A commemorative badge dedicated to Admiral Makarov was found in the yard
A small military relic can tell a vast historical story. And although the badge represents events that took place during the Russo-Japanese War, it also shows the colorful military history and the involvement of our Latvian Riflemen in other military conflicts, both before and after the Wars of Independence.
The badge was found in Vidriži parish near the foundations of a barn. It is a commemorative badge dedicated to Admiral Makarov. He participated in naval attacks in the Russo-Turkish and Russo-Japanese Wars. In 1904 (in the Russo-Japanese War), his ship "Petropavlovsk" ran into a mine and he died. Markov was one of the key figures in the Russian navy and navy. The sinking of the Petropavlovsk was a blow to the fleet with far-reaching consequences. Russia lost the war with Japan badly, which highlighted its position at a different level of development. It was not the only ship that was destroyed in a naval battle or by running into mines. It was most likely brought to Latvia by a Latvian sailor who served in the navy at the time. The Russo-Japanese War is a war when Latvians massively entered the Russian army, mainly in the land forces.
According to the current landowner's estimates, the owner and loser of the token could be the former landlord, who after returning from the Russian Far Eastern War also participated in the Latvian freedom struggle and as a Latvian rifleman received this land in Vidriži. The aluminum token is well preserved in the ground and its diameter is 3.5 cm. There is also a hole in it, most likely to hang the token around the neck or attach it in some other way.
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Museum of the Occupation of Latvia
The museum exhibits the history of Latvia from 1940 to 1991, under the occupation of Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union. ‘House of the Future’ is a reconstruction and expansion project of the Occupation Museum designed by the well-known American Latvian architect Gunārs Birkerts as well as the new exhibit of the museum. The exhibit ‘History of Cheka in Latvia’ was created by the Occupation Museum and it is located in the ‘Corner House’, which is the former USSR State Security Committee (KGB) building. Latvian Occupation Museum was founded in 1993. It tells the long-hidden story of the fate of the Latvian state, nation and land under the occupation of two foreign totalitarian powers from 1940 to 1991. At the end of 2020 the museum had more than 70,000 different historical items (documents, photographs, written, oral and material evidence, objects and memorabilia). Museum specialists have recorded more than 2,400 video testimonials, making it one of the largest collections on occupation in Europe. The events that unfolded in Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia clearly show us what the nations had to endure under the two totalitarian regimes.
Latvian riflemen positions and trenches in Tīreļi
Latvian Riflemen dugouts and trenches in Tīreļi are located in Babīte parish, Mārupe municipality, in the vicinity of the Antiņi Latvian Riflemen Cemetery and the former medicine warehouse. During World War I this was the defensive position of Latvian Riflemen of the Russian Imperial Army. A complex of trenches and surface dugouts was built in the sandy hills. Trench or positional warfare is the best way to accurately describe World War I and emphasise the importance of fortifications. They were based on the research of military engineers and adapted to the environment and the development of new weapons. The everyday life of a soldier is a continuous improvement of defensive fortifications. Sometimes soldiers would give the dugouts names that reminded them of their homes and would help to forget about the reality of the war. Trench lines were complex defensive systems that were hard for the enemy to take. With the development of weapons these defences became even more sophisticated. The roofs of dugouts were reinforced to withstand artillery shells. Trenches were made in changing patterns and directions so that explosions would cause as little damage as possible. Movement passages had pockets that were used as short-term hiding spots during artillery fire, because they protected soldiers from shrapnel and rubble. Today part of the fortification has been restored and you can visit 3 restored dugouts and a 100 m long section of the trenches.
Latvian Riflemen Monument in Riga
It is located in the center of Riga, in the Latvian Riflemen's Square near the Latvian Occupation Museum.
The monument to the Latvian archers was opened in 1971 at the Latvian Archers Square next to the former Latvian Red Archers Museum (tag: Occupation Museum). During the Soviet era, the topic was viewed through a narrow prism of the communist regime's ideology. The place served to represent Riga and create an idealized story, strengthening the myth of Latvians as fighters of the Soviet power.
Light infantry units in the Russian army were called archers. In World War 1, Latvian riflemen formations were created to fight against the German army in the homeland. They were motivated, dangerous and disciplined fighting units. The high level of education and German language skills were useful for reconnaissance and surprise attacks. When the Russian Empire collapsed and Germany completely occupied the territory of Latvia, a very large number of Latvian residents went to Russia, where they continued to face the agitation of bigots. Initially, support for Lenin's ideas and participation in the Russian Civil War grew. Disappointment followed later, and most Latvian soldiers turned away from leftist ideas and returned to Latvia. The soldiers who remained in Russia were mostly killed in "Stalin's purges" (1936-1938). Latvian archers had great merits in the creation of the Latvian state and its army.
Today you can see the monument and the adjacent Museum of Occupation.
