How the Red Army soldiers burned the Remte church

Remtes baznīca ap 1985.gadu. Oriģināla glabātājs: Jaņa Rozentāla Saldus vēstures un mākslas muzejs

After the capitulation of Germany and Army Group "Kurland" on May 8 and 9, 1945, the winners celebrated their victory in various ways in many places in Kurzeme. In Remte, during these celebrations, the Remte church was burned down. The church bell ringer's family kept the church bell in their homestead throughout the occupation.

In Remte, after the capitulation of Germany and Army Group "Kurland" on May 8 and 9, 1945, the winners - the Red Army - celebrated their victory. During these celebrations, neither the property of the surrounding peaceful inhabitants, nor cultural buildings, churches, etc. were mostly spared. The soldiers of the Red Army came up with a peculiar way of having fun - a competition where they had to hit the round window of the Remte church tower with a flare. Several such hits led to the fact that the wooden structures of the church started to burn. As a result, the church was burned down. Later, warehouses were installed in the walls of the church.

The bell of the church tower fell during the fire and the family of the then bell ringer took it to the homestead, where it remained throughout the Soviet occupation. After the restoration of independence in the 90s, the bell is returned to the church and it once again serves its place in the church tower.

Wrote down this story: Jana Kalve
Used sources and references:

https://replay.lsm.lv/lv/ieraksts/ltv/284836/tas-notika-seit-4sezona-remte 

Related objects

Remte manor house and park

Remte Manor Castle (German: Remten) is a manor house located in Remte. The buildings and the park of Remte Manor are national monuments. The manor house houses the Remte Primary School. Remte Manor Palace was built in 1800 in the Berlin Classicist style for the then owner of the manor, Count Karl Medem.

At the end of World War II, the 19th Division of the Latvian Legion of the German Army Group was stationed in Remte Manor and its surroundings.