3-DAY ROUTE - ARMED RESISTANCE TO SOVIET OCCUPATION IN SELONIA
On the route you will get to know the evidence of the armed resistance movement against the Soviet occupation regime in Selonia ( Latvian -Sēlija), the sites of national partisan bunkers and visit battle and memorial sites, get to know the memories of the partisans and their supporters.
Route: Kalna parish - Aknīste - Susēja - Rubene parish - Dunava parish - Asare parish - Gārsene parish - Prode parish - Eglaine parish - Pilskalne parish - Dviete - Dignāja parish
The end of World War II in Europe did not mean the restoration of freedom for Latvia and its people, but rather coming under repeated Soviet occupation. Many people who did not accept the communist regime or who were threatened with repression sought refuge in the forests. National partisans chose to resist foreign power and multiple superiority with weapons in their hands, being ready to give their lives in the fight for freedom. In Sēlia, the first post-war years were also a time of many tragic events, cruelty, revenge and shattered ideals. This is evidenced by the attacks that took place here in 1944-1952 on Soviet occupation authorities and local collaborators, as well as frontal clashes with Cheka troops and destroyer battalions.
The route was prepared in cooperation with the State Research Program project "Archaeology of Independence: New Approaches to the History of National Resistance in Latvia" (No. VPP-LETONIKA-2021/2-0003) and the Latvian Occupation Museum project "Popularization of Evidence-Based Information on Events in Latvian History".
Route developer: https://militaryheritagetourism.info/