The daily routine of Latvian riflemen on the Island of Death

2. Rīgas latviešu strēlnieku bataljona strēlnieki un vecākais ārsts Gerhards Feders (1. no kreisās) pie lazaretes zemnīcas Nāves salā. 1916. gada vasara

Memories vividly describe the daily life of soldiers on the Island of Death.

"Life on Death Island was full of difficulties and horrors. At night, when darkness and until the morning light, war materials and food were delivered to the battlefield, the wounded and fallen were taken to the right bank. Urgently repaired collapsed trenches and traffic aisles, damaged telephone traffic. The opponent does not use. Minesweeps burst above the archers' trenches. Machine guns worked. Only a quarter of the island's garrison could close its eyes for a moment. The others had to be awake. Only in the morning light was the night watch changed. Food and boiled water were delivered in large containers in the first trenches at 10 am and 6 pm. Despite the terrible life in the shelters of Death Island, the archers still had a lively spirit. They tried in every way to create change and fun in a tiring position in the fight. Although the riflemen lived in rocks and buried in the ground, in the shadow of death, in their caves and dugouts, even garden flowers and shy country beauties could be seen. Its brave Latvian boys - riflemen - brought it from the "neutral land", which was located between the riflemen and the German trenches. Of course, it was a night job, the day was not allowed to appear outside the trenches. And the time of night was as it was created for all manner of things. The inquisitive archer turned the cylinder of a German grenade into a flower vase. He loved poetry in books and in life. But such is already a Latvian - he also knows how to find beauty or create it in an hour of life. Undone flowers in the archers' dungeons and did not absorb the sounds of songs even in the most difficult moments of despair. The war was a sacred task for the riflemen, and even the German whirlwind could not silence their hearts. In the mornings and evenings, when the noise of battle usually seemed to subside, the riflemen spent these moments of rest, chanting folk songs. The Germans responded by singing their war songs. Often both opponents played mandolins or guitars in the trenches. It seemed that they were no longer enemies, but a friendship had been established between the two opponents. Sometimes in the mornings and evenings there was the most peaceful relationship between us and the adversary, but with the arrival of twilight, mutual struggles for life and death began. Even the quiet, great, peaceful Latvian river of fate, the black Daugava, was not allowed to wave. He was often ascended by German garnets, high poles of water, the splashes of which fell back into the Daugava, disturbing its peace. Hundreds of beaten and stunned fish swam down. The riflemen tried to use it and tried to catch the "outlined" fish in the Daugava below the firing point, and after a good hunt they ate the fish soup that the Germans provided them. The hunt was especially successful when a floating bridge was built on the lower side of the Daugava. In general, how dangerous and deadly the German artillery was physically and morally deadly at the time of the fire, the silence provided the riflemen with pleasant moments. By the time the fire subsided, everyone went to the cliffs in search of a German charge of aluminum and copper heads. Often rifles hurried to the place of the fallen projectile. What for? But those who experienced the time of the riflemen will remember that almost all the riflemen who went to Riga for a couple of days or to their relatives had such strange, white rings on their fingers. They were the invention and creation of riflemen. Aluminum was removed from the charge heads and melted. Previously, the required shape was cut out in plaster and now it was so slow! The riflemen formed various shapes of rings: rings with a heart, a more expressive star, a ring of garnet fused in some rings, and so on. The riflemen loved these rings because they were reminiscent of life on the island of Death. The riflemen not only poured rings, but also made spoons, small figurines and other interesting things from the same material. The mouthpieces began to be made from the copper tubes of hand-held grenade burners, with the exception of the explosive mercury. Of course, there were also accidents and each other's archer lost not only his fingers and hands, but also his life. All the unbroken German grenades or shrapnel were gradually dismantled, unloaded and turned into vases, scoops by the rifles, and most of them were sent home to those belonging to the house as a fond memory of the battlefield. This war was a holy war for the riflemen, and everything connected with the fighting became holy, worthy of memory. How lively and safe was the spirit of the riflemen, for they could not believe in their victory, just as diligently did they take care of the care and storage of their weapons of war, which also played an important role in the life of a soldier. The main weapon of the riflemen was a rifle. It was their girlfriend in the white and white days. It is not for nothing that their riflemen called their "wife" and "bride" in their letters. On Death Island, on the day of the plant, you could see archers clean guns, torch clothes, shoes, etc. When the rifles were wiped clean, they were placed in specially prepared steep shelters right in the trenches, so that they were at hand at any moment and could be put to work without delay.

Pasakotojas: žurnālists Jānis Poriets
Panaudoti šaltiniai ir literatūra:

http://latviesustrelniekusaraksts.lv/Kaujas_darbiba/Book_2.html (viewed on 20.07.2021

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Susijusios vietos

Death Island

The group of islands is located in Daugava on the southern side of the Riga HPP reservoir near Daugmale. The Death Island is one of the scariest and most legendary battlefields of World War  I. When the Russian Army withdrew from Kurzeme and Zemgale in 1915 some units remained on the left bank of Daugava, where they took positions to fight the German Army. The banks of the river were connected by a bridge. One of the largest chemical weapons usage cases in the territory of Latvia took place here. Latvian soldiers called the place ‘Death Island’, but soldiers of other nationalities called it ‘Hell’. The position of Death Island was of strategic and symbolic importance. For Latvian soldiers it was part of Kurzeme occupied by Germany. Fights took place on the banks of Daugava near Ikšķile, and in some way they were associated with the fights of the ancestors during the Crusades. Nowadays this location is accessible by boat. Territory of the Riga HPP reservoir that was not flooded can be seen. The monument designed by E. Laube still remains. Defensive position elements have been reconstructed in some places. There is an information stand on the bank of Daugava near the Ikšķile Kābeļu hill. Death Island became a group of islands after the construction of the Riga HPP reservoir was finished.

Cultural Heritage Centre "Tīnūži Manor"

The Cultural Heritage Centre ‘Tīnūži Manor’ is located in Ogre municipality, Tīnūži village, 7 km from the cities of Ogre and Ikšķile. The first written evidence about the manor dates back to the 16th century. Until the mid-18th century it was considered an economic production unit with small and insignificant buildings. But over time it grew into a large farm. During World War I, battles between the Russian and German armies took place here, and the Latvian Riflemen were also involved. During the War of Independence Tīnūži manor was used as the headquarters and armoured car park of the 1st Valmiera Infantry Regiment of the Latvian Army. In 1932, the manor was given to the Union of the Latvian War Invalids, which provided accommodation and care for war veterans. During World War II (in 1943) the German Army unit FAT 212 was transferred from Estonia to Tīnūži manor. It was a saboteur unit that prepared soldiers to fight the Red Army. Latvian soldiers were also trained in the arts of intelligence gathering, guerrilla warfare tactics and sabotage. The lord house of Tīnūži manor was destroyed when the Red Army was moving towards Riga. Nowadays it is a place with a beautiful landscape and historical buildings on the banks of the Little Jugla River. Exhibits dedicated to historical events, including the ones concerning the Latvian Riflemen, can be seen at the Cultural Heritage Centre ‘Tīnūži manor’.