Red Terror I WW1, I Wars of Independence
The Red Terror is a formal policy announced by a decree on September 5, 1918, by a decree of the government of the Bolshevik regime in power - the Council of People's Commissars (TKP) in power in Russia: the targeted and legitimate imprisonment of detainees proof of guilt. The Red Terror was officially stopped on November 6, the day before the anniversary of the October Revolution. However, brutal repression against imaginary and real opponents of the Bolshevik regime continued and usually linked the end of the Red Terror to the end of the Russian Civil War in 1922.
The official reason was the unsuccessful assassination of Lenin by the social revolutionary Fania Kaplan (1890-1918), which resulted in the injury of the Bolshevik leader. Following the news of the assassination of Lenin, the All-Russian Central Executive Committee called for a ruthless mass terror against the enemies of the revolution. However, a formal decision on the outbreak of Red Terror was made by the Soviet Russian government, the Council of People's Commissars (TKP), on September 5, 1919. The main institution that carried out the Red Terror was the All-Russian Emergency Commission and its various repressive structures, as well as Bolshevik activists on their own initiative. Already on the first day of the Red Terror, more than 500 people unwanted by the regime or simply "suspicious" (too well dressed or known as intelligent, officers, former officials or just wealthy people) were killed in Petrograd. In total, more than 1,200,000 people were killed during the years of this policy.
One of the authors and main ideologues of the idea was the notable Chekist Mārtiņš Lācis (Jānis Sudrabs; 1888-1938), who developed and popularized this concept: "We do not fight against individuals. We destroy the bourgeoisie as a class. Do not look for material and evidence in the investigation "The first question you have to ask him is what class he belongs to, his background, upbringing, education or profession. These questions must also determine the fate of the accused. That is the meaning and essence of red terror."
In the autumn of 1918, another Latvian, Jēkabs Peters, was the deputy head of the Czech Republic, Felix Dzerzhinsky. During this time, several hundred Latvians worked in the Czech machine. On the other hand, many Latvians were also killed by the Bolsheviks, and many, such as members of the Latvian Provisional National Council, were forced to hide or flee Russia to save their lives. After the Bolshevik invasion of Latvia in November 1918, the Red Terror also began here, claiming the lives of at least 2-3 thousand people. In every district of Latvia, the Bolsheviks established revolutionary tribunals; several concentration camps were established (the largest in Pļaviņas); the unwanted persons of the regime were hunted by the secret police of the Bolsheviks - political subdivisions. In the spring of 1919, mass executions began in Latvia. Thousands of people were taken hostage and imprisoned in dirt and epidemics (flu, typhoid, etc.).
More information sources
https://vesture.eu/Sarkanais_terors
https://www.lsm.lv/raksts/dzive--stils/vesture/kas-un-kapec-jazina-par-sarkano-teroru-krievijas-pilsonu-kara-laika.a291271/
https://www.dveseluputenis.lv/lv/laika-skala/notikums/107/bads-un-sarkanais-terors-kurzeme-un-vidzeme/
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Exhibition in the KGB Building "History of KGB Operations in Latvia"
The former USSR State Security Committee (commonly known as Cheka) building is open for visitors. Here chekists imprisoned, interrogated and murdered Latvian citizens who were considered opponents by the occupation regime. There is also an exhibit from the Latvian Occupation Museum on the activities of Cheka in Latvia. Guided tours of the prison cells, corridors, basement and courtyard are available. The house was built in 1911 and it is one of the most beautiful buildings in Riga. Called the ‘Corner House’ by the people, it was the scariest symbol of the Soviet occupation regime in Latvia, and also one of the pillars of power of the USSR. Cheka operated from the Corner House during the occupation from 1940 to 1941 and then again from 1945 to 1991. Tens of thousands of Latvians were affected by direct political persecution. The fight against enemies of Soviet rule continued also after World War II. Cheka’s approach towards its operation slightly changed after Stalin’s death. Physical torture was replaced by psychological terror. The majority of Cheka agents were Latvians (52%). Russians were the second largest group – 23.7%. 60.3% of the agents were not members of the Communist Party. 26.9% of the agents had higher education. The system was designed in a way to involve local people and thus have greater control over the society. Staff documents and service records are located in Russia. And these materials have not been made available to Latvian authorities and researchers.
Monument to the fallen heroes of Gulbene parish in Latvia
Located in the historical center of Gulbene, opposite the Gulbene Evangelical Lutheran Church.
Monument to the victims of the riots of 1905, members of the Gulbene congregation who fell in the First World War and the Latvian War of Independence, and the victims of the Maliena tribunal. The monument was designed by E. Ābeltiņš and was unveiled in 1929 in front of the Gulbene Evangelical Lutheran Church. After the Second World War, a five-pointed star was placed on the monument, then - on its foundations - a plaster image of a Soviet soldier was painted in bronze, and a cemetery of fallen Soviet soldiers was erected behind the monument. When the new cemeteries of Soviet soldiers who died in World War II were opened in Spārīte Park in 1969, the remains of the fallen were transported there, but the site of the monument was leveled with the ground. In the autumn of 1989, the foundations of the monument were excavated and the capsule with the text built into them in 1928 was excavated. The monument was restored in 1992 (sculptor O. Feldbergs).
Between December 24, 1918 and May 31, 1919, when the 1st (4th) Valmiera Infantry Regiment liberated Gulbene from the Bolsheviks, the Maliena (Vecgulbene) Revolutionary War Tribunal and Workers' Club were located in the church. It stood out for the severity of its decisions and the high number of death sentences, often for minor offenses, in which 349 cases were investigated and 606 people were charged.
A memorial sculpture can be seen.
Cattle wagon used for deportations – museum at Skrunda train station
To commemorate the deportations of June 1941 and March 1949, a memorial stone and a four-axle wagon, which also serves as the museum dedicated to deportations, was erected at the Skrunda railway station. This is the first wagon-type museum in Latvia that holds a permanent exhibit of photos, letters, memoirs, documents and various items made by the people deported from the Skrunda station. Skrunda station was a location where deportees were gathered, and one of the three stations in the region to which people from the Skrunda and the Kuldīga area were brought. In 1941, the family of the first President of the restored Republic of Latvia, Guntis Ulmanis, was deported from here to Krasnoyarsk Krai in Siberia.
With the help of deportations, the Soviets dealt with supporters of the national partizans’ and at the same time intimidated the remaining rural population, forcing them to join the collective farms.
Exposition "Latvian Army in Pļaviņas in the 20th Century"
Located at Odzienas Street 2, Pļaviņas.
The permanent exposition "Latvian Army in Pļaviņas in the 20th Century" can be seen.
The building in Pļaviņas, Odzienas Street 2, has a long history - from the time when Stukmaņi wholesaler Hugo Apeltofts started active economic activity in it, thus promoting the development of Pļaviņas city, until the headquarters of the Latvian Eastern Front was established here during the War of Independence. In 1919, the activities of Latvian army units against the Red Army in Latgale were commanded directly from Pļaviņas.
In 1934, a memorial plaque was unveiled near this house with the inscription: "In 1919, the headquarters of the Eastern Front was located in this house, and here General Jānis Balodis took over the command of the Latvian National Army." It was removed and destroyed by the Soviets in 1940, but on June 16, 1990, with the support of the LNNK Plavinas branch, it was restored.
Now, next to the former headquarters building, there is a memorial stall dedicated to 15 cavalry of the Lāčplēsis Military Order born in Pļaviņas region. In Pļaviņas, as well as provides an insight into the life stories of the Knights of the Lāčplēsis War Order.
Not far from the exposition building is the Latgale Division headquarters building, which was built in 1913 by Count Teodors Medems as a Stukmaņi liqueur factory. In 1919 it was taken over by the regime of P. Stučka, where it had also established a prison. After the expulsion of the Bolsheviks, in 1925 the building was taken over by the Latvian Army, which housed the headquarters of the Latgale Division. 10 generals and other officers of the Latvian Army spent their military careers in this building. In 1940, the building was taken over by the Red Army. In the post-war years, it housed a school as well as a municipality. Around 1970, the building was started to be used by the production association "Rīgas Apīrsbs".
Visits to the exhibition must be booked in advance by calling T. 28442692.
Latgale Culture and History museum
Latgale Culture and History Museum was established in 1959, it is located in the city center, in the building where the Central Latgale Museum was located before World War II. In a three-story building visitors can view permanent and changing exhibitions. A museum is available for visitors with disabilities, there is a comfortable elevator. One can also purchase souvenirs.
