By Talis Esmits - Legenda Team Leader
Ladies and gentlemen,
A difficult year has past already into history.
I want to thank you all for being with us and the support you showed us was heart warming.
Your contribution is respectable, and we appreciate it, no matter how and even if you are just following our work. Your support gives us strength to achieve new goals.
Together, we can do a lot to preserve the memory of the soldiers who died in the Two World Wars and to provide comfort to the soldiers' relatives and their families.
Wishing you a happy and successful 2021.
Talis Esmits
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Buried in 2020 by Legenda
1. 11.01.2020 - 66 Soldiers - World War One - Imperial Russian Army - buried in Silenieku Cemetery in Jelgava County.
2. 17.01.2020 - 37 Soldiers - World War One - Imperial Russian Army - soldiers that were buried in the Garrison cemetery in Riga, they were discovered due to road works.
3. 20.06.2020 - 66 Soldiers - World War Two - Red Army - The soldiers were from a Latvian Unit found nearby Gulauce Forester house. Now buried at Tuski Cemetery in Blidene.
4. 04.08.2020 - 246 Soldiers - World War One - Imperial Russian Army - buried at Budisku Cemetery.
5. 24.10.2020 - 62 Soldiers - World War Two - Red Army - Prisoners of War from Stalag No. 347 buried in Miera Cemetery in Rezekne.
Total number of burials : 646
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Remains awaiting burial in storage and ongoing projects.
1. 2019 – 2020 - 163 Soldiers - World War Two - Red Army - Found near house “Budenieki” The soldiers were members of the Red Army's 16th Rifle Division (16-я 'Литовская' стрелковая дивизия / 16-oji 'Lietuviškoji' divizija). Many are Lithuanians; part of them still have no means for any identification. This project remains open until further notice.
2. June 2018 - 15 Soldiers - World War Two - Red Army- Found near house “Kaktini”, Varaklani county, they remain unidentified due to an inconsistency with archive materials. Set to be buried near Varaklani.
3. 2019 – 2020 - 183 Soldiers - World War Two - Red Army - These soldiers were found all around Latvia only a couple of them are identified. Set to be buried in Ropazi cemetery.
4. 25.08.2020 - 19 Soldiers - World War Two - Red Army - Found near “Paugibelas”, Tukums County, in the village of Pienava. It is highly possible that they are Latvians. This project remains open until further notice.
5. 30.08.2020 – 30.09.2020 - 36 Soldiers - World War Two - Red Army - Found near house “Karklini” Village of Novadnieki, Saldus County. These soldiers were left behind in trenches, the territory was occupied by German forces shortly afterwards, thus buried during the battle. This project remains open until further notice.
6. 13.07.2020 - 14 Soldiers - World War Two - Red Army - Found near house “Stopani”, in the village of Laudona, Madona County. All of these soldiers were accounted for previously as buried in an another cemetery, so all of them are identified. Set to be buried in the village of Laudona.
7. 02.08.2020 - 9 Soldiers - World War Two - Red Army - The soldiers were discovered during the excavation of a ditch by the house “Putni” located in Auces County. This project remains open until further notice.
8. 01.03.2020 – 01.10.2020 - 14 Soldiers - World War Two - Red Army - They were found in Udrisi village they lost their lives around 1941 June, most of them have been identified. Currently we are preparing paperwork so that they can be repatriated.
9. 08.2017- 12 Soldiers - World War Two - Red Army - Found in the village of Cauki, Engure County. All of the soldiers have been identified. This project remains open until further notice.
10. 10.2017 - 32 Soldiers - World War One - Imperial Russian Army - Found the near house”Lutini” in Klintaine. This project remains open until further notice.
11. 11.2020 - 76 Soldiers - World War One - Imperial Russian Army - Found in Valgunde. Some of the remains have been identified to have belonged to the 7th Bauska Rifleman Regiment (Латышские стрелки / Latviešu strēlnieki) . This project remains open until further notice.
12. 01.01.2020 - 31.01.2020 - 95 Soldiers - World War Two - German Army - These soldiers were found scattered around various battlefields all over Latvia. This project remains open until further notice.
13. 2020 - 6 Soldiers - World War Two - Latvian Legion - Cannot get any valid information on their identities due to COVID-19 restrictions. Awaiting more information from the Archives when the restrictions are lifted in the USA.
Total number of soldiers remains awaiting further processing and burial: 674
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Other
1. Legenda have handed over more than 1500 pieces of explosive ordnance (larger than 45mm in diameter) to the Latvian Army Explosive Ordnance Disposal Team (EOD).
2. Legenda are continuing to work closely together with other Latvian organisations and authorities including the Police, Army, the Committee of Brother Graves in Latvia, Museums and historians.
3. Legenda continue to hand over any items considered to be historical artefacts to accredited museums in Latvia.
