The exhibition “1944 – the outbreak of war in the Latvian cityscape” opens at the Freedom Monument

One of the authors of the exhibition, Uldis Neiburgs, the leading researcher of the Institute of Latvian History of the University of Latvia (LU), opening the exhibition, invited those present to remember the war victims and not to forget our ancestors who experienced dramatic experiences 80 years ago.

Neiburg emphasized that the message of the exhibition does not only include changes in urban architecture, but also emphasized the impact on people, on society as a whole, national memory policy, collective memory and how to talk about historical events.

“This year marks 80 years since the events of the Second World War, which brought irreparable losses, extinguishing people’s lives, destroying lives and cities. The example of Ukraine shows that freedom is not self-evident, it is not enough to win it – with every step and action we must be vigilant and responsible in strengthening and preserving it – by educating ourselves, learning the evidence of history, commemorating and honoring our predecessors, as well as not stopping at the already achieved goals. Thank you to the authors and creators of the exhibition for the reminder and demonstrable example of becoming stronger and more careful, protecting both our freedom and cultural and historical heritage. Those who know history can also predict the future,” said Vilnis Ķirsis, chairman of the Riga City Council, in his speech.

LU rector Gundars Bērziņš thanked everyone for the work invested in creating the exhibition, especially highlighting the importance of preserving and sharing historical stories. “Our cultural heritage is what makes us, our stories and this place special. Thanks to historians for allowing us to look into the past to see what we were like and compare what we are now,” said Bērzins. At the same time, Bērziņš called “to do everything so that the war does not happen again”.

Riga City Council member Rita Eva Našniece said at the opening of the exhibition that, looking at the exhibition’s photographs, one can see a story told in a dramatic way and the identity of the injured and almost destroyed Latvian is shown. She also noted that “Latvian historians have a special talent for telling stories” and that “the exhibition will serve as inspiration for everyone”.

After the ceremonial opening, all those present took part in a short excursion led by the co-authors of the exhibition, Jānis Tomaševskas and Valdas Kuzmins.

In the open-air exhibition, the story of the destruction of the Latvian cities Rēzekne, Gulbene, Jelgava, Bauska, Valmiera and Riga, which suffered the most in April-October 1944 during Soviet air raids and the German-USSR hostilities, is told in a visually engaging way, showing how the architecture of the cities and their shape often resulted from the war changed almost beyond recognition.

At the same time, the exhibition, especially in the context of the current Russian aggression in Ukraine, reminds of the devastating impact of the war on all areas of society’s life, emphasizes the need to protect Latvia’s cultural and historical heritage and realize the importance of comprehensive national defense.

The authors of the exhibition are historians – Valdis Kuzmins, researcher of the Latvian National Defense Academy, leading researcher of the Institute of History of Latvia, Dr. history Uldis Neiburgs and Latvian War Museum historian Jānis Tomaševskis. The graphic design was created by scenographer Ineta Sipunova, the coordinator of the exhibition project is museologist, head of the Creative Museum think tank Ineta Zelča Símanson.

Exhibition schedule:

• Riga: 8.05. – 17.05. (Freedom Square);
• Rezekne: 18.05. – 9.06. (mound area on Dārzu street);
• Gulbene: 10.06. – 30.06. (City Centre);
• Salaspils: 1.07. – 21.07. (Salaspils memorial);
• Jelgava: 22.07. – 18.08. (Duke Jacob’s Square);
• Bauska: 19.08. – 15.09. (Town Square);
• Valmiera: 16.09. – 6.10. (City Centre);
• Riga: 7.10. – 27.10. (Latvian archery range).

The exhibition was created within the framework of the National Research Program project “History of Latvia in the 20th-21st century: social morphogenesis, heritage and challenges” (No. VPP-IZM-Vēsture-2023/1-0003) implemented by the Institute of History of Latvian University, in cooperation with Riga municipality and Latvian War Museum.