Cold War
IV Soviet occupation, Restored Independance

The restored fire control tower of the 46th Coast Guard Battery in Ventspils is located on Saulrieta street and is available to visitors in the form of an observation tower. There are four artillery gun positions near the tower and it is the only World War II coastal defence battery in Latvia in such a good condition. Visitors can take the tower stairs to an outdoor viewing platform overlooking the sea. An information stand with a QR code is available next to the tower. You can use the QR to watch an animation about historical events. There is a new street leading to the tower, a large parking lot and a wooden footbridge that crosses the protected nature area next to the tower.

This military complex was built in 1939, marking the start of construction of USSR military bases in Latvia. The 46th Coast Guard Battery had four positions for the gun type Б-13. This battery had its first military engagement on 24 June 1941, when Ventspils harbour was attacked by German torpedo boats that were driven away from the shores of the Baltic Sea by battery fire. On June 28 the Soviet Army blew up the guns and left.

Ventspils International Radio Astronomy Centre, also known as the Irbene Radio Telescope, is located in the former Soviet Army town of Irbene. The Space Intelligence Station ‘Zvaigznīte’ (Little Star) was once the army unit No. 51429. The total area of ​the object was 200 ha, but information about the object became publicly available only in 1993. Initially there were three antennas here, which the army used to intercept and listen-in on phone calls of the “hostile West”.

The radio astronomy centre in Irbene is currently the eighth largest in the world. It has a 32 m rotating parabolic antenna RT-32, which is the largest in Northern Europe and the eighth largest in the world, as well as a second 16 m antenna RTs-16. The centre studies space signals, and it has received a signal from as far as the Cygnus constellation. The tour includes a walk around the territory of the former army town of Irbene and a visit to an underground tunnel and the memorial place of the rocket designer Friedrich Zander in the building called ‘Kristāls’ (Cristal).

The 200-hectare site was once a top-secret military base occupied by military unit 51429.

The Soviet border guard observation tower is located near the South Pier in Pāvilosta. The former Soviet border guard observation tower, which had been out of use since the early 1990s, now serves as a viewing platform with a 360-degree rotating land telescope. It offers beautiful views of the sea and ships and can be used for bird watching. Ascending the tower is only allowed during daylight hours in the summer season. As the stairs in the tower are quite steep, visitors should evaluate their abilities, health and associated risks. The observation tower and the surrounding area has video surveillance. The tower is closed to visitors during the winter season.

Edgars Kārklevalks owns a guest house called Pūpoli in the Dundaga region, and for more than 15 years he has been taking people on historical and educational trips around northern Kurzeme (including to former military areas) with his own renovated Soviet Army truck GAZ-66 (up to 24 persons) and UAZ-3151 (up to 6 persons). Soviet Army trucks and other equipment are showcased in an area around the guest house.

The "Officers' Kurgan" is located less than a kilometre from the ruins of Zvārde Church. The Kurgan is made of the ruins and remains of the surrounding houses and manor house, which have been bulldozed together. An observation tower was built on the kurgan. According to the inscription, the present tower was built in 1981. The tower was used to record bomb hits. The training bombs had a reduced explosive content, so their hits had to be watched more carefully. Unexploded bombs were neutralized immediately, but not all could be found.

 The remains of the tower can be seen here today - the brick walls. As the barrage is relatively high, you can even see the Lithuanian oil refinery in Mažeikiai on a clear day.

Located in Līgatne parish, Cēsis municipality, the Soviet Secret Bunker lies 9 metres below the Līgatne Rehabilitation Centre building and its adjacent territory. The bunker is open to visitors and offers guided tours, meals in the bunker canteen, Soviet-style parties and the reality game Object X. The purpose of the bunker was to provide the minimum necessary conditions for long-term work for the Council of Ministers of the Latvian SSR, the leadership of the Communist Council of the LSSR and the management of the LSSR state planning committee in the event of a nuclear war threat. The 2,000-square-metre underground bunker was the strongest autonomous structure with all the required and most state-of-the-art equipment of the time, and also one of the most strategically important sites in Soviet-era Latvia in the event of a nuclear war. The site has a protected underground workspace (shelter), a sanatorium-type sleeping block for 250 people, security facilities and a 24-apartment residential house for service staff. All of the authentic underground equipment and plans have been preserved to this day. Highlights include an autonomous power plant with diesel generators and fuel storage, conditioning equipment for air purification with oxygen reserves, water supply and sewerage equipment operating on the submarine principle, a telecommunications unit capable of providing direct contact with the Kremlin in Moscow and autonomous communications with all major services in the country, a unique map with historical names of collective farms, an authentic canteen with typical Soviet-era meals, as well as various Soviet-era attributes and household items.

The former Soviet Army Missile Base is located in Medņukalni, Zeltiņi parish, Alūksne municipality. This nuclear missile base was a particularly secret military facility of the Soviet Army, and it operated in Zeltiņi, Alūksne municipality, from 1961 to 1989. The facility housed P-12 (8K63) and P12Y (8K63Y) surface-to-surface medium-range ballistic missiles with 4 launch pads. Their travel distance was 2,200 kilometres. During this period the army used barbed-wire to secure an area of about 300 ha less than a kilometre from the Sinole-Silakrogs P34 national regional highway. The living and top-secret areas have remained a legacy even today. Concrete roads lead to places hidden from the eye at that time: hangars, launch pads and bomb shelters. Various structures for the maintenance and servicing of nuclear missiles are located on an area of dozens of hectares. Facilities providing the area with the autonomous supply of power, water and heat were destroyed with the withdrawal of the army. After the army left, some of the equipment was handed over to the local municipality. Visitors currently have access to 20 ha of the former territory of the missile base, the south-western part of which is a tourist attraction. Tourists visiting the base can choose between the core exhibit about the history of the missile base, which is located in the Zeltiņi Museum, and a tourist route in the base area. Friends in a group of up to 12 people can enjoy a game of laser tag here.

The exhibit is located in the former culture house of Aizkraukle parish. It reflects the everyday social, recreational, professional, educational and cultural life in Soviet times, as well as the history of how Aizkraukle (during Soviet times – Stučka) and the Pļaviņu HPP came to be. Visitors can view the ‘Red Corner’ with its historical propaganda materials, the office of a party functionary and a typical Soviet apartment with a living room, kitchen, bathroom and toilet and their corresponding attributes. Some rooms are dedicated to Soviet medicine, tourism and sports as well as repression tactics. There is a spacious hall in the centre of the exhibit for Soviet-made vehicles. This was started in 2016 by the Aizkraukle History and Art Museum by setting up the exhibit on three floors. Nowadays it is the largest exhibit in the Baltics dedicated to this period of Soviet occupation.

Die Gebäude des ehemaligen sowjetischen Armeestützpunkts sind baufällig, aber auf dem Gelände gibt es eine Autostraße. Das Gebiet kann zu Fuß erkundet werden, aber gutes Schuhwerk gegen Schlamm und Sand ist erforderlich.

Nach dem Zweiten Weltkrieg gab es in Lettland verschiedene Verbote in Grenz- und Küstengebieten. Ab dem 19. Juni 1945 wurden den Fischern Anlegestellen zugewiesen, die mit Stacheldraht umzäunt waren und von Patrouillen und Wachtürmen bewacht wurden. Am 4. September 1946 wurden die Sperrzonen der Küstenwache an der Westgrenze der LSSR eingeführt.

Im Dorf Jūrmalci steht ein ehemaliger Grenzkontrollposten, ein Turm und ein Traktor, der stolz am Strand schaukelt! Wie er dorthin gekommen ist, muss man die örtlichen Führer fragen!

Ein fabelhaft schöner und interessanter Ort - sowohl mit seiner Aura aus der Sowjetzeit als auch mit dem Charme der Meeresküste. 

Die ersten Küstenschutzbatterien zur Verteidigung der Irbe-Straße wurden ab 1912 gebaut, als der Plan für die Minen-Artillerie-Stellungen der Baltischen Flotte genehmigt wurde, der mehrere Küstenschutzbatterien und Seeminenverlegungsstifte vorsah.

Die Stellung in der Straße von Irbe war die am weitesten südlich gelegene und hatte die Aufgabe, jeden feindlichen Zugang zum Rigaer Meerbusen zu blockieren. Das Hauptaugenmerk lag auf den Seeminen, von denen während des Ersten Weltkriegs Zehntausende von Schiffen der Baltischen Flotte in der Irbe-Straße verlegt wurden. Erst 1916 wurde mit dem Bau von Küstenschutzbatterien an der Südspitze der Insel Saaremaa, dem Kap Sirves, begonnen. Insgesamt wurden sieben Batterien gebaut, wobei die Batterie 43 mit 305-mm-Geschützen ausgestattet war. An der lettischen Küste der Meerenge von Irbe wurden keine Verteidigungsbatterien gebaut.

Der Stützpunkt der Deponie befindet sich etwa 2 km östlich des Gutes Striķu an der Straße Saldus-Auce. Der ehemalige sowjetische Militärflugplatz (Militäreinheit Nr. 15439) in Zvārde befindet sich südlich von Saldus. Auf dem Gelände des Flugplatzes befinden sich mehrere Sehenswürdigkeiten - die Ruinen der Kirchen von Zvārde und Ķerkliņi, der zerstörte Rīteļi-Friedhof, der Beobachtungsposten des Flugplatzes, der so genannte "Offizierskurgan" und der ehemalige Flugplatzpersonalstützpunkt und Schießplatz "Lapsas".

Der Flugplatz Zvārde erforderte eine Einheit von etwa einer Kompanie zur Wartung des Flugplatzes - zur Aufstellung von Zielscheiben, zur Reparatur von Schäden, zur Bewachung des Flugplatzes und zur Koordinierung von Flügen. Sie war bis zum Zweiten Weltkrieg auf dem Gelände des Hauses "Lapsas" stationiert. Mit dem Bau des Flugplatzes wurden auch Kasernen, Transporthallen, ein Flugkontrollturm und ein Schießplatz für das Ausbildungspersonal errichtet.

Nach der Wiedererlangung der Unabhängigkeit Lettlands war hier das Ausbildungszentrum der Verteidigungsstreitkräfte von Zvārde untergebracht. Seit 2007 befindet sich das Gelände im Besitz der Gemeinde und wird von mehreren Jagdkollektiven gepachtet. In der ehemaligen Kaserne ist eine Ausstellung über die Geschichte der Gemeinde Zvārde untergebracht.

The Akmeņrags Lighthouse is located in Saka parish, 10 kilometres southwest of Pāvilosta. The top of the lighthouse can be reached by a spiral staircase and it offers views of the sea and the surrounding forests. Standing at 37 metres high, the current lighthouse tower was built in 1921, while the previous lighthouse was destroyed during World War I.

The Akmeņrags Lighthouse stands out among other lighthouses in Latvia, as it is located in one of the most dangerous places for sailing in the entire Baltic Sea coast. The signal beam of the lighthouse marks a rocky bank, which extends approximately two nautical miles or 3.7 kilometres into the sea in a north-western direction. The depth of the bank is just over two metres. The location of the lighthouse has remained unchanged, but the coastline has been receding over the years. Although a navigation light has been here since 1879, Akmeņrags has seen several shipwrecks. The most notable occurred in September 1923 when a Latvian steamer named Saratow struck the ground. In 1919, Saratow briefly served as the seat of the Latvian Provisional Government. Akmeņrags used to be home to a border guard post, and buildings of the Soviet Army are can be viewed here.

PSRS laikā šeit atradās robežsardzes daļa, citas padomju armijas daļas - sakarnieki un zeme - gaiss raķešu bāze atradās vairākus kilometrus tālāk mežā. Pēc neatkarības atgūšanas bija izvietota Latvijas armija.

Kādreizējā padomju armijas militārajā bāze šobrīd ir ierīkots rekreācijas, aktīvās atpūtas un nometņu centrs - personības izaugsmei mijiedarbībā ar dabu un apkārtējiem cilvēkiem. 

Vieta atpūtai un nakšņošanai gan tūristu grupām, gan ģimenēm. Istabiņas, dušas, WC, ugunskura vietas, plaša teritorija aktivitātēm, dabas skaņas. Rezervācijas veikt iepriekš, zvanot +371 26314505.

The former Soviet Army town is located in Mežgarciems, Ādaži municipality, near the P1 highway. It was a small town inhabited by the air defence units of the Soviet Army and used as a military training base. Informative stands have been placed near the town. The former army base area is available to visitors. Mežgarciems did not exist on the maps during the Soviet occupation. And there was nothing to suggest that there was a small town built for the Soviet military with air defence capabilities. Wide-spread construction of Soviet Army stations was rapidly started in the territory of Latvia after World War II. And these army bases were like separate states within the country. There were military units almost in every location in Latvia. An especially privileged part of the society was the retired USSR military personnel and their families, who were entitled to living space as a matter of priority. Many chose Latvian cities, because the standard of living here was higher than elsewhere in the Soviet Union. The presence of the Soviet Army in Latvia was characterised by criminal behaviour, imperialistic attitude and impunity, demonstrating the regime’s indifferent attitude towards Latvia and its people. And the carefully maintained myth of the happy life in Soviet Latvia and the Soviet Army as the liberator was actually like living on a powder keg.

The longest pier in Latvia - the Northern Pier - was built at the end of the 19th century as a very important part of the Liepaja Sea Fortress and military port. The length of the pier is 1800 metres, the width - 7.35 metres.

The Northern Pier is one of the first port structures of Emperor Alexander III, built between 1890 and 1892 before the excavation of the Karosta Canal. Together with the North Breakwater, the South Breakwater and the South Pier, the pier formed the outpost of Liepaja.

Liepaja Fortress Battery No 3 was located next to the North Pier of the Karosta and was planned to be the largest in terms of armament. Platforms were built for four 6-inch (152 mm) guns of the 1892 model of the Canet system, five 11-inch (280 mm) guns of the 1887 model and two 57 mm Nordenfeld anti-tank guns, as well as 18 9-inch (229 mm) guns and mortars.

Today, Battery 3 is most affected by the prevailing south-north sea current, which creates a whirlpool effect behind the North Pier, resulting in the washouts of the gun platform foundations.

The North Pier protects the Liepaja harbour area from North Westerly winds. It is a favourite place for residents and visitors to Liepaja to watch sunsets, fish and watch the sea in different weather conditions. Especially spectacular during storms.

There is ample parking at the North Pier. There are also restrooms and a café with a unique sea view.

The Karosta Prison in Liepāja is the only military prison in Europe open to tourists. Constructed around 1900 for the needs of a hospital, the building was never used for its original purpose. The structure was repurposed as a place for serving temporary disciplinary punishment and was used as such up until 1997.

Powers changed but the purpose of the institution remained the same, namely, to house prisoners, including revolutionaries, sailors and non-commissioned officers of the Russian tsarist army, German deserters, enemies of the people of the Stalin era, as well as soldiers of the Soviet and Latvian armies. The Karosta Prison is currently open to visitors and guided tours are available. The tours show the prison and visitors can learn about its history, have a look at the prison and punishment cells and hear interesting and even ghostly tales about life at the prison. Braver souls have the opportunity to play the ‘Behind the Bars’ reality game or try to get out of closed rooms. And those who know no fear can spend the night in a prison cell. The Karosta Prison has a Karosta Visitor Centre, a Soviet-era buffet and a souvenir shop. The services of a guide are available throughout the whole of Karosta.

The exposition located in the former dispatch room of the collective farm was opened in 2005. Visitors are offered to experience the atmosphere of the time of the USSR in interactive lessons: discussing the Soviet period, creating legends about historical evidence, participating in choir singing, dancing "letkis", making paper airplanes and hlapushkas, thus surviving a break at school, as well as enjoying kilava buns and linden tea .

Stories and historical evidence about traditions, ancient trades and outstanding residents.

Please book your visit in advance!

For adults: 2.00 Eur
For students, pensioners: 1.00 Eur
Guided tour for up to 6 people (1-1.5 hours): 6.00 Eur
Guided tours for more than 6 people (1-1.5 hours): 1.00 Eur per person

Located in Madona region, Bērzaune, Bērzaune parish.

The concrete road was intended for the transfer of nuclear missiles from the military base in Mārciena to Gaizinkalns. Conventional roads did not carry the heavy weight of the missiles, a special surface was needed to move them

The concrete road (with breaks) in Mārciena and Bērzaune parish has been preserved to this day.

250 metres south-west of Battery 6 is the Monument to Fishermen and Sailors, with a plaque to the US Navy PB4Y-2 Privateer scout plane shot down off Liepaja on 8 April 1950. The aircraft, nicknamed Turbulent Turtle, was part of Patrol Squadron 26 and took off from Wiesbaden airfield in the early hours of 8 April and, via Copenhagen, set off on a surveillance and possibly radio reconnaissance mission. According to the order, the aircraft could not approach closer than 20 nautical miles to the Kurland coast, but for some unknown reason it flew into the USSR's self-defined 12 nautical mile zone. Two La-11s of the Soviet 30th Guards Fighter Regiment intercepted and shot down the unarmed reconnaissance aircraft. The fate of the 10-strong crew of the downed aircraft is not known with certainty; there is conflicting information that all were killed or, alternatively, that some of the pilots survived and ended up in prisoner-of-war camps.

The crew:

AT1 Frank L. Beckman

AL3 Joseph J. Bourassa

ENS Tommy L. Burgess

AD 1 Joseph H. Danens

LT John H. Fette

CT3 Edward J. Purcell

LTJG Robert D. Reynolds

AN Joseph N. Rinnier

LT Howard W. Seeschaf

AD 1 Jack W. Thomas

Mazirbe, historically known as the largest Liv centre, is notable for the only fishermen's boat cemetery on the Latvian coast. It was built in the 1960s, the last boats were brought in 1976. The boats ended up here as a result of both fishing restrictions and age.

Today, Mazirbe has less than ten wrecks of fishing boats, but historically there have been many more. Boats have been laid to rest in other seaside villages, but it is in Mazirbe's boat graveyard that this is most evident today.

The Mazirbe Boat Cemetery is the only one of its kind on the Latvian coast.

Paplakas pulks. Bārta - Dienvidi, Bārta - Ziemeļi. Cilvēka un dabas iedarbības rezultātā bāze ir iznīcināta. Ēkas atpakaļ paņem mežs, Raķešu transportēšanas auto un pašu raķešu angāri ir nojaukti. Iznīcināts arī sakaru centrs un demontētas lielākā daļa metāla starta platformu. 

Bārtas pagastā, pēc oficiālās informācijas, atradās šādas padomju armijas daļas:

49028 - 279. BKF jūras spēku raidcentrs

25026, 49393 - BKF 30. kuģu raķešu un kodollādiņu noliktavas

49281 - sakaru daļa

20480 - 523. sakaru centra apakšvienība

1994. gadā atstājot Latviju (Pēdējie militāristi, kas no Latvijas izveda Bārtas raķešu bāzes iekārtas, Liepājas ostu atstāja 1994. gada 31. augustā.), iesniedza Krievijas federācijas Ziemeļrietumu karaspēka grupa. Apsekojot Bārtas raķešu bāzes terititoriju, uzgājām arī ballistiskās raķetes R-5M (8K51M) (NATO klasifikācija - SS-3 Shyster) starta laukumus ar tiem blakus novietotiem komandbunkuriem. Raķetes R-5M (8K51M) ar kodollādiņiem ir pirmās, ko okupācijas karaspēks 1954. gadā izvieto Latvijā, Liepājas rajona Bārtas mežā. Ar PSRS Aizsardzības ministrijas 1985. gada 2. jūlija (!) lēmumu nr. 700-330 karaspēka daļai nr. 42341 (50. raķešu armija Smoļenskā, k/d 55135) Bārtas mežā iedala 2 623 hektārus zemes. Tur izvieto 117. raķešu pulka divus divizionus. Katrā divizionā 4 raķetes. 1959. gada 18. septembrī armija pieprasa vēl 385,25 ha pieciem objektiem Bārtas Brienampurva tuvumā. Grants bāzes būvēšanai un angāru apbēršanai un maskēšanai vesta no netālā Krūtes karjera. No Bārtas pagasta Kalnāju, Placēnu, Purviču, Zemturu, Purvu, Knīpupju, Mazturu, Birzmaļu mājām izdzen zemniekus. Arhīva dokumentos uzrādītie zaudējumi par 8 saimniecību likvidēšanu ir tikai 154 711 rubļi. Visas bāzu konstrukcijas uz Bārtu vestas tikai naktī, lai neviens neredzētu. Bet Bārtas pagasta iedzīvotāji gan vienmēr zinājuši: kad armijnieki sāk greiderēt ceļus, tad jau kaut ko vedīs.1968. gadā Bārtas virszemes starta raķešu divizionus izformē. Modernizētās šahtu raķetes (R-12 un R-14) Bārtā neizvieto, jo objekts atrodas purvainā teritorijā.

Tālummērītājs (datēts ar 1954.gadu) atrodas kāpas priedēs 10m attālumā no 1941.gadā celtā tālummērītāja. Krasta baterijas 1. un 2. lielgabalu pozīcija atrodas pašā jūras krastā un daļēji erozijas nopostītas, bet kāpās vislabāk redzama 4. lielgabala pozīcija.

Liepājas cietokšņa Bateriju Nr. 2 plānoja izbūvēt tālāk no krasta līnijas un to aizsargāja augsts nocietinājumu valnis. Baterijas bruņojumā paredzēja 16 11 collu (280 mm) 1877. gada modeļa mortīras. Mortīras izmantoja stāvas šāviena trajektorijas un tām nebija nepieciešama tiešā tēmešana.

Pēc 1939. gada 5. oktobrī noslēgtā “bāzu līguma” starp Latvijas Republikas un PSRS, Kurzemē plānoja izvietot gandrīz 25 000 lielo Sarkanās armijas un Baltijas kara flotes kontingentu. Līdz 1941. gada martam Latvijā izveidoja Baltijas jūras spēku bāzes Irbes jūras līča, Sāremā un Liepājas aizsardzības sektorus, kuru sastāvā veidoja krasta aizsardzības baterijas.

Liepājas krasta aizsardzības sektorā iekļāva 208. artilērijas divizionu ar divām 130 mm B-13 lielgabalu baterijām (Nr. 23 un Nr. 27), kā arī vienu 180 mm dzelzceļā lielgabalu bateriju. 23. baterijas būvniecību sāka 1939. gada novembrī un pabeidza 1941. gada 17. maijā, daļēji izmantojot Liepājas cietokšņa Baterijas Nr. 2 dzelzbetona nocietinājumus. 23. baterija sastāvēja no četrām dzelzbetona lielgabalu pozīcijām jūras krastā, komandpunkta un novērošanas (tālummērīšanas) tornis kāpu mežā. Tālummērīšanas posteņi izvietoti dzelzbetona torņos, lai nodrošinātu labāku redzamību, saglabājot maskēšanos priežu mežā.

Pēc Otrā pasaules kara 23. bateriju pārdēvēja par 636. bateriju, kuras bruņojumā bija tie paši 130 mm B-13 lielgabali, bet uguns vadībai 1954. gadā izbūvēja jaunu tālummērīšanas torni, kas atrodas blakus 1941. gada tornim. 1963. gadā visus Liepājas krasta aizsardzības lielgabalus demontēja.

Pēc Latvijas neatkarības atjaunošanas Baterijas Nr. 2 teritorija atrodas Aizsardzības ministrijas lietošanā.

Kolkas ragā, izņemot vairākas ilgstošā laika posmā pārbūvētas jūras bākas, neplānoja militāru infrastruktūru, ne pirms Pirmā pasaules kara, ne Pirmā pasaules kara laikā, ne arī Otrajā pasaules kara laikā. Krasta aizsardzības baterijas plānoja būvēt Irbes jūras šauruma šaurākajā vietā starp Sirves pussalu un Miķeļtorņa bāku.

Vienīgie militāra rakstura nocietinājumi parādījās 1944. gada beigās, kad vācu armiju grupa “Ziemeļi” gatavojās atvairīt iespējamos padomju Baltijas kara flotes desantus. 1945. gada pavasarī, pēc ledus iziešanas, krasta aizsardzību Kolkas ragā īstenoja 532. artilērijas diviziona divas baterijas. 7. baterija ar četriem 75 mm lielgabliem un trijiem 20 mm zenītlielgabliem. 8. baterija ar četriem 88 mm zenītlielgabalaiem, trijiem 20 mm zenītlielgabaliem un 81 mm mīnmetēju. Pretdesanta kājnieku garnizonu veidoja viena no slavenākajām Vācu Kara flotes krasta aizsardzības vienībām – 531. artilērijas diviziona 5. rota. Lai gan pēc nosaukuma tā bija artilērijas vienība, bet pēc izmantošanas tā bija kājnieku vienība, kas savu kara ceļu iesāka 1941. gada jūnijā pie Liepājas. Tālāk šī vienība atradās Somijas jūras līča salu garnizonos un vēlāk piedalījās kaujās Sāremā salā. Diviziona paliekas pārformēja vienā rotā un, pastiprinot ar septiņiem prettanku lielgabaliem trijiem 20 mm zenītlielgabaliem, novietoja Kolkas ragā.

Padomju jūras desanta operācija tā arī nenotika un vācu vienības kapitulēja 1945. gada maijā.

Militāro infrastruktūru Kolkas ragā sāka izbūvēt pēc Otrā pasaules kara, kad šeit izvietojās padomju robežapsardzības posteņi un Kolka kā visa Kurzemes piekraste no Mērsraga līdz Lietuvas robežai kļuva par slēgto zonu

Militārais muzejs, kas dibināts 2004. gadā kā vēstures izstāžu telpa, ir iekārtots bijušajā Padomju jūras spēku priekšpostenī Sēres ciemā, Sāremā salas Serves pussalas galā. Kilometra attālumā no muzeja var apskatīt Serves bāku, kas ir viens no populārākajiem tūrisma objektiem uz salas.

Sāremā krasta līnija savulaik bija kā nosēta ar priekšposteņiem, un Aukstā kara laikā katru no tiem apkalpoja 20 jūras kājnieki un virsnieki. Viņu mērķis bija uzraudzīt kuģu satiksmi Irbes jūras šaurumā, jo Sāremā piekraste bija Padomju Savienības ārējā jūras robeža. Militārā izstāde ir iekārtota 1955. gadā celtās kazarmās un ir sadalīta istabās. Izstādē var uzzināt par Pirmā un Otrā pasaules kara notikumiem Servē, padomju laiku un mūsdienu NATO militāro aprīkojumu. Vecākie eksponāti ir iegūti muzeja kolekcijā no vietējiem iedzīvotājiem un no netālajām kauju vietām. Līdztekus militārajai ekspozīcijai citās kompleksa ēkās tagad ir iekārtotas kuģniecībai un vēsturei veltītas izstādes, kā arī Serves dabas muzejs, kuru ar militārā muzeja ieejas biļeti var apmeklēt bez maksas.

Netālu no muzeja atrodas Pirmā pasaules kara krasta apsardzes baterija Nr. 43. Līdz mūsdienām vēl ir saglabājušies artilērijas betona barbeti (lielgabalu laukumi) ar noapaļotajām bultskrūvēm, divu artilērijas pozīciju aizsargsienas un smilšu uzkalns, kur savulaik atradās komandcentrs.

Maantee küla sõjaväelinnak asub Saaremaal mõne kilomeetri kaugusel Sõrve Militaarmuuseumist vana maantee ääres mõlemal pool teed.

Maantee küla kasarmuid hakati ehitama baaside lepingu sõlmimise järel 1940. aasta aprillis. Töid teostas kohalik firma A. ja M. Edenberg. Kompleksi kuulusid kaks kasarmut, kummaski 350 magamiskohta, söökla, leivatööstus, saun-pesumaja, klubi, velskripunkt ja jääkelder. Siia majutati rannakaitsepatarei nr 315 meeskonnad. Ehitiste alla jäid mitmed talud, mille elanikud pidid välja kolima. Sõja järel baseerusid kasarmutes ümbruskonda ehitatud rannakaitsepatareide meeskonnad.  Külma sõja ajal võeti kasarmud taas kasutusele. Seekord raketiväelaste poolt.  1960. aasta juulis asus sinna S-75 tüüpi rakettidega varustatud divisjon nr 74907. Alustati kasarmute lähedusse raketihoidla Granit ehitamist. Teises kasarmus paiknes üksik raadiolokatsioonirood. 1972. aastal paigutati hoidlasse Granit kolm tuumalõhkepeaga õhutõrjeraketti. 1991. aasta jaanuaris raketiväeosa “koondati”. Raadiolokatsiooniväeosa lahkus Maantee külast 1992. aastal. 

Nüüdseks on hooned lagunenud ja ohtlikud. Raketihoidla on kaotanud rauduksed. Kõigest hoolimata pakub antud kompleks huvi turistidele, kuid seal ringi liikudes  tuleb olla ettevaatlik.

Pärast seda, kui 1953. aastal rajati selles piirkonnas NSVLi kaitseministeeriumi palvel lennuväli, asusid Zvārde kirik, Ķerkliņi kirik ja Rīteļi kalmistu tegelikult lennuvälja keskel - kunstliku lennuvälja kõrval koos juurdepääsuteede ja kaitsepositsioonidega, mida nõukogude piloodid kasutasid sihtmärgina. Lennukid lendasid siia Lätis ja mujal Nõukogude Liidus asuvatelt lennuväljadelt. Vähem kui 40 aastaga lagunesid kirik, kalmistu, endine mõisahoone ja kümned ümbritsevad hooned. Tänapäeval hooldab seda paika Salduse Martin Lutheri kirik. Ümbritsev ala on ikka veel saastunud lõhkemata lahingumoonaga ja teede ääres võib olla ohtlik kõndida.

Barbaarsus saavutas haripunkti 1988. aastal, kui Rīteļi kalmistu koos haudade ja mälestusmärkidega buldooseriti.

21. juulil 1990 toimus Salduses üks esimesi aktsioone, kus Läti elanikkond nõudis NSV Liidu armee lahkumist Zvārde territooriumilt, ning seejärel läksid inimesed Rīteļi kalmistule. Meeleavaldusel osalejad lubati prügimäele, kus nad koristasid veidi kalmistut ja kaevasid valgeid riste.

Prügilat kasutati kuni 1992. aastani ja veel 1992. aasta märtsis kukkus Lielvārdest startiv lennuk teadmata põhjustel prügilasse. Läti kaitsevägi alustas 1993. aasta mais, pärast Vene armee väljaviimist, ala demineerimist.  2008. aastal paigaldasid Zvārde elanikud Rīteļi kalmistule mälestuskivi "Andke meile andeks, et me ei...".