One of the bunkers of Lieutenant Robert Rubens’ battalion has been restored near Usma. To experience the real taste of the battles, you can go with Andrejs Ķeizars to the restored settlement of the 2nd Company of Rubens’ battalion in the forest near Ilziķi Lake, near the former Ilziķi houses. The dramatic autumn events come to life with his narration. He offers two routes. The shorter one is the journey to the bunker, the longer one is the journey along the fighting roads of the Rubens Battalion, thus towards Renda. The second one is definitely more beautiful in autumn.

The Rubens Battalion Memorial Museum has been opened in Ugalė, “Silmače”.

Historical facts

From 14 November to 9 December 1944, the parishes of Ugalė, Usma, Renda and Zlēki saw fierce battles between the German 16th. Army units, SD and SS units (under the command of Police General Friedrich Jekeln) and a separate battalion of the Kurelian unit commanded by Lieutenant Robert Rubenis. The Rubenis were a well-armed and organised military unit of over 600 men, who were conscious of themselves as a national force outside the two hostile occupying powers. Their battle is the largest and longest lasting in the history of the Latvian national resistance movement.

Information and photos from the Ventspils TIC archive