History of Russia: The exhibition “Latvian riflemen: pages of history” at the National Library of Russia

November 12, 2015 in the Korf hall of the National library of Russia (Saint-Petersburg) is opened the exhibition “Latvian riflemen: pages of history (1915-1920)”.

The exposition is dedicated to the centenary anniversary of the formation of the largest national military education in the service of the Red Army (the total number of about 80 thousand people). The exhibition tells the story of the creation and participation of Latvian rifle units in the fighting of the First World War and the Russian Civil War, about historical figures and events pertaining to these military units.

The exhibition covers events of 1915, when General Mikhail Alekseev signed an order on the formation of the Latvian infantry battalions, before disbanding in the autumn of 1920.

The exhibition features publications from the collection of the National Library of Russia in Russian, English, Latvian, Polish languages. These are books, journals, albums, maps of military operations. Visitors will see a rare pamphlet “Memo to riflemen of the 5^th Latvian Zemgale infantry battalion”, composed by commander Joachim Vatsetis (Riga, 1916).

The exhibition is complemented by about 30 photographs from the collection of Mikhail Ermakov. The pictures of the unknown Riga photographer - the first volunteer battalions of Latvian riflemen during the holidays and at the forefront, as well as the demonstration in Riga on May 1, 1917.

The exposition will run until December 2.