Memorial to the Kurelians

The Kurelians (Kurelieši) were a Latvian unit of soldiers led by General Jānis Kurelis, which was formed in July 1944 on permission from the German occupation authorities to fight against the Soviet Army. The real purpose of the unit was to fight against both occupying powers – Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union – in the hope of restoring an independent Latvia.
Having learned of the Kurelians’ true intentions, the unit was disbanded, many were arrested, sentenced and sent to concentration camps. Some of the arrested Kurelians were taken to the Liepāja Karosta prison. On 20 November 1944 eight officers were executed.