Blindage
I WW1 & Wars of Independence , II WW2, IV Soviet occupation

The Latvian War Museum is located in the Old Town not far from the Freedom Monument in a historic defence building called the ‘Powder Tower’. There are 11 exhibits in the museum. There are various weapons, documents, uniforms, awards, badges and other items detailing the everyday life of a soldier in war. The Latvian War Museum is one of the oldest museums in Latvia. Its origins can be found in World War I. Museum’s collection was made up mainly of personal items of soldiers or items found on battlefields. After Latvia gained its independence the main goal of the museum became to create an exposition on the military history of Latvia and the active role of the population in protecting their land. In 1937 the museum was expanded and was technically one of the most modern museums in Europe at that time. The Powder Tower was one of the fortification towers of Riga. Some evidence dates back to 1330 where it has been mentioned as the ‘Sand Tower’. The tower was destroyed in 1621 when Riga was besieged by the Swedish Army. But in 1650 a new tower for storing gunpowder and weapons was built. After the city’s fortifications were taken down, the Powder Tower remains as one of the most important pieces of evidence of the Riga defence system.

It is located in Inčukalns municipality, on the side of the road near the village of Gauja, near the motorway A2 and A3 junction.

The fortification is a very rare and valuable example of a fortification. The building is designed for one person to observe an important traffic junction. In the NW direction there is a bridge over the Gauja, A - crossing over Inčupīte, SW - road branching and D - one of the main traffic roads - Vidzeme highway. The reinforced concrete fortification was part of the surrounding trenches, the exact time of which is unknown. It was probably built by the German army during World War II. The site needs further research to clarify the information.

At the end of the 19th century, the surroundings of Inčukalns manor became an important traffic hub. During World War I, the place gained the importance of a defense area where possible warfare was planned. Fortifications were built near the traffic roads, Inčukalns railway station and the Gauja river crossing. The place retained its strategic importance in the following wars.

Nowadays you can see the fortification, which is freely available.

The battle in the territory of Latvia began in the spring of 1915 with the invasion in Liepāja by the German Empire. Army units of the Russian Empire retreated through Kurzeme in the direction of Riga. By the end of the summer, the command of the German Imperial Army gave orders to take up and strengthen appropriate positions. When departing from Jelgava, the first units of the Russian Empire’s army arrived in this place. This was an important place for the protection of Riga, because the Riga-Jelgava highway was nearby, along which it was possible to bring the necessary war materials. In mid-November 1915, the front stabilised and both armies built positions. One kilometre to the SW of the forester’s house “Lapsas” there was the second line of defence, which was built above ground, because due to the swampy relief it was not possible to build the traditional trenches. The embankment-shaped wall consisted of a breastwork consisting of an earthen wall secured on both sides by small-diameter logs and metal wires. Today you can see the preserved line of defence, which has survived for less than a kilometre.