Museum of the World War I “Pie Komendanta”

The Museum of the World War I “Pie Komendanta” in Daugavpils is a small but atmospheric museum dedicated to the dramatic events that unfolded in the Daugavpils Fortress during the First World War. Located in a former commandant’s building, it offers an unusually intimate look at life inside a military stronghold that shifted between German, Russian, and later Latvian control. Its name, meaning “At the Commandant’s,” reflects the building’s original function as the administrative centre of fortress life. One of the museum’s most interesting aspects is its collection of authentic wartime artefacts—uniforms, weapons, field equipment, and personal belongings recovered from the fortress grounds. These items reveal the daily routines of soldiers stationed far from home, coping with harsh conditions, disease, and the uncertainty of a rapidly changing front. The museum also highlights the strategic importance of Daugavpils as a railway and river hub, explaining how the fortress became a key point in the Eastern Front. Archival photographs and reconstructed rooms help visitors imagine the commandant’s office, guard posts, and communication centres as they looked more than a century ago.