Staraya Russa preserves Latvian Guards Street name amid ongoing WWII tributes
A decision has been made to keep the name of Latvian Guards Street in Staraya Russa unchanged. Meanwhile, tributes to the 43rd Guards Latvian Rifle Division continue in the Novgorod region, where military graves and memorials honour the soldiers’ legacy. The 43rd Guards Latvian Rifle Division fought in the Novgorod region during World War II. Three military graves now mark their presence, located in Utushkino, Bracklovitsy, and Marfino. Each grave features plates in both Russian and Latvian, installed by Latvian veterans.
In 2023, migrants from the Baltic States laid flowers at the Marfino memorial on the anniversary of Riga’s liberation. The inscription on the flowers read, 'To the Guards of the 43rd Latvian Division from immigrants from the Baltic States.' This tradition of laying flowers continued in 2024, with tributes left at the graves in Utushkino and Bracklovitsy on the eve of Victory Day.
Elsewhere, a street in Riga named after Latvian Guards was renamed in 2023. However, Staraya Russa’s Latvian Guards Street will retain its original name. The graves and memorials remain active sites of remembrance. The bilingual plates and ongoing flower-laying tradition ensure the soldiers of the 43rd Guards Latvian Rifle Division are not forgotten. Staraya Russa’s street name decision preserves another link to their history.
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