Partisan movements have taken place throughout Europe, which was especially noticeable during WWII and the post-war period when foreign powers occupied some territory. Many countries had to fight for the independence and freedom of their state. Stompaki National Partisan Camp in the north of Latgale (which the partisans called Saliņu mītnes (Island base)) is the largest camp of its kind in Latvia, both in terms of the area and numbers.The Viļaka Municipality Museum tries to involve young people and students in their activities to help them learn about the history of their region, learn to evaluate different historical events and how they have influenced the history of our municipality and Latvia, and why it is important to preserve it. This is how patriotism and love towards one’s homeland is born.

Partisan movements have taken place throughout Europe, which was especially noticeable during WWII and the post-war period when foreign powers occupied some territory. Many countries had to fight for the independence and freedom of their state. Groups of partisans often formed who did not support foreign power on their land. Many went to the woods and started a resistance movement. Some were larger, some were smaller. Partisan movements were started in many European countries – Poland, Greece, France, Ireland, Lithuania, Romania, etc. One of these countries was Latvia. There is a small town on the northeast of Latvia called Viļaka where the number of residents does not exceed 1500. After WWII, some of the former territories of Viļaka district were annexed to the Soviet Union. The distance from Viļaka to the border of the Soviet Union was only 8 km, but this is where one of the largest national partisan movements in the Baltic States against the soviet power took place. The camp had 24 dugouts (intended for 20—30 people), two stables for 30 horses, a food storage, a bakery, and a church. The camp also had a specially created partisan court, which punished captured soviet activists. Every day catholic priest Ludvigs Štagars («Pabērzs») held services at the church; there was also one marriage. Stompaki National Partisan Camp in the north of Latgale (which the partisans called Saliņu mītnes (Island base)) is the largest camp of its kind in Latvia, both in terms of the area and numbers. It began forming at the beginning of 1945 when smaller national partisan groups and illegal residents joined together. The creation of the camp and uniting of the national partisans was initiated by the creator and commander of the Latvian National Partisan Association (LNPA) Pēteris Supe („Cinītis”, 1920–1946). The residents of the camp were primarily the national partisans of Viļaka, Šķilbēni, Baltinava, and Tilža civil parishes. By March 1945, the number of camp residents reached 350 – 360 persons. Bread was made in the bakery every day and distributed to groups of partisans together with other provisions. 25 residential bunkers were built while the camp existed. The buildings were half under the ground. Different sizes. Suitable for accommodation of 8 to 30 people. During Stompaki battle, the Church bunker hosted the medical aid station. Such an impressive number shows that the residents of northern Latgale were not willing to accept the regime of Communist occupation and were ready to fight against it. At the same time, this is also confirmed by the regular attacks of the national partisans, from January until March 1945, on the military staff and collaborationists of the occupation regime. On 2 March 1945, Stompaki Camp was attacked by Chekist soldiers and local destruction battalions, 483 soldiers in total. The battle lasted for the most of the day, and at night before March 3 the national partisans managed to escape the encirclement. The partisans all in all lost 28 members, including those who died later from the wounds. The losses of the enemy were at least 32 fatalities. It was the largest and the longest battle of the national partisans against the military of the Soviet occupation in Latvia. The soviet powers tried to break the national partisan movement in different ways when on 25 March 1949 several thousand residents of Latvia were sent to Siberia. The reason given was affiliation with national partisans. However, the national partisan fight continued in North Latgale until 1954. The Stompaki battle and the fates of its participants are still worthy of remembrance and attention nowadays.

European dimension: Memorial signs are installed in many European countries. At Stompaki Swamp, which was one of the largest national partisan settlements, the local government of Viļaka Municipality has improved the infrastructure to make the object more accessible by placing road signs, a tourist house, pointers, benches, a visitor counter, etc. The Viļaka Municipality Museum tries to involve young people and students in their activities to help them learn about the history of their region, learn to evaluate different historical events and how they have influenced the history of our municipality and Latvia, and why it is important to preserve it. Time goes by, old people pass away, and the number of people who have lived through these events is getting smaller and smaller, but it is important for young people to form a historical memory of their country and native region. This is how patriotism and love towards one’s homeland is born. During student excursions to Stompaki Marsh, young people get educated and think how important it is to preserve peace in the world and what it cost. To make excursions to Stompaki Marsh even more interesting and diverse, the 1.5 km long footpath to the partisan lodging needs to be improved.