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<document>
<title>Freedom Monument</title>
<authors>Wikipedia</authors>
<publisher>wikipedia.org</publisher>
<publishedplace>network</publishedplace>
<publishedyear>2010</publishedyear>
<edition></edition>
<category>Articles containing Latvian language text</category>
<section id="41626" fatherid="0" title="" lv="" priority="-1" level="1">
The Freedom Monument () is a memorial located in Riga, Latvia honoring soldiers killed during the Latvian War of Independence (1918-1920). It is considered an important symbol of the freedom, independence, and sovereignty of Latvia. Unveiled in 1935, the  high monument of granite, travertine, and copper often serves as the focal point of public gatherings and official ceremonies in Riga.
The sculptures and bas-reliefs of the monument, arranged in thirteen groups, depict Latvian culture and history. The core of the monument is composed of tetragonal shapes on top of each other, decreasing in size towards the top, completed by a  high travertine column bearing the copper figure of Liberty lifting three gilded stars. The concept for the monument first emerged in the early 1920s when the Latvian Prime Minister, Zigfrīds Anna Meierovics, ordered rules to be drawn up for a contest for designs of a "memorial column". After several contests the monument was finally built at the beginning of the 1930s according to the scheme "Shine like a star!" submitted by Latvian sculptor Kārlis Zāle. Construction works were financed by private donations.
Following Soviet occupation of Latvia in 1940 Latvia was annexed by the Soviet Union and the Freedom Monument was considered for demolition, but no such move was carried out. Soviet sculptor Vera Mukhina (who was born in Riga and had been pupil of Kārlis Zāle) is sometimes credited with the rescue of the monument, possibly because she considered it to be of the highest artistic value. Soviet propaganda attempted to alter the symbolic meaning of the monument to better fit with Communist ideology, but it remained a symbol of national independence to the general public. Indeed, on June 14, 1987 about 5,000 people gathered at the monument to commemorate the victims of the Soviet regime and to lay flowers. This rally renewed the national independence movement, which culminated three years later in the re-establishment of Latvian sovereignty after the fall of the Soviet regime.

</section>
<section id="41627" fatherid="0" title="Design" lv="" priority="2" level="1">
rect 555 331 611 384 1. Liberty
rect 613 329 647 383 2. Latvia
rect 554 385 613 424 3. Lāčplēsis
rect 493 329 552 383 4. Chain Breakers
rect 549 290 624 329 5. Vaidelotis
rect 649 329 709 384 6. For Fatherland and Freedom
rect 549 425 626 497 7. 1905
rect 554 213 625 290 8. The Battle against the Bermontians on the Iron Bridge
circle 685 249 47 9. Guards of the Fatherland
circle 676 461 46 10. Work
circle 492 459 48 11. Scholars
circle 493 251 45 12. Family
circle 370 589 56 13. Latvian Riflemen
circle 366 122 36 14. The Latvian People-Singers
desc bottom-

The sculptures and bas-reliefs of the Freedom Monument, arranged in thirteen groups, depict Latvian culture and history. The core of the monument is composed of tetragonal shapes on top of each other, decreasing in size towards the top. A red granite staircase of ten steps,  in height, winds around the base of the monument between two travertine reliefs  high and  wide, "Latvian riflemen" (13; ) and "Latvian people: the Singers" (14; ), which decorate its  thick sides. Two additional steps form a round platform, which is  in diameter, on which the whole monument stands. At the front of the monument this platform forms a rectangle, which is used for ceremonial proposes. The base of the monument, also made of red granite, is formed by two rectangular blocks: the lower one is a monolithic  high,  wide and  long, while the smaller upper block is  high,  wide and  long and has round niches in its corners, each containing a sculptural group of three figures. Its sides are also paneled with travertine.
On the front of the monument, in between the groups "Work" (10; depicting a fisherman, a craftsman and a farmer, who stands in the middle holding a scythe decorated with oak leaves and acorns to symbolize strength and manhood) and "Guards of the Fatherland" (9; depicting an ancient Latvian warrior standing between two kneeling modern soldiers), a dedication by the Latvian writer Kārlis Skalbe is inscribed on one of the travertine panels: For Fatherland and Freedom (6; ).
On the sides the travertine panels bear two reliefs: "1905" (7;  in reference to the Russian Revolution of 1905), and "The Battle against the Bermontians on the Iron Bridge" (8; , referring to the decisive battle in Riga during the Latvian War of Independence). On the back of the monument are another two sculptural groups: "Family" (12; ) (a mother standing between her two children) and "Scholars" (11; ). On the red granite base there is yet another rectangular block,  high and wide, and  long, encircled by four 5.5–6 meters (18–20 ft) high gray granite sculptural groups: "Latvia" (2; ), "Lāčplēsis" (3; , an epic Latvian folk hero), "Vaidelotis" (5; a Baltic pagan priest) and "Chain breakers" (4; ) (three chained men trying to break free from their chains).
The topmost block serves also as the foundation for the  high monolithic travertine column, which is  by  at the base. To the front and rear a line of glass runs along the middle of the column. The column is topped by a copper figure of Liberty (1), which is  tall and in the form of a woman lifting three gilded stars, symbolizing the constitutional districts of Latvia: Vidzeme, Latgale and Courland.Statue of Liberty, retrieved: 2007-02-07 The whole monument is built around a frame of reinforced concrete and was originally fastened together with lead, bronze cables and lime mortar. However, some of the original materials were replaced with polyurethane filler during restoration. There is a room inside the Monument, accessed through a door in its rear side, which contains a staircase leading upwards in the Monument that is used for electrical installation and to provide access to the sewerage. The room cannot be accessed by the public and is used mainly as storage, however it has been proposed that the room could be redesigned forming a small exhibition, which would be used to introduce foreign officials visiting Latvia with the history of the Monument after the flower-laying ceremony. Iecere atvērt Brīvības pieminekļa iekštelpu Tvnet.lv (LNT) 2008-02-20, retrieved on 2008-02-20

</section>
<section id="41628" fatherid="0" title="Location" lv="" priority="3" level="1">
The monument is located in the center of Riga on Brīvības bulvāris ("Freedom Boulevard"), near the old town of Riga. In 1990 a section of the street around the monument, about  long, between Rainis and Aspazija boulevards, was pedestrianized, forming a plaza. Part of it includes a bridge over the city's canal, once a part of the city's fortification system, which was demolished in the 19th century to build the modern boulevard district. Rīga 1860–1917 Rīga 1978 Zinātne (No ISBN) The canal is  long and surrounded by parkland for half of its length.http://www.vecriga.info/, retrieved on 2007-05-30 The earth from the demolition of the fortifications was gathered in the park and now forms an artificial hill with a cascade of waterfalls to the north of the monument. The Boulevard district east of the park is the location of several embassies and institutions, of which the closest to the Freedom Monument are the German and French embassies, the University of Latvia and Riga State Gymnasium No.1. Map at rigatourism.com, retrieved on 2007-06-03
Situated in the park near the monument to the south is the National Opera House with a flower garden and a fountain in front of it. Enciklopēdija "Rīga" Rīga 1988 Galvenā enciklopēdiju redakcija (No ISBN) Opposite the opera house on the western part of plaza near the old town, is a small café and the Laima clock. The clock was set up in 1924, and in 1936 it was decorated with an advertisement for the Latvian confectionery brand "Laima", from which it took its name; it is a popular meeting spot. "Laimas" pulkstenim veiks kosmētisko remontu, retrieved on 2007-04-20
Originally it was planned that an elliptical plaza would be built around the foot of the monument, enclosed by a granite wall  high, with benches placed inside it, while a hedge of thujas was to be planted around the outside. This project was however not carried out in the 1930s. The idea was reconsidered in the 1980s but shelved again. "Latvijas Enciklopēdija" (I sējums) Rīga 2002 SIA "Valērija Belokoņa izdevniecība" ISBN 9984-9482-1-8

</section>
<section id="41629" fatherid="0" title="Construction" lv="" priority="4" level="1">
The idea of building a memorial to honor soldiers killed in action during the Latvian War of Independence first emerged in the early 1920s. On July 27, 1922, the Prime Minister of Latvia, Zigfrīds Anna Meierovics, ordered rules to be drawn up for a contest for designs of a "memorial column". The winner of this contest was a scheme proposing a column  tall with reliefs of the official symbols of Latvia and bas-reliefs of Krišjānis Barons and Atis Kronvalds. It was later rejected after a protest from 57 artists. In October 1923, a new contest was announced, using for the first time the term "Freedom Monument". The contest ended with two winners, and a new closed contest was announced in March 1925, but, due to disagreement within the jury, there was no result.
Finally in October 1929, the last contest was announced. The winner was the design "Shine like a star!" () by sculptor Kārlis Zāle, who had had success in the previous contests as well. After minor corrections made by the author and supervising architect Ernests Štālbergs, construction began on November 18, 1931. Financed by private donations, the monument was erected by the entrance to the old town, in the same place where the previous central monument of Riga, a bronze equestrian statue of the Russian Emperor Peter the Great, had stood. It was calculated in 1935, the year when the monument was unveiled, that in four years of construction 308,000 man-hours were required to work the stone materials alone: 130 years would have been required if one person were to carry out the work using the most advanced equipment of the time. The total weight of materials used was about 2,500 tons: such a quantity of materials would have required about 200 freight cars if transported by railway.

</section>
<section id="41630" fatherid="0" title="Restoration" lv="" priority="5" level="1">
The monument was restored twice during the Soviet era (1962 and 1980–1981). In keeping with tradition the restorations and maintenance after the renewal of Latvia's independence are financed partly by private donations. The monument underwent major restoration in 1998–2001. During this restoration the statue of Liberty and its stars were cleaned, restored and gilded anew. Brīvības pieminekļa atjaunošanas darbus sāks pirmdien Delfi.lv (Leta) 2006-03-10, retrieved on 2007-05-11 The monument was formally re-opened on July 24, 2001. Brīvības pieminekļa atklāšanā skanēs Zigmara Liepiņa kantāte Delfi.lv (BNS) 2001-06-21, retrieved on 2007-02-15 The staircase, column, base and inside of the monument were restored, and the stone materials were cleaned and re-sealed. The supports of the monument were fixed to prevent subsidence. Although the restorers said at the time that the monument would withstand a hundred years without another major restoration, it was discovered a few years later that the gilding of the stars was damaged, due to the restoration technique used. The stars were restored again during maintenance and restoration in 2006; however, this restoration was rushed and there is no warranty of its quality. Apzeltī bez garantijas Vietas.lv (Neatkarīga) 2006-04-20, retrieved on 2007-05-11
</section>
<section id="41631" fatherid="0" title="Guard of Honor" lv="" priority="6" level="1">
The guard of honor was present from the unveiling of the monument until 1940, when it was removed shortly after the occupation of Latvia. It was renewed on November 11, 1992."Latvijas Enciklopēdija" (I sējums) Rīga 2002 SIA "Valērija Belokoņa izdevniecība" ISBN 9984-9482-1-8 The guards are soldiers of The Company of Guard of Honor of the Headquarters Battalion of the National Armed Forces (). The guard is not required to be on duty in bad weather conditions and if the temperatures are below  or above . The guards work in two weekly shifts, with three or four pairs of guards taking over from each other hourly in a ceremony commanded by the chief of the guard. Besides them there also are two watchmen in each shift, who look out for the safety of the guards of honor.
Normally the guard changes every hour between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. After an hour on watch the guards have two hours free that they spend in their rooms at the Ministry of Defence. Dienests kā atbildīgs un interesants darbs bdaugava.lv 2006-11-16, retrieved: 2007-03-09 Since September 2004 the guards also patrol every half hour during their watch: they march off from the base of the monument and march twice along each side of it and then return to their posts. Godasardze pie Brīvības pieminekļa veiks ceremoniālu patrulēšanu apollo.lv (BBI) 2004-09-20, retrieved 2007-03-09 The guards are required to be  tall and in good health, as they are required to stand without moving for half an hour. Bruņoto spēku seja Dialogi.lv 2004-11-17, retrieved: 2007-03-09 Brīvības simbola sargs staburags.lv 2004-11-15, retrieved: 2007-03-09

</section>
<section id="41632" fatherid="0" title="Political significance" lv="" priority="7" level="1">
The Freedom Monument remained, but its symbolism was reinterpreted. The three stars were said to stand for the newly created Baltic Soviet Republics - Estonian SSR, Latvian SSR, and Lithuanian SSR - held aloft by Mother Russia and the monument was said to have been erected after World War II as a sign of popular gratitude toward the Soviet leader Joseph Stalin for the liberation of the Baltic States.Brīvības Piemineklis, by Jānis Siliņš, Riga : Brīvības Pieminekļa Komitejas Izdevums (The Freedom Monument Committee), 1935, retrieved on 2007-02-07 In the summer of 1963, when the issue of demolition was raised again, it was decided that the destruction of a structure of such artistic and historic value, the building of which had been funded by donations of the residents of Latvia, would only cause deep indignation, which in turn would cause tension in society. Brīvības pieminekli uzspridzināt, Pēteri I vietā… Apollo.lv (Latvijas Avīze) 2006-05-05, retrieved on 2007-02-17 Over time the misinterpretation of symbolism also was toned down and by 1988 the monument was said, with somewhat more accuracy, to have been built to "celebrate the liberation from bondage of the autocracy of the tsar and German barons", although withholding the fact that the Bolshevik Red Army and the Red Latvian Riflemen were also adversaries in the Latvian War of Independence. Enciklopēdija "Rīga" Rīga 1988 Galvenā enciklopēdiju redakcija (No ISBN)
Despite the Soviet government’s efforts, on June 14, 1987, about 5,000 people rallied to commemorate the victims of Soviet deportations. This event, organized by the human s group Helsinki-86, was the first time after the Soviet occupation that the flower-laying ceremony took place, as the practice was banned by the Soviet authorities. George Bush: NATO will defend freedom worldwide Regnum News Agency, 2006-11-29, retrieved: 2007-02-07 In response the Soviet government organized a bicycle race at the monument at the time when the ceremony was planned to take place. Helsinki-86 organized another flower-laying ceremony on August 23 in the same year to commemorate the anniversary of the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact, at which the crowd was dispersed using jets of water. "Helsinki – 86" rīkotās akcijas 1987. gadā, retrieved: 2007-03-19 Yet the independence movement grew in size, amounting in some events to more than half a million participants (about one quarter of Latvia's population) and three years later, on May 4, 1990, the re-establishment of the independence of Latvia was declared. Lūzums. No milicijas līdz policijai by Jānis Vahers, Ilona Bērziņa Nordik, 2006 ISBN 9984-792-16-1  
Since the re-establishment of independence the monument has become a focal point for a variety of events. One of these - on March 16, the commemoration day of veterans of the Latvian Legion of the Waffen-SS, who fought the Soviet Union during World War II - has caused controversy. The date was first celebrated by Latvians in exile before being brought to Latvia in 1990 and for a short time (1998–2000) was the official remembrance day. Law "On holidays and remembrance days" with amendments, retrieved: 2007-05-10
In 1998 the event drew the attention of the foreign mass media and in the following year the Russian government condemned the event as a glorification of Nazism. 16. marts Latviešu leģiona vēstures kontekstā by Antonijs Zunda, professor of Latvian University, retrieved on 2006-03-16 The event evolved into a political conflict between  and , posing a threat to public safety. Provokācija pie Brīvības pieminekļa Archived press coverage regarding 2005-03-16 (Neatkarīgā; Diena; Latvijas Avīze), retrieved on 2007-05-10
The Latvian government took a number of steps in order to try to bring the situation under control, and in 2006 not only were the events planned by  wing organizations not approved, but the monument was fenced off, according to an announcement by Riga city council, for restoration. The monument was indeed restored in 2006, but this statement was later questioned, as politicians named various other reasons for the change of date, the enclosed area was much larger than needed for restoration, and the weather appeared inappropriate for restoration work. Brīvības pieminekļa koka mētelītis Politika.lv 2006-03-14, retrieved 2007-03-18 Therefore the government was criticized by the Latvian press for being unable to ensure public safety and freedom of speech. The unapproved events took place despite the ban. Latvijas jaunāko laiku vēsturē ierakstīta jauna 16. marta lappuse Archived press coverage regarding 2006-03-16 (Neatkarīgā; Diena; Latvijas Vēstnesis; Latvijas Avīze; Nedēļa), retrieved on 2007-03-17 On November 23, 2006, the law requiring the approval of the authorities for public gatherings was ruled unconstitutional. Decree of Constitutional court, retrieved on 2007-06-04 In the future years the government mobilized the police force to guard the neighborhood of the monument and the events were relatively peaceful. Policija Rīgas centrā gatavojas 16.marta pasākumiem Delfi.lv 2007-03-16, retrieved: 2007-03-19 Leģionāru piemiņas pasākums noritējis bez starpgadījumiem Delfi.lv 2008-03-16, retrieved: 2008-03-16

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<section id="41633" fatherid="0" title="See also" lv="" priority="-8" level="1">
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<section id="41634" fatherid="0" title="References" lv="" priority="-9" level="1">
</section>
<section id="41635" fatherid="0" title="Further reading" lv="" priority="-10" level="1">
</section>
<section id="41636" fatherid="0" title="External links" lv="" priority="-11" level="1">
Category:Monuments and memorials in Latvia
Category:Buildings and structures in Riga
Category:1935 architecture
Category:National symbols of Latvia
Category:Visitor attractions in Riga

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