Memories from a diary left behind - serving at the Ķegums HPP
Jānis Jaunozoliņš. “Memories from a Diary Left Abroad” (16.08.1944.-13.10.1946.) Fragments.
A passenger train is already waiting at the station, with which the journey to the long-heard-of but not yet seen Keguma begins. Everyone is in a good mood. We feel like real soldiers, even though our companions and commanders are only Germans, whom we quietly call "Fritzes".
Day and night, one of our groups had to go on duty at each stelhung, i.e. four-barreled anti-aircraft gun, searchlight or hot air balloon, stationed around the Ķegums power plant. One of the four-barreled guns is stationed on the roof of the power plant. Our group also has to go out to the balloon and searchlight for the first time. In the morning, everyone has to go to the exit, where the guard change is assigned. We get weapons, ammunition and, led by a non-commissioned officer, we go across the Ķegums bridge to one of the further stelhungs (shelters). We are divided into two at each balloon and searchlight, then we are introduced in detail to the objects to be guarded, tasks and rules, although we had already learned this theoretically and practically during training. But the old shift goes to camp. The day is calm, and the balloons are waiting. It should be explained that the balloons were raised in the air all around the Ķegums power plant and bridge so that enemy aircraft flying low could not make direct bomb hits on the target.
Wherever we go, even to the kitchen for lunch, we have to march with the song. If the song cannot be started after the command, then the command “lie down, get up, run” is given, so we have a chosen song starter.
We are often sent to work on the construction of a new fortification. Two anti-aircraft batteries with about 48 balloons, anti-aircraft guns and searchlights are located around Kegums.
During the entire time spent in Ķegums, not a single enemy plane flew into the bars raised by the balloons, because the balloons did not allow them to fly low. The Ķegums bridge remained intact, even though it was attacked many times.
Andersone, R. 2004. Kegums Hydroelectric Power Plant. p. 74.
Related timeline
Related objects
The German army's concrete fire point in the Kegum HPP reservoir near the Nega inlet
It is located in the Ķegum HPP reservoir at the Nega inlet (in front of the Nega houses), on its left bank. One of the most visually and scenically impressive and also the best-preserved concrete fireplaces, washed by the waves of the Daugava. It can be seen from a larger piece. A footbridge has been built from the shore to the top of the fire point (overgrown with grass). Narrow-gauge railway (?) tracks embedded in the concrete walls of the fire station. You can get inside from the side of the footbridge. This is one of the fire points of the defense line of the German army during the First World War on the left bank of the Daugava, which can more or less be traced along the entire length of the left bank of the Daugava. The aforementioned line of defense is a large-scale military system that has not really been evaluated as a whole until now. The remains of the fire point can be seen by boat on the Ķegum HPP.
Concrete fire point of the German army at the top of the bank of the Ķegum HPP in front of Andulii
It is located about 1.2 km east of a small extension of the stream (the stream flows near Lejasgrantiniņi) at the top of the steep bank slope of the Ķegum HPP in front of Andulii. The shore in this place is overgrown with forest and undergrowth, so only a keen observer will notice this fire point from the side of the reservoir. The fire point is well preserved as it has not been damaged by coastal erosion. This is one of the fire points of the defense line of the German army during the First World War on the left bank of the Daugava, which can more or less be traced along the entire length of the left bank of the Daugava. The aforementioned line of defense is a large-scale military system that has not really been evaluated as a whole until now. The fire point can be seen by boat on the Ķegum HPP, as it is located in a private area.
The remains of the German army's concrete fire point in the Ķegums HPP reservoir in front of Sidrabini
It is located about 0.25 km east of the Ķegum HPP reservoir bay near Silapūpēži, in the direction of Jaunjelgava, opposite the Sidrabiņi farm. The point of fire has slipped partially into the water and split into several parts, resembling a pile of construction debris. The coast is overgrown. This is one of the fire points of the defense line of the German army during the First World War on the left bank of the Daugava, which can more or less be traced along the entire length of the left bank of the Daugava. The aforementioned line of defense is a large-scale military system that has not really been evaluated as a whole until now. The remains of the fire point can be seen by boat on the Ķegum HPP. About 150 m west of the Daugava bank, the remains of another fire point have slipped into the water.
