Actor Harry Liepins' memories of his service in the German army
Harijs Liepiņš, a later popular actor, was drafted into the German army and sent to Ķegums in the autumn of 1944.
“We are taken to anti-aircraft batteries and training in Ķegums - in the area, in the barracks near the Daugava power plant. On the first day of the training, we get acquainted with the German iron discipline, it humiliates, destroys any spirit of self-esteem and protest.
… We have broken, clean unwanted screws, which can be gradually installed in a large military car.
Finally, the historic moment - the swearing in of Hitler and the Wehrmacht. In a closed line, we stand on the edge of the experienced Daugava. Wagner's music and flags are played through the speakers. On the promotion, the German colonel starts the solemn words, they are translated by a Latvian captain, we have to repeat them with a raised hand. We get to the first part of the sentence: "I, the young soldier of Great Britain" - when the pure conscience of the Daugava and Stalin's "eagles" come to our aid. The attack of the bomb squadron interrupts the shameful rituals. Exploded bombs, all the top and bottom officers together with the new soldiers coincide side by side in the nearby potato furrows. Thanks to the anti-aircraft attack balloons deployed at an altitude of 800 meters, there were few hits and no panic. Wagner's "Twilight of the Gods" continues to sound in the roar and whistles. The ceremony was not repeated. That is how my oath to "leaders" ended, and I will never have to account to a neo-fascist for breaking or failing to do so. "
Andersone, R. 2004. Ķegums hydroelectric power plant. P.
Related timeline
Related topics
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.