Battles in the Courland fortress near Lestene
The narrator describes his impressions of the battles in the Lestene area and the role of the Latvian 19th Division in the battles.
“(..) After five major battles, the defenders of Courland believe that the worst is behind them, so they stand firmly in their positions so as not to miss the opportunity to liberate their homeland with the capitulation of Germany.
Many doubters have returned to their units, but new fighters are still signing up, both from Courland and from refugees. Several thousand Latvian soldiers have also been sent from Germany to reinforce them.
On March 14, I go to the headquarters of the 43rd regiment, where I have to report. On the way, I meet General Bangerski, who has arrived in Courland. It seems that the gray soldier also believes more than ever that a very decisive moment is approaching for our country, which is why he is also keeping his headquarters in Courland. The general reminds me that as a seven-time wounded man who has exhausted his front-line luck, I should go to him for commandant. Of course, I still have to talk to the division commander about it.
There is a noticeable excitement at the regimental headquarters. The regimental commander, Colonel Osis, is leaving the regiment. Major Reinholds may arrive at any moment, who, by order, must take over command of the regiment. So another colonel has fallen from grace. The first was Lobe four months ago.
Finally Reinholds is here and takes over the regiment. I am appointed company commander in Captain Bumbier's battalion. The company is on rest and in reserve at the battalion headquarters. The deputy battalion commander, Lieutenant Jaunzems, is an old fighting wolf and knows how to tell about the situation at the front in great detail. The Bolsheviks are at the Lestene school, where we have a good view of our position from the hill, so as soon as even the smallest group appears, they open grenade launcher fire.
"No, it can't stay like this," we reason and scout out a direction of attack to throw the Russians out of the school.
Lestene itself is the main battle line. Besides me, there is only one other officer in the company – Lieutenant Zutis. The number of men in the company is also under a hundred. The Bolshevik loudspeakers are calling every day to lay down their arms, talking about Riga. Here Lilita Bērziņa is speaking, here Lācis, here another publicly known person.
On the night of March 16-17, we are replaced by German units, and we are on our way to new trenches, where the enemy has managed to make an invasion. The 19th Division, if I may say so, plays the role of firefighters in Courland – wherever something happens, Latvian men must hurry up and restore order. (..)
Published in the monthly magazine Daugavas vaagi in the USA. Lieutenant Roberts Ancāns' memories of the battles in Courland "Soldier Tells"
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Related objects
Memorial Stone to Defenders of the Kurzeme Fortification
Located in Tukums region, on the side of the A9 highway, 500 m from the turnoff to Lesteni in the direction of Riga.
The memorial was established in 1991 near the Rumbu houses, which were the scene of active hostilities. It is a tribute to the defenders of the “Courland Fortress” who fought against the Red Army in World War II. The battles were significant because they temporarily halted the Red Army’s complete occupation of Latvia. Approximately 300,000 Latvians emigrated to escape the crimes committed against civilians by the Soviet regime.
At the end of World War II, a peculiar situation had developed in the territory of Latvia. German army forces were located in Courland, which the Red Army tried to eliminate or prevent from being involved in battles in East Prussia or around Berlin. “Courland Fortress” is the most common term used to describe the hostilities in Courland from 1944 to 1945. “The Battle of Courland” was the German army’s fight to repel the Red Army’s massive attacks. The Courland Fortress ceased to exist shortly after Germany’s capitulation.
Today, you can visit the memorial and resting place, which was popular among Latvian legionnaires since the restoration of Latvia's independence.
Lestene Brothers' Cemetery
Located in Tukums region, Lestene, next to the church.
The creation of the mass grave in Lestene began in 1998. It is the second largest military cemetery in Latvia, where more than 1,300 Latvian legionnaires are buried. Only after the restoration of the Republic of Latvia was it possible to rebury Latvian soldiers who fell in World War II from various places.
The Latvian Legion was a combat unit of the German army, formed mainly from illegally mobilized Latvian residents. The soldiers perceived their presence in the legion as a fight for the restoration of Latvian independence, despite the fact that it took place within the ranks of the German armed forces and Germany had occupied Latvia. There was no other military force that could delay the return of the Soviet occupation. The Latvian legionnaires fought against the Red Army, which had liquidated the independence of Latvia, destroyed its army and committed crimes against the civilian population. About 110,000–115,000 soldiers fought in the ranks of the German army, about 30,000–50,000 of them lost their lives on the battlefields.
Nowadays, in Lestene you can visit the Brothers' Grave, next to which is the Lestene Church. It is an outstanding example of Baroque sacred art. In the ancient church tavern you can get acquainted with an exhibition dedicated to the history of the Latvian Legion. The central image of the brothers' grave, "Homeland - Mother - Latvia", was created by sculptor Arta Dumpe. Nearby is the Lestene Manor, which belonged to Latvian Army General Mārtiņš Hartmanis before World War II.
Tours of the Lestene Church can be booked with the parish priest of the Lestene Evangelical Lutheran Church, Inguna Kokina, phone +371 29993743.
Lestene Brothers' Cemetery, Memorial Exposition and bunker
Lestene Brothers’ Cemetery is located in Tukums municipality, Lestene, next to the Lestene church. The construction of the Brothers’ Cemetery in Lestene began in 1998. It is the second largest military cemetery in Latvia, and more than 1,300 Latvian legionnaires are buried here. Only after regaining the independence, it was possible to rebury Latvian soldiers who fell during World War II. The Latvian Legion was a combat unit of the German Army, formed mainly from illegally drafted Latvians. The soldiers thought of their presence in the legion as something that had to be done to be able to restore Latvia’s independence, despite the fact that they were in the ranks of the German armed forces and that Germany had occupied Latvia. Latvian legionnaires fought against the Red Army, which had destroyed Latvia's independence and its army and committed crimes against civilians. Between 110,000 and 115,000 soldiers fought in the ranks of the German Army and about 30,000–50,000 of them never left the battlefield. The Brothers’ Cemetery central theme ‘Motherland – Mother – Latvia’ was created by the sculptor Arta Dumpe. Across the road an exhibit dedicated to the history of the Latvian Legion has been created in a former pub. Right next to it the men of the Latvian Officers Association, under the leadership of Captain Jānis Slaidiņš, have built an underground bunker to show how soldiers and officers lived on the front lines.
