It’s an interesting historical story about a monument that was erected during World War I as a memorial by the German army. The monument, which apparently depicted a female form, no longer exists today, and the only remnants are small fragments of masonry and some bricks in the area where it once stood. The location of the monument is clearly discernible from a bird's-eye view. The newspaper "Jaunatnes Vadonis" from April 1, 1930, mentions that in the Tomes parish, during the German occupation, a concrete monument was built as a memorial to the "liberation" of Kurzeme. The location you’re referring to is in Ogre Municipality, Latvia, on the left bank of the Daugava River, about 4 km from Ķegums.

The First World War narrow-gauge railway line: Lāčplēsis – Latgaļi (Latvia, Ogre Municipality). A narrow-gauge railway line from the First World War, approximately 22 kilometers in length, once began near the present-day Lāčplēsis Station (on the Jelgava–Krustpils railway line, formerly Bahnhof Kerghof). It encircled Birzgale from the east, crossed the small Ņega River, then veered westward, intersecting today’s Abermaņa Road (which links Ķegums with the Vecumnieki road, P88) twice. From there, it followed the path known as the Kaiser Damm toward the site of the former Courland Monument (Kurland Denkmal), where, according to LIDAR imagery—suggesting a branching into three tracks—the terminus was likely located. The Courland Monument stood 680 meters southeast of the Latgaļi village. The primary purpose of this railway was to supply and support the military front along the left bank of the Daugava River. During the war, German army barracks and warehouses were situated near the Kaiser Damm. On the Daugava’s left bank, near the villages of Puduri (0.6 km) and Podnieki (0.9 km), three reinforced German concrete firing positions were located. Today, the route of the railway can still be traced through LIDAR mapping, and in some sections, its remains are clearly visible in the landscape—especially during seasons when vegetation has not yet taken hold. The ideal time for such an expedition is in early spring or winter, when the ground is bare and free of snow.

🇱🇻 1990. GADA 4. MAIJS 🇱🇻 📣 Latvijas Augstākā padome nobalso par Latvijas Republikas neatkarības atjaunošanu. 📚 ℹ️ Trešā Atmoda, kura aizsākās 1987. gadā, kulminē ar saspringtu balsojumu, kurā Latvijas Tautas fronte pārliecina neatkarīgos deputātus un nobalso par deklarāciju, kas atjauno Latvijas neatkarību un ievieš pārejas periodu. Tiek uzsvērts, ka tiek atjaunota 1918. gadā pasludinātās valsts neatkarība, kuru joprojām gan de iure, gan de facto atzīst lielākā daļa Rietumvalstu. https://militaryheritagetourism.info/lv/history/timeline/ST#event-tl-231

🪖 Explore Estonia’s military heritage at the Värska Visitor Centre (Reek House) 🇪🇪 History comes alive on the peaceful shore of Lake Õrsava, where the restored Art Nouveau summer home of General Nikolai Reek offers visitors a unique look into the area's rich past. Now home to the Värska Visitor Centre, this historic site invites you to dive into the fascinating military heritage of the region. Since opening its doors in 2020, the centre has become a must-visit for anyone interested in Estonia’s path to independence and the defense of its borders. 🔍 Discover: 🪖The Pechory Northern Camp, a key military base near Värska from the 1920s ⚔️Stories from the War of Independence and the figures who shaped it 💧The centre also introduces the long-standing local tradition of using mineral water and therapeutic mud in health resorts. Set against the backdrop of tranquil forests and lake views, the Reek House offers a unique combination of nature and national memory. 📍Plan your visit and explore a lesser-known but important part of Estonian history! Discover more military heritage museums: https://militaryheritagetourism.info/en/military/sites/list/MU Photo by Veiko Linnus Värska külastuskeskus - Reegi maja #militaryheritage #heritagetourism

The holiday season is a perfect time to explore the military heritage of the Baltic States! We invite you and your loved ones to walk through historic sites that still carry the spirit of soldiers, stories of resistance, and the enduring quest for freedom. 🚶‍♂️ Choose one of our routes and spend this Easter a little differently – with a touch of history and the fresh breeze of spring! https://militaryheritagetourism.info/en/tours Interreg Latvia - Lithuania Programme #latlit #interreg #militaryheritage #heritagetourism #militaryheritagetourism

🌊 Step into history at the Seaplane Harbour in Tallinn! 🚢✈️ Located right on the waterfront in the charming Kalamaja district, this incredible maritime museum is packed with stories from the past. Housed in a one-of-a-kind seaplane hangar—a true architectural marvel from World War I—it’s a place where history comes alive! Explore over 200 original exhibits, including: 🔹 The legendary submarine Lembit 🔹 The mighty 100-year-old icebreaker Suur Tõll 🔹 A historic seaplane Short 184 🔹 Estonia’s oldest known shipwreck 🔹 Mines, cannons, and so much more! Perfect for both adults and kids, the Seaplane Harbour offers fun, hands-on experiences and exciting temporary exhibitions to keep every visit fresh and fascinating. 🧭 Whether you're a history buff, a curious explorer, or just looking for a great family outing — this is a must-see in Tallinn! 📍 Visit the Seaplane Harbour in Kalamaja and dive into Estonia’s seafaring past! 🔍Discover more military heritage museums here: https://militaryheritagetourism.info/en/military/sites/list/MU Eesti Meremuuseum #militaryheritage #heritagetourism

Baltic Way Memory Near Pasvalys 🇱🇹🇱🇻🇪🇪 On August 23, 1989, nearly 2 million people joined hands in a 650 km human chain across Vilnius, Riga, and Tallinn, demanding freedom from Soviet occupation. This peaceful protest, known as the Baltic Way, remains one of the most powerful symbols of unity and resistance. Near Pasvalys, along the Via Baltica (E67, A10), road signs and a special place — the Valley of Crosses on the Baltic Way — honor this moment. Built by locals with stones and crosses, it has grown into a memorial of hope, history, and solidarity. As of 2024, 14 crosses stand there, remembering both the past and those who stood for freedom. Interreg Latvia - Lithuania Programme #latlit #interreg #militaryheritage #heritagetourism #militaryheritagetourism

Military Heritage project meeting on Hiiumaa! 🇪🇪 We had an amazing couple of days with the MIL-HER ACCESSIBLE project partners on Hiiumaa where we discovered Hiiumaa's military heritage sites and discussed the accessibility improvements of our partners' objects. 🪖 🌐 You can find the new solutions on our webpage soon: militaryheritagetourism.info

🚀 Hidden in the forest near Šeikiškės, just off the Molėtai–Pabradė road, lies a forgotten piece of Cold War history — a Soviet-era anti-aircraft missile base. Part of the 466th brigade, it once defended Vilnius from above. You can still spot the circular launch site layout and old earth mounds, with a few buildings repurposed or left in ruins. A quiet but fascinating relic of the past! 🌲🛰️ More information - https://militaryheritagetourism.info/en/military/sites/view/995?7 Interreg Latvia - Lithuania Programme #latlit #interreg #militaryheritage #heritagetourism #militaryheritagetourism

We spent two days with our Estonian colleagues on Hiiumaa and Kasari Island to continue working on solutions for accessibility of military heritage sites for school-age youth and people with vision and mobility limitations. We also visited several military heritage sites - Orjaku Harbour, Tohvri (Hindu) 130 mm Coastal Defense Battery No. 44 and the wreck of the ship "Alar". ℹ️ Project EE-LV00094 “Improved Accessibility of the Latvian-Estonian Military Heritage Tourism Product" (MIL-HER ACCESSIBLE) is being implemented with the support of the European Union Interreg Estonia-Latvia Programme.

Mūsu kopējā projektā ar Igauņu partneriem, šajā mazā mājiņā ir plānota Eiropā (ja pavisam precīzi - ES teritorijā) mazākā ekspozīcija par šīs vietas vēsturi. Vietu atminēs tikai rūdīti ceļotāji :)

Viens no noslēpumainākajiem un iespaidīgākajiem militārā mantojuma objektiem Latvijā ir Kodolraķešu bāze Zeltiņos. Šī vieta reiz bija slēgta un nepieejama sabiedrībai, bet tagad ikviens var iepazīt tās vēsturi un atmosfēru. Teritorijā saglabājušies dažādi angāri, pazemes bunkuri un raķešu palaišanas laukumi, kas sniedz ieskatu pagātnes notikumos. 2025. gadā reizi mēnesī notiks aizraujošas atvērtās ekskursijas kopā ar gidu, kurā varēsi atklāt šīs vietas stāstus un noslēpumus. Ekskursijas laikā uzzināsi, kā šī bāze darbojās, būs iespēja pabūt Sakarnieku angārā un izmēģināt spēkus slepena ziņojuma atšifrēšanā, kā arī apmeklēt vairākas bumbu patvertnes un noskaidrot, kāda bija militārā sadzīve šajā teritorijā. Plānotie datumi: 5. aprīlis, 2. maijs, 1. jūnijs, 5. jūlijs, 17. augusts, 6. septembris, 5. oktobris un 19. oktobris. Dalības maksa: • Pieaugušajiem – 6,00 EUR • Skolēniem, studentiem un pensionāriem – 5,00 EUR Pieteikšanās un papildus informācija pa tālruni: +371 29492284 (Gunita)

Today 35 years ago, the Supreme Soviet of Estonian Soviet Socialist Republic declared a transition period to lead to the restoration of the Republic of Estonia! 🇪🇪 On the 30th of March 1990, the Supreme Soviet adopted a resolution on the national status of Estonia called "On the Independence of the Estonian State". 📃This was part of an institutionalised fight for the restoration of independence that had begun in the start of 1990 with the elections of Estonian Congress. 🗳 In the same spring, the name Republic of Estonia was restored, the symbols of Estonian SSR were no longer used and it was declared that only Estonian laws would apply in Estonia.👩‍⚖️ 🇪🇪The period culminated with Estonia regaining its independence on the 20th of August 1991. Photo by Martti Volt, Visit Estonia

🔴 Auschwitz concentration camp was the largest Nazi death camp during World War II. Located in Poland, it operated from 1940 to 1945. More than 1.1 million people were imprisoned and murdered there—primarily Jews, but also Poles, Roma, Soviet prisoners of war, and others. 🕯️ The Auschwitz complex consisted of several parts: 📍 Auschwitz I – The administrative center 📍 Auschwitz II–Birkenau – The main extermination site with gas chambers 📍 Auschwitz III – A forced labor camp Today, the Auschwitz Memorial / Muzeum Auschwitz serves as a solemn reminder of one of the darkest chapters in human history, honoring the memory of Holocaust victims. 🏛️🙏 Here, in the Baltics, we can use this place as an example in the education. 🎓📖 The museum is committed to preserving historical knowledge and ensuring that future generations understand the past. Through its educational programs, it provides valuable resources for learning and reflection: www.auschwitz.org/en/education/ Visiting historical sites like Auschwitz is one of the most impactful ways to educate younger generations about history. Seeing these places firsthand fosters a deeper understanding, offering an emotional and personal connection that books alone cannot provide. 📚

Viens no padomju varas noziegumiem, kad 1941. gada 14. jūnijā un 1949. gada 25. martā uz Sibīriju tika izsūtīti Latvijas iedzīvotāji, tai skaitā - bērni. Kartē apskatāmas vietas, no kurām cilvēkus izsūtījami, redzami izsūtīto vārdi un vecums. Sagatavojusi "Jāņa sēta", balstoties uz Latvijas Valsts arhīva datiem.

Today we remember the people who were deported from the Baltic states in 1949. 🕯 25th of March is the commemoration day of the March deportation victims. From the 25th to 28th of March 1949, more than 90 000 Estonians, Latvians and Lithuanians were deported to Siberia under Operation Priboi (Tidal Wave). This was the biggest Stalin-era mass deportation in the Baltics. 🇪🇪In Estonia, commemoration events take place all over the country. Estonian Institute of Human Rights invites people to participate in the remembrance and wreath-laying ceremony at Estonia's Memorial to Victims of Communism in Maarjamäe at 16:00. 🕯At 18:00, you can light a candle at Tallinn Liberty Square or in your own window at home. By doing this, we show that we cherish freedom, remember the victims of terror and stand together. More information:

At the beginning of March, our project partner Lauku Ceļotājs / Baltic Country Holidays had the opportunity to visit the Oskar Schindler Enamel Factory Museum in Krakow, 🇲🇨 Poland. This powerful museum commemorates the Holocaust 🕊️ and honors the incredible efforts of Oskar Schindler, who saved the lives of 1,200 Jews during World War II ✨. 🏭 The factory, originally established in 1937 by three Jewish entrepreneurs, was later seized by Oskar Schindler, a German industrialist and member of the Nazi Party, after the German invasion of Poland in 1939 ⚔️. Over time, Schindler recognized his moral duty to help the Jewish population. He began manufacturing ammunition shells, ensuring the factory was classified as vital to the war effort, which allowed the Jewish workers to remain employed and safe from concentration camps 🚫. 📅 Opened in 2010, the museum now stands as one of the most visited attractions in Krakow. It also offers 🧑‍🏫 educational programs for children, helping them understand the 📖 history of Krakow during World War II, the impact of Nazi occupation, and the remarkable legacy of Oskar Schindler 🌍. Used sources: ℹ️ www.schindlers-factory-tickets.com ℹ️ en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oskar_Schindler%27s_Enamel_Factory #militaryheritage #tourism

Together with our Lithuanian project partners, we visited the Cold War Museum in the Žemaitija National Park, which was created in the Soviet Army's ballistic missile launch complex. Currently, this is the only museum of its kind in such a place in the Baltic States and much wider. Thank you Paulius Mika Rovena Augustinė ℹ️ The project LL-00052 “Extending the Baltic military heritage tourism product in Lithuania and South Latvia” (Military Heritage II) is being implemented with the support of the European Union Interreg Latvia - Lithuania Programme

25. martā plkst. 17.00 Kārsavas kultūrvēstures centrs "Līču mājas" fotogrāfiju izstādes “83 jeb Sibīrija bērnu acīs” atklāšana. Fotogrāfiju izstāde ir par no Ludzas novada izsūtīto Sibīrijas bērnu atmiņām, mākslinieciski neparastā risinājumā. Fotogrāfiju izstādes pamatā ir no Ludzas novada 1941.gadā deportēto bērnu un jauniešu atmiņas dialogā ar mūsdienu jauniešu fotogrāfijām un pārdomām. Fotogrāfiju autors Māris Justs. Izstādes atklāšānā būs iespēja noskatīties iestudējumu, kas ir balstīts uz Ludzas novada izsūtīto bērnu un jauniešu atmiņām. Spēlē Ludzas novada Bērnu un jauniešu centra Kustību teātra audzēkņi - Ludzas novada BJC Kustību teātra audzēkņi (Scenārijs un režija – M. Čerņavska). Ludzas novads | Maris Justs

Today in the Žemaitija National Park, we discussed future work with Latvian and Lithuanian project partners - we will supplement our common Baltic military heritage website with new objects, stories and topics, organize local and international journalist tours, prepare a new military heritage guide, create audio guides and many other things. ℹ️ The project LL-00052 “Extending the Baltic military heritage tourism product in Lithuania and South Latvia” (Military Heritage II) is being implemented with the support of the European Union Interreg Latvia - Lithuania Programme

🔥 New Exhibition at the Cold War Exposition! 🔥 The traveling exhibition of the Vytautas the Great War Museum, "BETWEEN EARTH AND SKY: LITHUANIAN ARMY TECHNOLOGY 1918–1940", is a unique opportunity to see how the young Lithuanian Armed Forces were equipped after the declaration of independence. 🔹 What weapons and technology did soldiers use during the Wars of Independence? 🔹 How did the Lithuanian military strengthen during the interwar period? 🔹 What equipment was acquired—or even captured? If you haven't visited the Cold War Exposition yet, don't miss this chance to explore this unique site and get a close look at Lithuania's military heritage! ⚔️🚁 More about the Cold War Exposition: https://militaryheritagetourism.info/en/military/sites/view/677?0 📍 Where? Cold War Exposition (Šilinės str. 4, Plokščių v., Plungė distr.) 📅 When? March 20 – June 3 #latlit #interreg #militaryheritage #heritagetourism #militaryheritagetourism

Komunistiskā genocīda upuru piemiņas diena 25. martā Rēzeknē 🩶 Plkst. 18.30 arī Rēzeknes Tautas teātris izrāde "Sibīrijas haiku" (rež. Māra Zaļaiskalns). Latgales Kultūrvēstures Muzejs | Rēzeknes Centrālā bibliotēka

25. martā plkst. 14 Alūksnes novada muzejs aicina uz Latvijas Nacionālā arhīva Vidzemes reģionālā arhīva lasījumiem par padomju varas represiju organizēšanu un īstenošanu Alūksnes, Balvu, Cēsu, Gulbenes un Madonas apriņķos 🤓 ⏩ Plašāka informācija par pasākumu šeit: ej.uz/regionalie-lasijumi Latvijas Nacionālais arhīvs | Alūksnes novada muzejs, Alūksnes Jaunā pils, Alūksne New Palace | Balvu novada Tūrisma informācijas centrs | Cēsis | VisitGulbene #militāraismantojums #militaryheritage

Today is National Language Day in Estonia. Only in a free country can people speak their native language, so National Language Day is also a day of freedom. #flagday #NationalLanguageDay 🇪🇪