About the Latvian War of Independence and the events of 1918 in Aluksne
In 1918, when German troops entered Alūksne, Latvian rifle battalions retreated to Soviet Russia. Until the beginning of December 1918, the German regime was established and reorganized. After Germany succumbed to the war, the Bolsheviks returned to Aluksne and regained power. During the Latvian War of Independence, Finnish volunteers also fought in the Estonian army. On February 21, 1919, fierce battles took place between the Bolsheviks and the Finnish Volunteer Regiment "Northern Boys" in Aluksne, near the station.
“1918. In the autumn of 1945, the Germans hastily withdrew from Aluksne, as the revolution broke out in Germany as well. Soviet power reappeared in Aluksne. The Germans had left many bottles of alcohol in the brake street shop. The red rifles carried the bottles in the yard and smashed them on the rocks. Cheap liqueurs, which the Germans usually exchanged for eggs and bacon for the peasants, now flowed fragrantly through the ridge of Vidus Street.
The Executive Committee was located in Aluksne Castle. I remember Zīle, Samson, Egli, Dipāns Ernests, militia chief Bukan Augustas as leading employees. ”
“1919. In February, one evening, the shooting of rifles and machine guns was heard, which signaled the approach of the front. In Alūksne, Alsviķu Street 11, on a hill in a small house, we live in a small room, our mother, sister and I, so we watched all the events in the house. The noise of the shooting was approaching overnight. On the second morning, cannon shells were running across our hut and exploding in the meadow behind the sauna. The snow in the blast pits turned black. In the afternoon, armed Finnish white guards came along Alsviķu Street. In white winter hats and brown winter boots with folded muzzles. Entered our poor room, looked and left. Terror began in Aluksne. (..) A terrible view was revealed on the station hill. There were many fallen people in the snow all around, some even Chinese. (..) There was a damaged armored train at Alūksne station. (..) A few days later, the fallen heroes of the Baltic Finns were stacked on sledges to the square of Alūksne Castle, where they were buried without coffins in two long common pits. (..) The Executive Committee evacuated from Alūksne Castle. Red Army units also left Aluksne. ”
Memories of Artūrs Kļava. Collection of Aluksne Museum. ANM 1701.
Artūrs Kļava. Letter to the Aluksne Museum, December 21, 1961.
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