Legenda closes the chapter on a successful expedition.
June 20, 2020 at the Brotherhood Cemetery of Tuski of Blidene Parish, Legenda reburied the remains of 66 soldiers from the 308th Latvian'Rifle Division a first in the whole 20-year history of the search team.
Flowers mark the final resting place, loved ones were in attendance 74 years later...
Thanks to thousands of reposts on social media, media help and the work of the volunteer Martins Ziebergs - 27 soldiers were positively identified. And now - the story of how it was.
August 1, 2019, as a result of a 3-day expedition, the search team Legenda were near Gulauce of the Blidene parish and discovered the remains of 66 soldiers and officers of the 308th Latvian Rifle Division.
The ceremony was attended by members of the local community, relatives of the victims and Latvian Army and Chaplains.
Eleven of those found were 19 years old at the time of death. They were called to the Red Army from Latvia in late 1944 and were killed in action or died of wounds in early March 1945, when the 308th Division was near Sturi, trying to break through the so called 'Kurland Pocket'. The worst thing about this story is that most of the soldiers we found are recorded at the brotherly cemetery in Tuski (Plus 5 at the cemetery in Zvani) with all the names on the grave plates.
While all these 74 years, their bones were still where they were buried in 1945: on the forests of the non-existent farm Gulauce, where the medical station was standing during the war...
The search team seen here after the three day expedition in the forest. For each of us, this expedition was very important - which is why we are so often captured smiling.
Relatives of this soldiers, Janis Zurins, we found almost immediately: Arnis a Legenda member accidentally met a friend who has not seen for 10 years. After talking, it turned out that one of the list of Gulauce is his relative!
Janis Zurins - Now laid to rest after all these years.
During the expedition we learned that the commander of the 308th Latvian Rifle Division in March 1945 was Martins Kalnins who is the brother of the great-grandfather of Arnis (Legenda Member).
Regina (Legenda Member) had a possible blood relative on the list - Bronislavs Locmelis from Obel near Baltinava. Found on one of the soldiers fingers was a ring with initials. Having studied the list, they decided that maybe it could have owned Alexanders Urtans, who had a wife who lived at 25-12 (now in this house Montesorry school, alas). And how many guys and men from Valmier, Yelgava, Rezekne, Daugavpils!...
''We dug for 3 days and spent 3 nights in tents. On the second day of the expedition, a pack of cranes flew over our heads... So everything is right!''
Here is this list of those recovered :
Āboliņš, Arvīds Andreja d., dz.1910., Sieva: Āboliņš Elīna, Madonas apr., Mārcienas pag., Lejnieki;
Ančupāns, Kazimirs Staņislava d., dz.1923., Sieva: Ančupāns Eleonora, Rēzeknes apr., Makašenu pag., Kaladančāni?
Avsjuks, Jāzeps Vikentija d., dz. 1911., Sieva: Matilde Avsjuka Pētera m.,Rīga, Juglas iela 15 – 4
Balodis Žanis Antona d., dz.1925., Māte: Balodis Lavīze, Jelgavas apr., Dobele, Skolas iela 17 – 3;
Baraviks (Baroviks?), Jakovs Jegora d., dz.1914., Sieva: Barovik Melanija, Rīga, Pērnavas iela 1 – 30
Beze (Veze?) Osvalds Ivana d., 1924., tika iesaukts no Irkutskas apgabala, Usoļas apgabala, Teļmas ciema, datu par radiem nav.
Blumbergs Oskars Evalda d., dz.1912., Sieva: Blumbergs Anna Nikolaja m., Liepājas apr., Rucavas pag., Aizmeķi
Brancis, Vilhelms Ēvalda d., citu datu nav.
Drazds, Ivans Staņislava d., dz.1926., Māte: Drazde Jūlija Franča m., Rēzeknes apr., Andrupenes pag., Laiziki? Laiziņi?;
Ducins, Felikss Bernāta d., dz.1908., Tēvs: Ducins Bernants Augusta d. Ludzas apr., Nautrēnu pag. M.-Mazuri
Emsis, Jānis Eduarda d., dz.1917., Tēvs: Emsis Eduards Andreja d., Valmieras apr., Tūjas pag. Lapkalni
Gailis, Juris Izidora d., dz.1909., Sieva: Gailis Veronika Vincenta? m. , Valkas apr., Birzuļu? pag., Baloži
Grauba, Staņislavs Augusta d., 1909., Sieva: Grauba Jevgenija, Daugavpils apr., Kapiņu? pag., Ratnīki
Graumanis Rūdolfs, dz. 1914., Pied.: Grauman A? M?, Valmieras apr., Ainažu? pag
Gribusts Osvalds Avdeja d., dz. …?, Pied.: Gribusts Vladislavs, Rēzeknes apr., Andrupenes pag., Krievu Virauda (Русская Выравда)
Groznijs, Jānis Pētera d., dz.1926., Tēvs: Groznijs Pēteris Ivana d., Ludzas apr., Nautrēnu pag., Žagatas?;
Jansons Kliments Kazimira d., dz.1916., Pied.:
Jansons Kunigunde?, Liepājas apr., Nikraces? Nigrandes? pag., Lībieši?;
Jansons Elmārs Ludviga d., dz. 1924, miris 11.03.1945, citu datu nav.
Kalniņš, Alfrēds Gusta d., dz.1908., Sieva: Kalniņš Emīlija Pētera m., Valmieras apr., Katvaru pag., Bērzlece?;
Kašs, Vladislavs Staņislava d., dz.1912., Sieva: Balodis Marta, Abrenes apr., Baltinavas pag., Eis?… c.;
Ķeris, Arnolds Jāņa d., dz.1919., Pied.: Liepājas apr., Virgas? pag., Mauri?;
Kopštals, Ādolfs Jāņa d., dz.1911., Sieva: Kopštals Jeļena? Broņislava m., [Lietuva], Mažeiķu apr., Židikovas pag., Silmincu c?
Kozlovs, Aleksejs Ivana d., dz.1917., Pied.: Kozlovs Jegors, Rēzeknes apr., Galēnu? pag., Nātras?;
Kozlovskis, Ludvigs Mārtiņa d., dz. 1924., miris 06. 03.1945, citu datu nav.
Kriviņš, Julians Josifa d., dz.1915., Māte: Kriviņš Otīlija Jēkaba m., Daugavpils apr., Izvaltas pag., Birševski?;
Kupcāns, Kliments Vikentija d., dz.1926., Māte: Kupcans Sofija Kazimira m., Rēzeknes apr., Bērzgales pag., Punsānu? c.
Lazovskis Staņislavs Jāņa d., 1913., Tēvs: Lazovskis Jānis Staņislava d., Rēzeknes apr., Viļānu pag., Bakaši
Legzdiņš Ernests Ernesta dēls, dz.1908., Sieva: Lekzdiņš? Zelma Jāņa m., Sloka, Krasta iela 27 – 3;
Lideskalns Arnolds Pētera d., dz.1919., Tēvs: Lideskalns Pēteris; Madonas apr., Jaungulbenes pag., Dreiņi?;
Ločmelis Broņislavs Antona d., dz.1925., Tēvs: Ločmelis Antons Jāņa d., Abrenes apr., Baltinavas pag., Obeļevo
Lūkins, Kārlis Augusta d., dz.1916., Tēvs: Lūkins Augusts Jura d., Valmieras apr., Rozēnu? pag., Lazdiņi
Miglavs Vilis Pētera d., dz.1913., Sieva: Miglavs Ksenija, Valmieras apr. Ainažu pag.
Popovs, Arvīds Aleksandra d., dz.1926., Tēvs: Popovs Aleksandrs, Jelgavas apr., Auce, Jelgavas iela 37 – 1
Pugulis Pēteris Pētera d., dz.1915., Sieva: Pugulis? Broņa, Cēsu apr., Taurenes pag., Rimalijas?
Ralle Rūdolfs Ernesta d., 1915., Sieva: Ralle Anna, Rīga, Vīlandes iela 12 - 17
Ranka, Harijs Ernesta d., dz. 1925., miris 12.03.45., citu datu nav.
Rezgoriņš Viktors Ludviga d., dz.1926., Māte: Rezgoriņa Paulīne, Valkas apr., Veclaicenes pag.
Rozenbergs, Pēteris Pētera d., dz.1925., Tēvs: Rozenbergs Pēteris, Cēsu apr., Vecpiebalgas pag., Jaunkalniņi;
Smeiže Antons Vikentija d., dz.1923., Tēvs: Smeiže Vikentijs Josifa d., Daugavpils, Robežu iela 1;
Sniķis, Arvīds Žaņa d., dz.1912., Sieva: Sniķis Sofija, Jēkabpils apr., Zalves pag.
Skobovičs, Leonīds Ivana d., dz.1926., Pied.: Skobovičs G…?, Rīga, Sarkandaugava, Duntes iela 14/16 – 8;
Skuruls, Staņislavs Konstantina d., dz.1925., Tēvs: Skuruls Konstantins Antona d.; Varakļānu pag., Cekuļi
Sluckijs Matvejs Vladislava d., 1913., Tēvs: Sluckijs Vladislavs, Daugavpils apr., Viļānu pag.,Prieži
Stenders, Žanis Indriķa d., dz.1924., Māte: Rozenšas? Rozentas? Līna, Liepājas apr., Nīgrandes pag., Kru…iņi? (Jurdmuiža?)
Strazds, Vladislavs Dementija d., dz. 1923., Sieva: Strazds Emīlija Jāņa m., Rēzeknes apr., Viļānu pag., Rikovski?
Stučka, Antons Urzulas d., dz.1903., Sieva: Milda Stučka Jēkaba m., Madona, Sarkanās armijas iela 16/18
Šimanis, Ernests Jāņa d., dz.1917., Māte: Šimanis Luize, Jelgavas apr., Auce, Amatnieku iela 6.
Šķesters, Staņislavs Pētera d., dz.1908., Sieva: Škesters Antonija Eduarda m., Rēzeknes apr., Makašēnu pag., Čakši;
Švarcs, Voldemārs Jēkaba d., dz.1918., Sieva: Švarcs Emīlija Viktora m., Rīgas apr., Katlakalna pag., BuliņI? Tulpes
Tabors, Pāvels Alekseja d., dz.1926., Tēvs: Tabors Aleksejs Aleksandra d., Abrenes apr., Baltinavas pag.;
Timbra, Elmārs Miķeļa d., dz. 1922.,Sieva: Timbra Marta Jāņa m., Liepājas apr., Aizvīķu pag. Lejas Leize?;
Ulass Ivans Igora d., dz.1912., Sieva: Ulass Melanija, Jelgavas apr., Lielauces pag., Jaungeriņi
Upesjuris, Alberts Antona d., dz.1920., Pied.: Jēkabpils apr., Mazzalves pag., Upesjuri;
Urtāns, Aleksandrs Matveja d., dz.1912., Sieva: Urtāne Marija, Rīga, Lielā Nometņu iela 21 -12;
Vediķis, Otis Ludviga dēls, dz. 1923, miris 17.03.1945, citu datu nav
Vīķis Kārlis Jēkaba d., dz. 1926., miris 18.03.1945, citu datu nav.
Začests, Matvejs Anufrija d., dz.1926., Pied.: Začests Brigita, Abrenes apr., Baltinavas pag., Kazukalns;
Zemsarājs Fricis Kārļa d., dz.1916., Māte: Zemsarājs Marija Teodora m., Krasnojarskas nov., Ширицкий р-н, ст. Шос, совхоз №1
Žūriņš, Jānis Mārtiņa d., dz.1913., Tēvs: Žuriņš Mārtiņš Pētera d.; Rīgas apr., Bīriņu pag., Jausmas?.
Article by Legenda Member: Regina Locmele-Lunova