About the maintainers of order on the eastern border of Latgale – border guards and their daily lives in the period from the founding of Latvia in 1918 to the Soviet occupation in 1940.

Nowadays, thanks to modern technology, border monitoring seems relatively simple, but a hundred years ago, guarding borders was a serious challenge that required not only physical endurance, but also great courage and responsibility. At that time, people relied only on their abilities, experience and cooperation with colleagues to ensure the security of the country, protecting long and often difficult-to-access territories, especially in the border region of Ludza. It should be taken into account that borders are not only a geopolitical entity, but also a place of residence for people with their own social, cultural and economic life.

The Border Route traces the history of Latvian border guarding from its beginnings to the present day, especially learning about the guarding of Latvia's Russian border in the Līdumnieki and Pasienes territories of Ludza municipality. We hope that these news and stories will encourage you to appreciate the contribution, professionalism, and courage of the Latvian Border Guard.

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Over time, the Latvian Border Guard has experienced several significant changes in both organizational structure and responsibilities, reflecting the country's changing domestic and foreign political circumstances.

After Latvia gained independence in 1918 and its restoration in 1990, border protection became the main task of the state to ensure its sovereignty and territorial integrity. The border served as both a symbol and a practical expression of the state's independence, creating in the population a sense of belonging to their country, its people, values, and goals.

In the first years after Latvia gained independence in 1919, border protection was carried out by the army. The establishment and international recognition of Latvia's borders took time: border treaties with Russia and Estonia were concluded in 1920, and with Lithuania in 1921. The border with Poland remained without a formal treaty until the beginning of World War II. In general, the protection of Latvia's borders underwent changes over time to adapt to political and military circumstances. The marking of borders in nature, their construction and the creation of official border descriptions continued until 1930 to ensure the integrity of the country's territory and a clear definition of borders. You can see one of such signs - a guard post right on the outskirts of the village of Līdumnieki, on the way from the chapel to Bārtuļi, and you can also see one of the guard or border guard cordon locations there.

In 1928, in response to the growing threat from the Soviet Union, new regulations were issued to strengthen the borders, and in 1935 the border guard was fully militarized, ensuring its readiness to protect the country against external threats.

The state border guards were divided into battalion areas, which effectively covered the borders of Latvia and the USSR, Lithuania, Estonia and the coast. Of particular importance were three battalions on the 351 km long USSR border, including the Zilupe battalion in Ludza district, which housed the largest number of border guards. The Zilupe battalion was the largest, consisting of four companies (in Zilupe, Krivanda, Goliševa and Mežvides) with 12 platoons, 40 guards and 339 soldiers. To ensure mobility, all officers had riding horses, and company camps also had farm carts. Such a structure and equipment allowed the border guards to effectively carry out their duties, ensuring the protection and security of Latvia's borders in critical border areas. The Border Guard Brigade consisted of approximately 100 officers and 1,200 soldiers and instructors, the majority of whom, approximately 919 men, were assigned to guard the Latvian-USSR border, which was considered the most dangerous. The border between Latvia and the Soviet Union was strictly closed at this time, and traffic was only possible via three railway lines through Indra, Rītupė and Zilupa.

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From 1935 to 1940, under the leadership of Colonel Ludvigs Bolšteins, an outstanding manager and patriotic leader, the border guard experienced prosperity - new border guard buildings were built, in which their families also lived. The buildings were durable and beautifully equipped, often with gardens and nurseries. During Bolšteins' time, the border guards actively participated in the cultural and sports life of the local community, organizing various events and building stadiums, as well as establishing several schools. During the leadership of the outstanding colonel, the quality and professional training of the border guard reached a high level. The cultural activities of the border guards included the construction of community centers in Asūne, Šķaune, Krivanda, Goliševa and Kāceni. Electric lighting was installed in these community centers, and film projectors and pianos were installed in the event halls. The Border Guard leadership also established three primary schools in Indra, Zilupe and Rītūpe, where education was provided for the children of the border guards and local residents. The Border Guards organized sports festivals, forest days, winter skiing competitions, and concerts, as the battalions also had string orchestras. In 1928, the Border Guards Sports Club was founded.

In Krivanda, on the site of the former guard cordon, the border guards' living quarters are no longer there - they were burned down by partisans, and only the stone stairs and foundations of the beautiful folk hall, rich in wall and ceiling paintings, remain, but several other buildings have been preserved, including the border guard shop building, horse stables, and residential buildings. According to the story of the wife of border guard Arvīds Kurcenbaums, Lidija, we can create a vivid picture of the life of border guards at that time on the border.

The border guards lived on friendly terms with the locals, several of them married local girls, Arvīda and I met in 1940, we got married on June 16, martial law had already been declared in those days, but Arvīda was released for 2 hours and we got married in the church, sat at the table. The border guard cordons were very beautifully decorated, tidy and clean, with flowers and ornamental shrubs, with solid buildings. The Krivanda guard post or cordon had a beautiful People's House with wall and ceiling paintings, beautiful stairs, rose beds and greenhouses. They grew fruit tree and shrub seedlings, as well as vegetables, such as tomato seedlings, not only for themselves, but also willingly gave them to local farms. The border guards organized Christmas events with decorated Christmas trees and candy distribution, balls with a string orchestra, where a lot of people gathered, even from Zilupe and Ludza, built schools and stadiums, organized sports games, and played theater. Beautiful residential buildings and a border guard store were also built in the cordon, where you could get everything, including sausages and cheeses, dishes, clothes, fabrics - they sold them to everyone. They kept well-groomed horses in the stable, they rode them, but they also used bicycles, and in winter, skis. They organized home economics courses for the wives of the border guards, and local wives could also come - they taught them to cook, bake cakes, and prepare supplies for the winter. There were some restrictions for the locals, as on the border, but everyone lived in a friendly manner, the border guards helped a lot and did a lot in the border area.

On June 15, 1940, attacks on Latvian border guards took place, including the tragic attack on the Masļenki guardhouse, where NKVD militants killed border guards and civilians, surrounding the border guard and their families. This attack symbolized the impending loss of Latvia's independence and marked the aggression of the Soviet Union, which manifested itself the very next day, when an ultimatum was issued and the occupation of Latvia began, which lasted more than 50 years. The 2nd guard of the 1st company of the Masļenki was attacked by NKVD militants, who murdered both border guards and civilians. During the attack, several dozen people, including children, were captured and transferred across the border to the Soviet Union. The Latvian border guards, located on the banks of the Ludza River, were surrounded and had no chance of escape, as the attackers had cut the telephone lines. To cover up their crimes, the guardhouses were burned down. Shortly after this attack, similar attacks on other guardhouses occurred.

The Maslenki tragedy and the attacks on border guards that occurred in its context became a vivid symbol of the loss of Latvia's freedom and the brutal policies of the Soviet Union.

Ludvigs Bolšteins was one of the most outstanding leaders of the Latvian border guard, whose fate is closely linked to the demise of Latvia's independence in 1940. His last written lines in a letter reveal deep loyalty to his homeland: "We, Latvians, have built a new stately building for ourselves - our state. A foreign power wants to force us to tear it down ourselves. I cannot participate."

Shortly thereafter, on October 3, 1940, the People's Commissar of the Latvian SSR, Alfons Noviks, signed an order disbanding four battalions of the Latvian Border Guard Brigade and dismissing the eastern border guards. On October 9, the Soviet regime arrested 113 border guards, many of whom were deported to Siberia, where they were convicted of "espionage" and "fighting against the revolution." Many received imprisonment or even the death penalty.

On the way to the Opole Guard Post and Zilupi, you will see the site of the Mozuļi cordon and the monument, the White Cross to those who fell in the Battle of Mozuļi. It took place in July 1944 and was a significant episode during the Second World War on the Latgale border. The battle was marked by the desperate resistance of Latvian legionnaires against the Red Army attack near the Mozuļi Manor, which is now located in Russian territory, and it was this place that became a symbol of the sacrifice and heroism of Latvian soldiers under the leadership of Lieutenant Colonel Kārlis Aperāts.