1. Daugavgriva Latvian Riflemen Regiment
I World War I
At the beginning of World War I, Latvian officers repeatedly appealed to higher-ranking Russian military institutions with proposals to create Latvian national military formations within the Russian army. However, these initiatives were rejected. At the end of 1914, two battalions of the combined labor companies of the Daugavgrīva Fortress Guard were formed in the Daugavgrīva Fortress, which from March 1915 participated in battles in Lithuania and then in Semigallia and Courland. The successful actions of the Latvian Guards in the battles for the defense of Jelgava in May 1915 once again raised the issue of the creation of Latvian national formations. In the autumn and winter of 1915, both battalions of the Guards were used as personnel for the formation of Latvian rifle units.
The formation of the National Guard in the Russian Empire during World War I was carried out according to mobilization regulations approved in 1910. Men aged 21 to 42 who had been released from service in the regular army were conscripted into the National Guard. The National Guard was primarily intended for rear service - the protection of military and strategic engineering facilities, the garrison service of fortresses and cities, as well as the replenishment of regular army units. National Guard units were often used in the construction of military facilities. For this reason, special work companies were even formed without providing them with weapons.
13 Home Guard work companies were allocated for the needs of the Daugavgrīva Fortress. In the autumn of 1914, the Home Guard companies were mainly employed in the construction of positions around the fortress. From the end of November 1914, eight Home Guard armed companies, released from construction work, began intensive military training to compensate for the lack of regular army units.
The first of eight Latvian rifle battalions began to be formed in August 1915. It was given the name of Daugavgrīva. This was no coincidence, because the Daugavgrīva fortress had become the home of Latvian units. From the working companies of the fortress garrison, in which the absolute majority were Latvians, two national guard battalions were formed, which in the spring of 1915 took part in the battles against the Germans in Courland and Northern Lithuania. The adjutant of the fortress commander, K. Baltiņš, performed the duties of the commander of the first rifle battalions and worked in the Latvian Riflemen Organization Committee.
The first rifle battalions were formed in great haste. The front was near Riga and the German attack could begin at any moment. There was a lack of space for the deployment of the riflemen, there was no clothing and equipment. The riflemen also received weapons late. The 1st Daugavgrīva Latvian Riflemen Battalion received weapons a month after its formation, but uniforms and harness even later. There was also a lack of experienced instructors and officers. Without weapons and sufficient command staff, the training process was difficult. This caused anxiety among both riflemen and officers. Training was also made difficult by the riflemen's frequent arbitrary absences.
Overall, it must be admitted that the work of the Latvian Riflemen Organization Committee was admirable. In a short time, under very difficult conditions and without previous experience, several combat-ready battalions were formed. This was a great success and proof of the self-organization capabilities of Latvian society.
In November 1916, all Latvian rifle battalions were renamed regiments.
More information sources
1. Šiliņš J. "Latvian Riflemen". National Encyclopedia. https://enciklopedija.lv/skirklis/31625-latviešu-strēlnieki [accessed 29.10.2021].
2. Dedumietis D. "Battalions of the combined work companies of the Daugavgrīva Fortress National Guard". National Encyclopedia. https://enciklopedija.lv/skirklis/58908-Daugavgrīvas-cietokšņa-zemessargu-apvienoto-darba-rotu-bataljoni [accessed 29.10.2021].
3. Blizzard of Souls. Digital Museum. Available: https://www.dveseluputenis.lv/lv/laika-skala/notikums/74/pirmo-latviesu-strelnieku-bataljona-formesana/ [accessed: 29.10.2021.].
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Daugavgrīva Fortress
Daugavgrīva Fortress (entry from Birzes street) is located on the Daugavgrīva Island where Buļļupe river joins the Daugava river. The fortress was built in the 17th century to defend from enemies moving in the direction of Riga, which was an important administrative, trade and production centre. Later it became the main fortification of the Latvian Army coastal defence with several support points. This defensive fortification system is one of the most valuable objects of Latvia's military heritage. This fortress has witnessed Latvian military history. For example, during the Crimean War (1853-1856) Latvian and Estonian gunboat crews were trained here. The main objective of these units was to protect local ports and the coast from attacks by the British navy. During World War I Daugavgrīva militiamen companies were formed here. These were the first Latvian combat units, which came even before the Latvian Riflemen. Nowadays it is possible to see the territory of the fortress. ‘Komētforts’ and the Seaside Nature Park are located nearby and Mangaļsala fortifications are on the other side of the Daugava river.
Christmas Battle Museum
The museum is located in “Mangali” house, Valgunde Rural Territory, Jelgava Municipality, and it is a branch of the Latvian War Museum. It was unveiled in 2005 at the site of the Christmas Battles that occurred during World War I. Unique World War I fortifications still remain at the battle sites. The open-air exhibition of the Christmas Battle Museum reconstructs a section of the fortification system – the trench shelter and part of the first line of German defence – the “German rampart”, which is the only object of this kind in the Baltic states.
The Christmas Battles are one of the best known and most dramatic events of World War I in Latvia. They are an event of special importance in Latvian military and cultural history. Intense fighting took place for six days, leading to heavy casualties. The battles are mainly associated with the attack of Latvian Riflemen against the German Army units, which took place in particularly severe and unfavourable winter conditions. This is an unprecedented case of a major combat operation launched without artillery support.
Today, the museum artefacts found at the sites of the battle are on display. The indoor exhibition is open at certain times, while the exhibition of outdoor fortifications is open every day. Tourist routes and nature trails have been created in the surrounding area.
Nordeķi – Kalnciemas dune ridge
The approximately 30 km long dune ridge, which can be traced in nature from Iļģuciems (with minor interruptions) to Tīreļi today, is one of the most impressive landforms of the Seaside Lowlands, which is rarely perceived as a single natural formation. The dune was formed on the shores of one of the last Baltic glacial lakes, as the waters of the Baltic glacial lake receded. The dune ridge consists of two parallel 50–100 m wide dune belts. They are usually 6–10 m high, but their highest points reach 16–19 m above sea level. In the vicinity of Kleisti, Imanta and Beberbeķi, the beautiful pine forests covering the dunes are a popular place for walking, recreation and sports, and in winter - cross-country skiing. The part of the dune in the vicinity of Lāčupīte is associated with the events of the Bermontiades. On the dune in Pārdaugava is the Lāčupe or Lācaras cemetery . Between Pinkie and Babīte, the Beberbeķi Nature Park has been established to preserve the dunes. The western part of the Nordeķi-Kalnciemas dune ridge, approximately 10 km long, is called the Long Dune . Near the Long Dune (south of Trenči) is the Antiņi Brothers Cemetery , the Latvian Riflemen's Hospital medicine warehouse , and the renovated Latvian Riflemen's dugouts . South of the Long Dune is a massif of swampy forests and marshes, including Rāvājs and Maztīrelis . Opposite Maztīrelis is Ložmetējkalns with a viewing tower and a resting place and the so-called German rampart section . Even further west, near the Long Dune are the Latvian Riflemen Brothers Cemetery and the Piķi Brothers Cemetery. With greater or lesser interruptions, trenches are visible almost along the entire Nordeķi-Kalnciemas dune ridge. In the southwestern part of the Long Dune – in the swampy forests that adjoin it from the south, bomb craters from the First World War are visible. Along the entire length of the Long Dune (south of it), small forest paths run, suitable for walks and longer hikes – a great opportunity to explore the sites of the First World War battles.
Monument to the Defenders of Jelgava
The Monument to the Defenders of Jelgava – the Daugavgrīva Home Guards who stopped the German Army from attacking Jelgava at the end of April 1915, was unveiled in 1991 next to Svēte School in Jelgava Municipality. At the beginning of May 1915, a large demonstration was held in Jelgava to commemorate this important event. The fact that the Latvian Home Guards managed to stop the German attack was used by Jānis Čakste and his as sociates to justify the idea of establishing Latvian Riflemen units during World War I.
The author of the monument is sculptor Alvīne Veinbaha (1923–2011)
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