1944 – THE BREAK OF THE WAR IN THE TOWN OF LATVIA

On 20th of August in Bauska's Town Hall Square at At 14.00, the photo exhibition "1944 – THE BREAK OF THE WAR IN THE TOWN OF LATVIA" created by the Institute of Latvian History of the University of Latvia will be opened.

This year marks the 80th anniversary of the events of the Second World War, which brought significant losses to Latvia, its people and the cultural and material values ​​built up over the centuries.

From the end of July to the middle of September 1944, Bauska was in the war zone between Germany and the USSR for a month and a half.

The first city-destroying battles took place on 19th and 20th of August, when the Soviet 15th Separate Assault Battalion managed to capture a large part of the city of Bauska and German sappers blew up the bridge over the Memel to prevent the Red Army from further attacking in the direction of Riga.

German and Latvian units with the support of assault guns carried out a successful counterattack and restored the previous position of the front. Until 14th of September, when Bauska was occupied by the Red Army, soldiers of the spontaneously formed Bauska volunteer battalion also took part in the battles for their city, whose public mention became possible only after the restoration of Latvia's national independence in 1990-1991.

The photo fixation of this page of history will be on display in Bauska's Town Hall Square until 15th of September.