Battle of Cesis on the shores of Amata
At the bridge over the Amata, a German Landeswehr attacks an Estonian armored train that has arrived for negotiations. Estonians open fire, Germans are beaten and the armored train returns to Cēsis.
A completely unexplored page in the battles of Cēsis is a collision at the bridge over the Amata River on the evening of June 5, 1919. This is where the German Landeswehr reveals his true intentions. Until then, in the talks, the Germans claim that there is a Red Army in Cesis (actually the armies of Northern Latvia and Estonia), and the German army in Ieriķi waiting for its attack. The Estonian armored train No. 2 with its commander, Captain Lepp - by order of the Commander-in-Chief General Laidoner - is going to talks at the Ieriķi railway station. The Germans do not come at all and send a message that they are waiting for the negotiators south of the bridge over Amata. Kārlis Dzirkalis, a soldier of the Cēsis Schoolchildren's Company, is assigned to the Estonian team as a good connoisseur of the area. There are also two colonels on the armor - the Allied envoy Green and the Estonian Reek. The train stops further from the bridge on the north side (Cēsis). Sapier Lieutenant Lutsaar goes with some men to check that the bridge is not mined. Commander Leps and both colonels follow 200 steps behind the sappers.
"On the other side of the Amata meadows, German horses graze. Complete silence all around. But when the sapper goes to the right under the bridge to see the bottom, a machine gun fire is opened on the opposite bank of the river. Both colonels and Capt. Leps threw left The next moment, several infantry chains run out of the young pine grove and with grenades in their hands rush to drive the train. "
From the memories of Colonel Nikolai Reck: "At 19:00 the German opened fire on our scouts from the edge of the forest on the other side of the bridge. When the Germans were struck and the scouts who had another collision with the Landeswehr, at which the acting officer Kontuss fell, were taken on a train, they were forced to return to Cēsis. *
Colds Battle Planner, Commander of the General Staff of the Northern Latvian Brigade (Lieutenant Colonel) Voldemārs Ozols: "Despite all the efforts of the Entente and our efforts to avoid bloody clashes, this happened on June 5. For our armed train The train retaliated the attack, but the war between Golc and us had begun. *
Oto Nonācs, a publicist and public figure and editor of many press publications, writes in 1934: "The events near Cēsis are not only the nature of narrow local battles, but of wide international significance; that the outcome of this battle has drawn a line for the far-reaching intentions of the Germans, which, if fulfilled, would have greatly altered the map of Europe. has become the heritage of both nations, and this consciousness is deeply rooted in both nations. "*
* quotes from the publication of the Cēsis Museums Association "When the cannons sang Līgo ...", 1994.
Related objects
Rest area “Forest battles”
Named Forest Battles, the rest area is situated in the main location of the Battles of Cēsis near the Amata bridge. Visitors can listen to stories about the Battles of Cēsis and can take part in various activities, including hikes and trips around the most important venues of the Battles of Cēsis, and team battles. At the end, the visitors can enjoy an invigorating wartime soup. The railway bridge over Amata played a very important role throughout the War of Independence, as the first clashes of the Estonian Army with the Landeswehr took place here. On 5 June 1919, the first battle of the Estonian Army’s armoured trains with the Baltic Landeswehr units took place by the railway bridge over Amata. The Landeswehr, knowing that an armoured train was approaching, planted mines on the railway bridge and secured positions at the homestead Amatas on the riverbank in preparation for a possible battle. The bridge over Amata marked the border between Estonian forces and the Germans. On the night of 23 June 1919, during the Battles of Cēsis, the Landeswehr left Cēsis and retreated to the Amata river line. When retreating, the Germans burned down the Cēsis Latvian Society House and blew up the bridge over Amata.
Railway bridge over Amata
Located in Drabešu parish, Cēsis region, near the recreation place "Meža kaujas".
There is a railway bridge over Amata.
The railway bridge over Amata played a very important role throughout the War of Independence, because on June 5, 1919, the first battle of the Estonian army's armed trains with the Baltic Landesver units took place here. Landeswehr, knowing that an armed train was approaching, nominated a railway bridge and took a position at the Amatas home on the river bank, ready for possible warfare. The bridge over Amata was the border between Estonian forces and the Germans.
Historical evidence of the events at the Amata Bridge has not been preserved. As Latvians did not take part in these events, there are no narratives of their memories, there are memories from Estonian soldiers and other sources. It can be said that this was an Estonian-American joint battle against the Landeswehr, because there was an American officer on the Estonian armored train, who later fought in World War II as well. In general, many future World War II officers and commanders took part in the battles of Cēsis, especially on the German side.
The Estonian armed train arrived in Cēsis on June 2, 1919, a day later went to Ieriķi, where talks took place with the landlord, which was unsuccessful, and on June 5, when the armed train approached the Amata bridge again, a collision with the Germans began. A day later, the armed train also took part in the battles near Cēsis, where it helped the soldiers of the Pupils' Company who were threatened with siege. Although the Germans tried to dismantle the rails to cut off the train's retreat, it managed to retreat across the Rauna bridge.
On the night of June 23, 1919, during the battles of Cēsis, the landesver left Cēsis and retreated to the Amata river line. When they retreated, the Germans burned down the house of the Cēsis Latvian Society and blew up a bridge over Amata.
Virtual reality binoculars "Battles of Cēsis"
The Battle of Cēsis was one of the most important turning points in the course of the Latvian War of Independence (1918 - 1920). On June 5, 1919, the first stage of the Battle of Cēsis began with a clash between armored trains of the Estonian army and units of the Landesvær near the Ierikai railway station near the bridge over Amata. In commemoration of this event, a tourist object has been created near the Ierikai station, which offers to experience the story of history using the possibilities provided by modern technology - with the help of virtual reality. The five-minute video "BATTLE FOR OFFICE BRIDGE" can be viewed free of charge in virtual reality binoculars every day. Video duration: 5 min., LV with subtitles LV, ENG, EST and EU.
