Paskutinis pulkininko Kalpako mūšis prie Airytės
Pulkininkas Kalpaks buvo gerbiamas veikėjas kariniuose sluoksniuose ir tikras patriotas. Būtent patriotizmo dvasia ir nelemtas atsitiktinumas lėmė lemtingą jo ir vokiečių batalionų susidūrimą, kuris, deja, baigėsi pulkininko Kalpako žūtimi.
Amžininkai Kalpaką apibūdino kaip kovose užkietėjusį ir stiprų žmogų, kuris lengvai susitvarkė su visais kario gyvenimo sunkumais, o kartu buvo paprastas, nuoširdus ir geraširdis žmogus. Iš Vokietijos į Kuršą atvykęs generolas Ridigeris von der Golzas stebėjosi kasdieniu Kalpako paprastumu, tačiau kartu pripažino, kad jų susitikimų ir pokalbių metu pulkininkas buvo gudrus. Golcas priešinosi skaitiniam latvių pajėgų didinimui, kurio Kalpakas natūraliai norėjo, nes vokiečiai turėjo savo viziją ir kitokius planus Kuršai, o gal net ir visai Latvijai. Kalpakas, priešingai, turėjo omenyje kovą už tautinę nepriklausomybę, ir nors derybos vyko supratingumo dvasia, abiejų interesai buvo diametraliai priešingi.
1919 m. kovo 6 d. netoli Airytės įvyko tragiškas įvykis – atsitiktinis latvių ir vokiečių dalinių susišaudymas, tariamai nesusipratimas, po kurio žuvo pulkininkas Kalpaks, kapitonas Nikolajus Grundmanis, pirmasis leitenantas Pēteris Krievs ir leitenantas Hansas Johannesas Schrindersas, paskirtas į Kalpaką. Patyręs mūšio liudininkas pasakojo, kad miške kilo tikras pragariškas gaisras, sprogo pabūklų sviediniai, sunkūs minosvaidžių sviediniai, skraidė kulkų būriai... Todėl yra ir kitų šio atsitiktinio susišaudymo versijų – esą tai buvo tyčinė karinė operacija, skirta susilpninti ar net sunaikinti Kalpako pajėgas.
1922 m. Airiteje už savo noru paaukotas lėšas buvo atidengtas Oskarui Kalpakui skirtas paminklas, vėliau pastatytas namas muziejui ir paroda apie Kalpako batalioną ir jo kovas. Muziejus atidarytas 1936 m. rugsėjo 6 d., tačiau po Antrojo pasaulinio karo buvo uždarytas. Muziejus atnaujino veiklą 1990 m. lapkričio 11 d., dabar jį valdo Latvijos karo muziejus.
Šaltinis – knyga „100 istorijų apie Latviją“
Susijusios temos
Susijusios vietos
Oskars Kalpaks Museum and Memorial Site “Airītes”
The Oskars Kalpaks Museum and Memorial Site Airītes is located between Saldus and Skrunda near the A9 highway. The exhibit has extensive information about Colonel Oskars Kalpaks and his battalion, and shows the history of the Latvian National Army and the memorial site Airītes. The exhibit reveals Colonel Oskars Kalpaks as a personality, as a soldier and as a fighter for Latvia's independence. Audio logs in Latvian, English and German are also available as part of the exhibit. They emphasize the importance of the historic events of 1918/1919 in the protecting the statehood of Latvia. The museum building has been restored.
...
"Nature - Strength Trail" of Oskars Kalpaks Museum
The nature trail was created in the territory adjacent to the museum and is based on the idea of the design of the O. Kalpaks Museum and its surroundings in 1936.The nature trail is free of charge for individual museum visitors.
The nature trail features wooden sculptures created during a woodworkers' plein-air workshop organised by the Kuldīga Technology and Tourism Technical School on the unifying theme - "For...
Battle of Skrunda Memorial and Flag Day
The Skrunda Battle Memorial is located in the centre of Skrunda, in Oskaras Kalpaka Park near the Skrunda Culture House, at the intersection of Kuldīgas and Liepājas Streets. In 2005, a stone was erected at the memorial commemorating the battle of 29 January 1919, when the battalion commanded by Oskars Kalpaks, together with the German and Russian units of the Landeswehr, liberated Skrunda from the Bolsheviks. The tradition of Flag Day has been maintained since 2004, commemorating the first town liberated from the Bolsheviks and its liberators, who raised the Latvian flag at the Skrunda church on 29 January 1919.
...
The last resting place of Colonel Oskars Kalpaks
Located in Visagala Cemetery, Madona district
On July 10, 1927, a monument made by Kārlis Zāle and Arnolds Dzirkaļs was unveiled to Oskars Kalpaks - a composition of three figures, in the center of which is an ancient Latvian warrior with a shield and a sword in his hand, but on both sides is a wielding soldier. At the foot of the sculptural group, a bronze plaque is placed on the granite base, with a text engraved on it, which also...
Lubāna Municipality tourism and cultural heritage centre
The Lubāna Municipality Tourism and Cultural Heritage Centre is located in the very centre of the city of Lubāna. It features several exhibits, including permanent ones, on the history, culture and traditions of and events at the municipality. The permanent exhibits are dedicated to personalities that Lubāna is especially proud of. They introduce poet Broņislava Martuževa, member of the National Resistance Movement and political prisoner; politician Hugo Celmiņš, a participant of the War of Independence; Oskars Kalpaks, First Commander-in-Chief of the Latvian Army; photographer Alfreds Grāvers; opera singer Jānis Zābers; poet Jānis Gavars; artist Rūdolfs Pinnis, as well as folklorist and pastor Mārtiņš Celmiņš. A guide describes the lives of the Knights of...
The birthplace of Colonel Oskars Kalpaks “Liepsalas” and the final resting place in Visagals cemetery
The Colonel Oskars Kalpaks family memorial in Liepsalas is located in the area between Madona and Lake Lubāns. Liepsalas is Kalpaks’ childhood home. The memorial site was established here in 1997 based on the ideas and using the resources of the colonel’s niece, Ārija Kalpaks-Grundmane (1922-2006). The site consists of various environmental objects and stone sculptures with a symbolic meaning, signifying Latvian ethical and patriotic values. The largest building houses an exhibit dedicated to the history of the Latvian War of Independence and the 22 years of Latvian freedom (1918-1940). Located in the Visagals graveyard, the monument to Oskars Kalpaks, created by Kārlis Zāle and Arnolds Dzirkals, was unveiled in 1927. The monument consists...
Memorial stone in Oskaras Kalpaka Square in Saldus
O.Kalpaka Square is located in the very centre of Saldus, at the intersection of Lielā and Striķu streets.
The former market square is today a favourite place of recreation for residents and visitors of Saldus, where concerts, commemorative events and festivities are held. On 10 March 1919, Saldus became the first Latvian town liberated by Colonel Oskars Kalpaks' battalion.
...
Memorial plaques to the Lubanians who died in the First World War and the War of Independence in the Lubana Lutheran Church
Located in Lubāna, Baznīcas Street 1, in the Lutheran Church.
A white marble memorial plaque to Colonel Oskars Kalpaks was erected in the church of Lubāna during the interwar period. "born Hugo Celmins...
Monument to the Smiltens who died in the War of Independence
Located in Smiltene Lutheran Cemetery, 11 Valnu Street.
The monument to the Smiltene victims of the War of Independence was unveiled and consecrated on November 7, 1937. The monument is built of concrete and lined with Allaži limestone slabs. The monument is based on the sketch of architect Werner Vitand and the sculptor Matiss Pluck...
Lēnu Manor
The manor castle is located in the village of Lēnu, by the Venta River. The castle is currently privately owned and can therefore only be seen from a distance.
The manor house was used as a support point by the 1st Latvian Separate Battalion from the end of January to 3 March 1919. The Latvian Separate Battalion had to liberate the surroundings of Leni Manor in order to be able to cross the river opposite Jaunmuiža.
...
Oskara Kalpaka Museum military-educational task track "The Way of the Schoolboy Company"
The task track "The Way of the Schoolchildren's Company" is an attraction in the O.Kalpaks Museum territory, where there are 7 tasks of different complexity to be performed in teams (minimum number of participants per team - 3)
