Karl Libert's memories of the day of capitulation of the German army in Ezere
The repository of cultural history and regional research materials of the lake "Muitas nams" has been established in a historically important building. On May 8, 1945, the act of capitulation of the Nazi German army group "Kurland" surrounded on the Kurzeme front was signed here.
Former Red Army soldier Kārlis Liberts shares his memories of the events of that day
Karlis Liberts was a young Red Army soldier who had participated in the Christmas battles in the winter of 1944/45 and was wounded. Karlis Liberts revealed in his diary that the higher-ranking military officials humiliated the soldiers and that you had to be skillful in battles. His weapon is a rifle with a bayonet on the end and an earring instead of a helmet. He was court-martialed for his injuries.
In his diary, Kārlis Liberts writes about the Customs House and its surroundings:
"There was an army headquarters in the new house. We had no weapons. We just slept day and night. That's how May 8, 1945 came. [..] An officer said that today the war will be decided in the Kurzeme cauldron. [..]
After a short while we heard a loud roar. A Russian strike aircraft crashes across the lake in the direction of Liepāja. I counted more than 17 planes. The Germans responded with fire to the attack aircraft. After the second wave, they raised the white flags.
The war is over."
Sweet land, 08.05.2015.
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Ezere local history repository “Muitas Nams” (Customs House)
The Ezere Customs House is located in Ezere near the Saldus-Mažeikiai highway at the Latvian-Lithuanian border. The act of surrender of the German Army units ‘Kurzeme’ (Kurland) surrounded in the so-called ‘Courland Pocket’ was signed in this building on 8 May 1945. It is believed that World War II actually ended in Ezere. The customs house has an exhibit covering the events of the end of World War II and exhibits detailing the history of Ezere parish from ancient to modern days. In the morning of 7 May 1945, the commander of the Leningrad Front, Marshal L. Govorov, sent an ultimatum to the command of the army group ‘Kurzeme’ to lay down arms. The act of surrender was signed by the involved parties on May 8 and it detailed the procedure of surrender, weapons collection points, documents and information to be submitted and other practical measures.
