About Christmas battles

Ložmetējkalns is located in Valgunde Rural Territory, Jelgava Municipality, close to the A9 motorway. It is the site of a World War I battle and the only cultural heritage conservation site of national importance in Latvia. Ložmetējkalns is located on Garā Kāpa Dune, which is a part of the Nordeķi-Kalnciems dune ridge. The name originated at a time when it was the site of impregnable fortifications of the German Army, which was defended by heavy machine-gun fire.

The Christmas Battles are one of the best-known and most dramatic events of World War I in the history of Latvia. In 1917, the units of Latvian Riflemen and Siberian riflemen of the Russian Army attacked and took Ložmetējkalns, capturing at least 600 enemy troops and valuable trophies. The riflemen believed that they were the ones who deserved the honour of captors of the highlands.

The area around Ložmetējkalns Hill is home to commemorative marks and other evidence of the battles that took place here. Every year, in January, memorial events are held in the surroundings of Ložmetējkalns to remember the Christmas Battles. Nowadays, Ložmetējkalns has become a symbol and a memorial site dedicated to the heroism of Latvian Riflemen. A 27-metre-high observation tower offers panoramic views of the site of Christmas Battles.

Located in Babīte district, near the Antiņi soldiers' cemetery and the renovated trenches.

During World War I, the defensive positions of the Russian Empire's army were located in this area from 1915. In 1917, during the Christmas battles, the headquarters of the 5th Zemgale Latvian Rifle Regiment and a hospital with a medicine warehouse were located near the Antiņi house, which was headed by the prominent Latvian military doctor Pēteris Snīķeris.

During the Christmas battles, Latvian riflemen attacked German army units in particularly harsh and unfavorable conditions. The injuries sustained in the battles were of various kinds - gunshot wounds, contusions and traumas, as well as frostbite. Timely medical assistance had to be provided to thousands of Latvian soldiers. It was organized so that the wounded could receive care as quickly as possible. Unarmed paramedics operated on the battlefield, providing first aid and taking the wounded out of dangerous places. Dressing points were set up near the battlefields, where care was continued and triage was carried out. More seriously wounded soldiers were evacuated to infirmaries or hospitals by carts and cars. Cemeteries were established near the infirmaries, where those who died from injuries were buried.

Today, you can visit the old medicine warehouse. Nearby is the Antiņi soldiers' cemetery, as well as reconstructed World War I trenches and dugouts. The environment is suitable for walks in the forest, revealing vivid evidence of military heritage.

Located in Babīte district, on the side of the road near the former Antiņi house and the old medicine warehouse.

The Antiņi or Tīreļi Soldiers' Cemetery was established during World War I. The area was home to defensive positions of the Russian Empire Army. In 1917, during the Christmas Battles, the headquarters of the 5th Zemgale Latvian Rifle Regiment, a hospital with a medicine warehouse, were located nearby.

In 1917, on the night of January 5-6, under the illumination of eight huge bonfires, 105 fighters of the 5th Semigallian Latvian Rifle Regiment were buried with military honors. They fell in battles against the German army or died of wounds. The burial ceremony was led by the regiment's commander, Jukums Vācietis. In later years, soldiers from other units of the Russian army were also buried in the cemetery. In 1925, a monument by architect Eižens Laube was unveiled in the cemetery, and the territory was landscaped. Information about 3,800 soldiers buried in the cemetery is found in many places, but it should be considered unlikely and unverified.

The museum is located in “Mangali” house, Valgunde Rural Territory, Jelgava Municipality, and it is a branch of the Latvian War Museum. It was unveiled in 2005 at the site of the Christmas Battles that occurred during World War I. Unique World War I fortifications still remain at the battle sites. The open-air exhibition of the Christmas Battle Museum reconstructs a section of the fortification system – the trench shelter and part of the first line of German defence – the “German rampart”, which is the only object of this kind in the Baltic states.

The Christmas Battles are one of the best known and most dramatic events of World War I in Latvia. They are an event of special importance in Latvian military and cultural history. Intense fighting took place for six days, leading to heavy casualties. The battles are mainly associated with the attack of Latvian Riflemen against the German Army units, which took place in particularly severe and unfavourable winter conditions. This is an unprecedented case of a major combat operation launched without artillery support.

Today, the museum artefacts found at the sites of the battle are on display. The indoor exhibition is open at certain times, while the exhibition of outdoor fortifications is open every day. Tourist routes and nature trails have been created in the surrounding area.

The Krāči Hills are one of the largest coastal dunes of the Litorina Sea. Its highest point is 29 m above sea level and 26 m above the surrounding plains. The Litorina Sea is said to be the predecessor of the Baltic Sea, which existed approximately 7,000 to 5,000 years ago.

The 6th Special Brigade of the 12th Russian Army launched the attack from the Krāči Hills during the Christmas Battles, with the task of breaking through the German front from the Great Tīreļi Swamp to the Lielupe River. During the month-long battles, the Russian army gained an area of 25 square kilometers, but the losses were enormous – 45 thousand fallen, wounded and missing soldiers. The losses of the Latvian riflemen were 9 thousand fallen, wounded and missing soldiers. During the Christmas Battles, the Latvian riflemen gained immense fame as heroic and brilliant soldiers, paying a very high price for it – their lives.

A monument has been erected in memory of those who fell in battle. Every year on November 11, Lāčplēsis Day, and on November 18, the anniversary of the proclamation of the Latvian state, candles are lit at this place in memory of the fallen heroes.

The protected nature area "Krāči Mountains" as a dune mound of the Litorina period

A "German Rampart" is a defensive fortification built by the German army and used during the Christmas Battles of 1916. It consists of an earthen rampart reinforced with wooden structures and barbed wire, forming a shield against attack. This type of fortification was common during World War I to strengthen front lines and protect troops.

The "German Wall" can be viewed by following a 7 km long hiking route, which begins at the Mangaļi House - the Christmas Battle Museum. In the vicinity of the museum - in the nearby forests, a natural trail runs along the "German Wall", which is also managed, that is - easily accessible for pedestrians. It should be taken into account that the "German Wall" is an open-air object - there may be a fallen tree, the terrain is uneven. The "German Wall" also extends further north and crosses the Maztīreļa Bog, but in this area it is overgrown and is more suitable for "adventure" and "expedition" seekers, not "Sunday walkers".

The approximately 7 km long hiking route – the educational trail can be started at the Christmas Battle Museum, where there is a car park and toilets. It is worth taking a map or a photocopy of it with you. The trail is marked along its entire length. It can be walked in different seasons – in summer, autumn, when the leaves are turning color, or in spring, when the primroses and other spring flowers are blooming. It should be taken into account that there are poor mobile communications in the vicinity of the trail. The difficulty level of the trail is easy, but you should take into account the time needed to walk it and get to know all the objects. Surface – forest roads, trails, natural surface, gravel roads. Starting from the Mangaļi Houses in a clockwise direction, it is worth walking the trail not along the gravel road, but along the German Rampart section, which extends the route by about half a kilometer. There are wooden bridges over the ditches. Be careful, because in wet weather they can be slippery.

There are 18 stops along the route, which are equipped with information boards:

• The first line of fortifications of the Russian army – the so-called “Russian Rampart”;
• 3. The starting positions of the Courland Latvian Riflemen Regiment for the Christmas Battles attack;
• Headquarters of the United Latvian Riflemen Division at the beginning of the Christmas battles;
• Russian Army artillery positions;
• 4. Exit positions of the Vidzeme Latvian Riflemen Regiment for the Christmas Battles attack;
• 1. Daugavgrīva Latvian Riflemen Regiment's starting positions for the Christmas Battles attack;
• Neutral zone;
• Barbed wire fences;
• The first line of fortifications of the German army – the so-called “German Wall”;
• A water intake point set up by German army soldiers;
• Artillery shell explosion pits;
• The German army's rear fortification system;
• Viewable positions, bunkers, trenches, bomb craters, memorial stones, etc.

The most convenient way to see and find these objects is to follow a hiking route or educational trail, which is 7 km long. It starts at the "Mangaļi House". If you follow the route clockwise, the artillery shell pits will be at the end of the route and vice versa. They are located close to the "Mangaļi House", so you can go to them and come back if you don't want to walk the entire long route.

"During the battle, an artillery shell exploded and dug a hole in the ground, and such wartime evidence still remains at the sites of the Christmas battles. The size of the hole was determined by the size or caliber of the shell fired. The most commonly used shell left a hole 1.5 m in diameter and 0.7 m deep, while a howitzer shell left a hole 3.5 m in diameter and 1.5 m deep." We can read such a text on an information stand.

The craters left by the shells are also visible elsewhere in the wider area. They are clearly visible on the LIDAR map.