Soviet arsenal in Riga, 1941?

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Poot
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Soviet arsenal in Riga, 1941?

#1

Post by Poot » 02 Feb 2015, 18:32

Is anyone aware of a Soviet-controlled arsenal or similar weapons facility that was in operation in Riga, Latvia by the time of operation Barbarossa? It might even have been a simple weapons depot or repair facility. The term 'arsenal' was used in an English language report of a post-war interview of a German officer, so it might not have been a full-scale arsenal, but something simpler or smaller.

If you know of one there, do you know what types of weapons were produced/assembled/repaired there (small arms, crew-served, artillery, armor)?
Thank you,
Pat
He who lives by the sword, should train with it frequently.

GregSingh
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Re: Soviet arsenal in Riga, 1941?

#2

Post by GregSingh » 02 Feb 2015, 23:48

Arsenal building in Riga was a 19th century customs warehouse. Today it's a Museum of Art.
http://www.lnmm.lv/en/arsenals/misc/about/history/
"The building in which the Arsenāls Exhibition Hall is located was used as a warehouse for the most part of its existence. In the 1920s – 1930s it served as storage space for military equipment."
Google maps coordinates: 56.951604, 24.104124


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Poot
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Re: Soviet arsenal in Riga, 1941?

#3

Post by Poot » 03 Feb 2015, 02:14

Greg,
Thank you. That one kept coming up in internet searches I did on this, but the translator of the document in question was specific about mentioning this in the context of Soviet weapons facilities, and what was done to move them ahead of the German advance in 1941.

Thanks for your response,
Pat
He who lives by the sword, should train with it frequently.

GregSingh
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Re: Soviet arsenal in Riga, 1941?

#4

Post by GregSingh » 03 Feb 2015, 03:58

There was also a factory called "Arsenal" in Riga. I don't know exactly when it was established.
Most likely Soviets changed it's name to "Arsenal" when Latvia was taken in 1940, but factory existed earlier. Apparently it was doing repairs of small arms and artillery weapons before 1940. During Soviet rule it was doing repairs of armored vehicles.

When Germans took over in 1941 factory became Waffenwerkstatt Riga and was repairing damaged Soviet tanks. Although name Arsenal also appears.

Sources:
http://forum.myriga.info/index.php?showtopic=3008 - Discussion about factories in Riga
http://forum.faleristika.info/viewtopic.php?p=1129796 - Medal 50 years of Arsenal factory 1940-1990
http://www.warhistoryonline.com/war-art ... tanks.html - based on info from Thomas L. Jentz book

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Poot
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Re: Soviet arsenal in Riga, 1941?

#5

Post by Poot » 03 Feb 2015, 17:50

Excellent Greg, thank you!

Any other sources for Arsenal Riga are welcome. I'm especially interested in any work done on small arms in the area during the Soviet and German occupation periods.

Best,
Pat
He who lives by the sword, should train with it frequently.

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