placed in the niches of the church wall are commemorative plaques for the victims of the communist terror - with 58 names of Drustenians and Gatartians carved into oak - the names of people whose graves are unknown.
Lielstraupe Castle
The Lielstraupe Castle is located in the centre of the town of Straupe. The castle is open to visitors and offers a journey through the centuries along with an orienteering exercise in the labyrinths of the castle. During the Battles of Cēsis, the Lielstraupe Castle housed the command post of Paul Ludwig Ewald von Kleist’s Battle Group of the Iron Division (German: Eiserne Division). During the battles, the castle was visited by Major Josef Bischoff, Captain Heinz Guderian and others. The castle was used for the coordination of an attack in the direction of Stalbe on 21-22 June. The Iron Division was a military force of German mercenaries during the Latvian War of Independence, which was formed from soldiers of the 8th Army of the demobilised German Empire and volunteer mercenaries. It was the best-known part of the German Free Corps and among the best trained and most combat-ready military forces in the Baltics in 1919. During the Soviet period, from 1949 to 1959, the administration of the Lielstraupe Machine-tractor Station operated out of Manor Castle. During this time, the castle was also equipped with training rooms and dormitories for tractor drivers, while the former stable of the manor housed workshops. From 1963 to 2018, the castle was managed by medical institutions, and it was said of the Straupe Narcological Hospital in Latvia that it ‘even treats the walls’.
Denkmal für den ersten gefallenen Soldaten der Schoolmen's Company, Edgars Krieviņas
Befindet sich auf dem Zentralfriedhof von Valmiera, in der Nähe der Kapelle (Miera-Straße 1/3, Valmiera)
Ein Soldat der 8. (Skolnieki) Kompanie des Cēsi-Regiments, LKOK Edgars Krieviņš (1899-1919), starb am 7. Juni an den Verletzungen, die er sich in den Kämpfen von Cēsi am 6. Juni 1919 zugezogen hatte, als er den Rückzug der übrigen abdeckte die Einheiten, als die Landsweer angriffen.
Denkmal für die Gründung der Studentenkompanie des Cēsis-Regiments
Befindet sich in der Leona Paegles Street 1 neben der roten Backsteinfassade.
Die Autorin des Denkmals ist die Künstlerin Solveiga Vasiljeva, und die Idee basiert auf einem Blütenknospenmotiv. Es symbolisiert laut der Künstlerin die neu geformten Persönlichkeiten – Studenten, die in ihrem noch kurzen Leben eine wichtige, verantwortungsvolle und harte Entscheidung treffen müssen.
In Form eines Denkmals sind die äußeren Blütenblätter der Blütenknospe aus geometrischen, scharfen Ecken gefertigt, im Gegensatz zu der sanft abgerundeten Innenseite der Knospe. Die Höhe des Denkmals beträgt bis zu 1,5 m. Das Denkmal wurde am 26. Mai 2011 in Valmiera enthüllt, dem Ort, an dem 1919 das Orchester des Cēsis-Regiments gegründet wurde.
Die Umrisse Lettlands bestehen aus künstlichen Pflastersteinen, auf denen eine Platte mit der Flagge und dem Text des Studentenverbandes des Cēsis-Regiments angebracht ist:
„An dieser Stelle am 26. Mai 1919
Die Studentenkompanie des Cēsis-Regiments wurde gegründet "
