Russian study abroad experience

Military Memorials in Daugavpils

Military memorials are architectural complexes which were erected to commemorate distinguished military events and in honor of all participants of these events. In our today’s article, we’re going to tell you about military memorials in Daugavpils and about Svente Manor and the Museum of Military Vehicles. Military Brotherly Cemetery Military Brotherly Cemetery is located on […]

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Military Memorials in Daugavpils

Russian study abroad experience

Military Memorials in Daugavpils

Military memorials are architectural complexes which were erected to commemorate distinguished military events and in honor of all participants of these events. In our today’s article, we’re going to tell you about military memorials in Daugavpils and about Svente Manor and the Museum of Military Vehicles.

Military Brotherly Cemetery

Military Brotherly Cemetery is located on the 18th November Street. It has the graves of soldiers died during the Great Patriotic War 1941-1945. 561 soldiers are buried here. In the center of the cemetery there are 2 monuments. One monument is located on the top of the hill, the other one is located on the other side of the hill. Brotherly and individual graves are located on the slope of the hill, too.  Each grave has a tombstone with the designation of those buried in this place. Opposite Brotherly Cemetery there is a monument in memory of the soldiers of the 360th Infantry Division who fell in the battles for Daugavpils in 1944.

The memorial sign at the site of the former Jewish cemetery

The memorial sign to the died or killed Jews, the victims of Holocaust was erected on September 12, 2013 at the site of the former Jewish cemetery. It is located in the park at Lake Gubische behind Daugavpils Secondary School No 15.  The author of the sign is the artist from Daugavpils Juris Pundurs. The words from the Book of Exodus “And it shall be a memorial of the children of Israel before the LORD” in four languages – Hebrew, English, Russian, and Latvian are carved on the Star of David.

The memorial sign at the site of the former Jewish cemetery

Memorial to the victims of Fascism

The memorial was opened in 1960. It was created by the sculptor Harijs Sprincis and architect Zigurds Abelite. In the late 20th century the memorial was ruined. In 1989 the remains of the killed Jews were buried in one of the symbolic graves. In 2007 the Council of Jewish Communities in Latvia erected two commemorative plates which say “The remains of prisoners of Daugavpils Ghetto have been buried here” in Latvian, Russian, and Hebrew languages.

Memorial to the soldiers who fell in Afghanistan

The memorial to the soldiers who fell in Afghanistan was unveiled in 2017 in the park on Jatnieku Street. The memorial was created by the artist Romuald Gibovskis. The monument is a wall split into two parts, symbolizing life interrupted by death and war. On the other half of the wall there are 9 silhouettes. They are 9 men from Daugavpils and its region who fell in Afghanistan. There are also 9 holes made by bullets on the wall symbolizing injuries. At the bottom of the monument there are 9 bomb shells which serve as vases.

Memorial to the soldiers who fell in Afghanistan

Memorial to the prisoners of the Daugavpils Ghetto and the Jewish people – victims of the Genocide (Pogulyanka)

July 4 in Latvia is the day of remembrance of the victims of the genocide of the Jewish people. In the pre-war period, Jews comprised more than a third of the population in Daugavpils. Therefore, the memory of this day is more than just a date in history. The forest area of Pogulyanka was the place where in 1941-142 the Nazis executed 15 thousand Jews.  The memorial erected on this site is visited by many people.

Svente Manor and the Museum of Military Vehicles

Svente Manor was built in 1912 by count Plater, a descendant of two famous and rich delivery of Latgale. After 10 years the Latvian Basic School was founded in the manor house. 20 years later a military hospital was opened in the premises of the manor. The manor house was the main landmark of the whole estate.

The manor was rebuilt several times and only in 2005 it was brought back to its original form. The hotel SVENTES MUIŽA was opened there. During the reconstruction works the original facade of the building and the color range were preserved. A lot of interior details were reconstructed too.

Svente Manor and the Museum of Military Vehicles

Near the manor there is a Museum of Military Vehicles. The World War II tanks, armored vehicles, and military vehicles are displayed for the visitors. These Soviet army military vehicles were restored. Some of the exhibits are operational. The museum collection is the only one preserved in the Baltics.

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