Blindage
I WW1, I 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.

Latvian Riflemen dugouts and trenches in Tīreļi are located in Babīte parish, Mārupe municipality, in the vicinity of the Antiņi Latvian Riflemen Cemetery and the former medicine warehouse. During World War I this was the defensive position of Latvian Riflemen of the Russian Imperial Army. A complex of trenches and surface dugouts was built in the sandy hills. Trench or positional warfare is the best way to accurately describe World War I and emphasise the importance of fortifications. They were based on the research of military engineers and adapted to the environment and the development of new weapons. The everyday life of a soldier is a continuous improvement of defensive fortifications. Sometimes soldiers would give the dugouts names that reminded them of their homes and would help to forget about the reality of the war. Trench lines were complex defensive systems that were hard for the enemy to take. With the development of weapons these defences became even more sophisticated. The roofs of dugouts were reinforced to withstand artillery shells. Trenches were made in changing patterns and directions so that explosions would cause as little damage as possible. Movement passages had pockets that were used as short-term hiding spots during artillery fire, because they protected soldiers from shrapnel and rubble. Today part of the fortification has been restored and you can visit 3 restored dugouts and a 100 m long section of the trenches.

The family owns the private collection "Dzimtas klēts", in Sala county (Sēlpils parish of Jēkabpils district), which was established in 2007. It has been visited by travelers from many countries and continents.
Travelers are told about the First World War, the time of the Latvian army, the Second World War, the Brethren's graves in Riga and the Christmas battles. In 2011, the restoration of the renovated armory was started and continued, where the exposition "Storm of Souls" about the First World War, about the 4th Rifle Regiment of Vidzeme, the Christmas battles was installed. It is told about the soldier Robert Socki, who will be laid to rest in the Brethren Cemetery, Alexander Green, Jānis Akurāter, Arvīda Žilinski, etc. There are bomb pits from the First World War, as well as a spring from which drinking water was taken, in the area. Excursion 1.5 - 2 hours in Latvian and Russian.