Stories
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08/20/2010
Andris Zaļkalns
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PZ – “Podgraņičnaja zona”Before long, a Russian man arrived, wearing Kirza boots, his assault rifle on the shoulder and a dog on the lead. I never guessed from where he appeared. I had a little red booklet in my pocket, titled “Ļesnaja služba SSSR” (the USSR State Forestry). It was my job certificate He saluted and left, as I was an official and had the right of access in the zone. It was very important that the booklet had red cover and the letters USSR – it was a safe guarantee that I was not a foreign spy and was not going to flee.
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08/20/2010
Aivars Grava
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Border guards in ZiemupeIn the end of the 60-ies and the beginning of the 70-ies, a construction battalion arrived. They fenced a pitch, brought stones from the fields of the collective farm and started to build the base for “land-to-air” missiles. Usually the local tractor drivers went up to the gates and the soldiers took the loaded vehicles into the territory. Sometimes the engine would stop and a soldier would not know how to cope. Then the local drivers were admitted to the territory to save the situation, nearly blindfolded so that they did not see what happens inside. The <i>strojba</i>t built the base in about 1.5 years. They planted some birch trees. The base was not large, there were three nests, and each held one missile. There was a locator on the top of a dike. They built barracks and two residential homes. There were more officers than soldiers in the missile base as soldiers were only in the service staff. The officers were educated in telecommunications. It was very convenient for the locals. When a radio or TV set went out of order, they just had to give a call to the military and a bottle of wine, and the problem was solved.
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