Schlacht in der Festung Kurzeme bei Lestene
The narrator describes his impressions of the battles around Lestene and the role of the Latvian 19th Division in the battles.
“(..) After the five great battles, the defenders of Kurzeme believe that the heaviest is behind them, so they stand firmly in their positions so that the capitulation of Germany does not miss the opportunity to liberate the homeland.
Many suspects have returned to the units, but new fighters are still applying from both Kurzeme residents and refugees. Several thousand Latvian soldiers have also been sent from Germany for replenishment.
On March 14, I'm going to the 43rd Regiment headquarters, where I have to report. On the way I meet General Bangerski, who has arrived in Kurzeme. It seems that even the old soldier believes more than ever that a very decisive moment is approaching our country, therefore he also keeps his headquarters in Kurzeme. The general reminds me that, as a seven-time wounded man who has exhausted his fortune, I must go to him as commander. Of course, this still needs to be discussed with the division commander.
There is a stir in the regiment's headquarters. The regiment commander, Colonel Osis, leaves the regiment. Major Reinholds may appear at any moment and shall take command of the regiment. So another colonel fell at his mercy. The first for four months was Lobe.
Reinhold is finally here and takes over the regiment. I am appointed Captain Bumbier in the Battalion as Commander of the Company. The ornament is at rest and reserved at the battalion headquarters. The deputy commander of the battalion, Senior Lieutenant Jaunzems, is an old battle wolf and knows how to tell about the state of the front in detail. The Bolsheviks are in the Lestene school, where there is a good view of our location from the hill, so as soon as even the smallest group appears, they open fire on grenade launchers.
"No, it can't stay that way," we judge and look at the direction of the attack to expel the Russians from school.
Lestene itself is on the main battle line. Apart from me, there is only one other officer - Lieutenant Zutis. The number of men in the jewelry is also less than a hundred. Bolshevik speakers call every day to lay down their arms, tell about Riga. Lilita Bērziņa is speaking here, Lācis is speaking here, and another public figure is speaking here.
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 made an invasion. The 19th Division, if it could be said, is playing the role of a firefighter in Kurzeme - where what is happening, Latvian men must hurry up and bring order. (..)
Published in the Daugava Hawks Monthly in the USA. Lieutenant Roberts Ancāns' memories of the battles in Kurzeme "Soldier tells"
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Gedenkstein für die Verteidiger der Festung von Kurzeme
Das Hotel liegt in der Region Tukums, an der Seite der Autobahn A9, 500 m von der Abzweigung nach Lesteni in Richtung Riga entfernt.
Die Gedenkstätte wurde 1991 in der Nähe der Rumbu-Häuser eingerichtet, in deren Nähe ein aktiver Krieg stattfand. Es ist eine Hommage an die Verteidiger der „Festung Kurzeme“, die im Zweiten Weltkrieg gegen die Rote Armee gekämpft haben. Die Kämpfe waren bedeutsam, weil sie die vollständige Besetzung Lettlands durch die Rote Armee vorübergehend stoppten. Etwa 300.000 Letten wanderten aus, um Verbrechen gegen die Zivilbevölkerung durch das Sowjetregime zu vermeiden.
Am Ende des Zweiten Weltkriegs hatte sich auf lettischem Gebiet eine besondere Situation entwickelt. Es gab deutsche Streitkräfte in Kurland, die die Rote Armee zu beseitigen versuchte oder deren Beteiligung an den Kämpfen in Ostpreußen oder um Berlin verhinderte. "Kurzeme Festung" - der gebräuchlichste Begriff zur Beschreibung der Kriegsführung in Kurland von 1944 bis 1945. Die „Schlachten von Kurzeme“ waren die Schlachten der deutschen Armee, um die großangelegten Angriffe der Roten Armee abzuwehren. Die Festung Kurzeme hörte kurz nach der deutschen Kapitulation auf zu existieren.
Heute können Sie einen Ort der Erinnerung und Ruhe besichtigen, der seit der Wiederherstellung der Unabhängigkeit Lettlands bei lettischen Legionären beliebt ist.
Lestene Brothers' Cemetery
Located in Tukums region, Lestene, next to the church.
The construction of the Brothers' Cemetery in Lestene began in 1998. It is the second largest cemetery of soldiers in Latvia, where more than 1,300 Latvian legionnaires are buried together. Only after the restoration of the Republic of Latvia was it possible to bury Latvian soldiers who died in World War II from various places.
The Latvian Legion was a combat unit of the German army, formed mainly from illegally mobilized Latvians. The soldiers perceived their presence in the legion as a struggle for the restoration of Latvia's independence, despite the fact that it took place in the ranks of the German armed forces and that Germany had occupied Latvia. There was no other military force that could delay the return of the Soviet occupation. Latvian legionnaires fought against the Red Army, which had abolished Latvia's independence, destroyed its army and committed crimes against civilians. Between 110,000 and 115,000 soldiers fought in the ranks of the German army, and between 30,000 and 50,000 of them left their lives on the battlefield.
Today in Lestene you can see the Brethren's Cemetery, next to which is Lestene Church. It is an outstanding example of baroque sacred art. In the old church pub you can get acquainted with the exposition dedicated to the history of the Latvian Legion. The central image of the Brothers' Cemetery "Motherland - Mother - Latvia" was created by the sculptor Arta Dumpe. Nearby is Lestene Manor, which belonged to the Latvian Army General Mārtiņš Hartmanis before the Second World War.
Excursions to Lestene Church can be booked at the head of the parish of Lestene Evangelical Lutheran Church Inguna Kokina, phone +371 29993743.
Lestene vennaskalmistu, mälestusnäitus ja punker
Lestene vennaskalmistu asub Tukumsi piirkonnas Lestene kiriku kõrval. Lestene vennaskalmistu rajamist alustati 1998. aastal. See on Läti suuruselt teine sõdurikalmistu, kuhu on maetud üle 1300 läti leegionäri. Alles pärast Läti Vabariigi taasiseseisvumist oli võimalik Teises maailmasõjas langenud läti sõdureid ümber matta. Läti leegion oli Saksa armee lahinguüksus, mis moodustati peamiselt ebaseaduslikult värvatud Läti elanikest. Hoolimata sellest, et leegionärid kuulusid Saksa relvajõudude ridadesse ja Saksamaa oli Läti okupeerinud, pidasid sõdurid oma leegionis teenimist Läti iseseisvuse taastamise eest võitlemiseks. Läti leegionärid võitlesid Punaarmee vastu, mis oli hävitanud Läti iseseisvuse ja sõjaväe ning pannud toime kuritegusid tsiviilelanike vastu. Saksa armee ridades võitles 110 000–115 000 sõdurit, kellest umbes 30 000–50 000 jätsid oma elu lahinguväljale. Vennakalmistu keskse teema „Kodumaa – ema – Läti“ on loonud skulptor Arta Dumpe. Üle tee asuvas endises kõrtsihoones on välja pandud Läti leegioni ajaloole pühendatud näitus. Kohe selle kõrvale on Läti Ohvitseride Ühingusse kuuluvad mehed kapten Jānis Slaidiņši juhtimisel ehitanud maa-aluse punkri, et näidata, kuidas sõdurid ja ohvitserid rindel elasid.
