The Rubeņa Battalion was a well-armed and organized military unit of over 600 men, who knew themselves to be outside the two hostile occupying powers during World War II. The battle they fought in late 2 was the largest and longest in the entire history of the Latvian national resistance movement. The unit received widespread public support and demonstrated high morale, fighting for the idea of restoring a democratic Latvian state.
To experience the real taste of battles, you can go with Andrejs Ķeizars to the restored camp of the 2nd company of the Rubenis battalion in the forest near Lake Ilziķi in Usma parish, near the former Ilziķi houses. Together with his story and a sip of a medicinal drink, the dramatic events of autumn come to life. He offers two routes. The shortest is a trip to the bunker, the longest is a trip along the Rubenis battalion's battle routes, i.e. in the direction of Renda. The second is definitely more beautiful in autumn.
Every year on November 14th at 16:00 PM, a memorial event for the Rubenians takes place in Usma parish near Lake Ilzīķi.