The history of our ancestors from ancient times is closely linked with kurgans. Many of them hold memories of battles where the sons of the Fatherland stood to the death fighting foreign invaders. Years pass, events fade into history. Some of them gradually melt away in the people's memory, while others, on the contrary, become brighter over time and serve future generations. For half a century, the Kurgan Druzhby (Friendship Mound), erected at the junction of the borders of three districts – Ludza in Latvia, Sebezh in Russia, and Verkhnedvinsk in Belarus – has stood as such an unfading symbol of friendship between peoples of different nationalities.
The mound was built in memory of the combat cooperation of partisans from three republics in 1959, 8 kilometers from the village of Proshki (in these areas fought Heroes of the Soviet Union Pyotr Masherov and Ivan Zakharov). Kalinin partisans from Russia, and special detachments "Boyevoy" and "Besstrashny" took part in joint combat operations. The Latvian partisan brigade was born and gained fame here. The Latvian partisans at that time were commanded by the Hero of the Soviet Union, future academician, Vilis Samsons).
Undying glory was won by the legendary partisan brigades named after M.V. Frunze (Osvia), the 1st and 2nd Drissa partisan brigades.
The feats of soldiers of partisan detachments and brigades under the command of Heroes of the Soviet Union Valentin Neklyudov and Ivan Zakharov, and commanders Afanasy Grigoryev, Vladimir Simatsky, and Grigory Gerasimov are forever inscribed in the history of Verkhnedvinsk region.
The solemn opening of the memorial took place on July 3, 1959. In subsequent years, on the first Sunday of July, former partisans, war veterans, and residents of neighboring republics gathered at the mound. These meetings became the most massive and beloved holiday for representatives of all generations.
An oak tree is planted on the top of the mound – a symbol of the unwavering friendship of fraternal peoples. Three alleys lead from the mound: a birch alley towards Belarus, a maple alley towards Russia, and a linden alley towards Latvia. The mound itself with the oak is located on the territory of Latvia. The Museum of Partisan Glory is located on the Belarusian side, and the concert stage is on the Russian side. Monuments in honor of the heroes and events of the Great Patriotic War are located in each of the border territories.
On the Belarusian side, a monument to the Proshki underground fighters has been erected (In the village of Proshki, from August to November 1942, a Komsomol youth underground organization operated, headed by the communist Grigory Sergeyevich Lukashenok. The organization numbered about 30 people of different nationalities. For example, the underground group included: the director of the local seven-year school Vladimir Westenberg (of Volga German origin), students of the 9th-10th grades Mikhail and Pyotr Lukashenok, Evgenia Frolenok, Maria Proshko, former deputy chairman of the collective farm Gerasim Frolenok. Alexander Grom from the Latvian village of Zaborie, who subsequently created an underground group on Latvian territory, contacted the underground fighters. Part of it became part of the Proshki organization.
The underground fighters distributed leaflets and Sovinformburo reports among the population, collected information about the enemy and weapons, and carried out sabotage. By the end of 1942, the members of the organization joined the partisans).
On July 5, 1964, the "Friendship" memorial house-museum was opened on the Kurgan. The museum's exhibits reflect the glorious deeds of the people's avengers, with a special place dedicated to the Proshki Komsomol organization.
On the Russian side, a monument to Maria Pyntho, secretary of the Sebezh underground Komsomol district committee, has been erected (M.S. Pyntho was born on March 16, 1921, in the village of Verino, Sebezhsky district, into a peasant family. In 1939, she graduated from secondary school and worked as the head of a reading room in the village of Dubrovka. During the Great Patriotic War, she was a scout in the 4th Kalinin partisan brigade named after A. Suvorov, and from April 1944, she was the second secretary of the Sebezh underground Komsomol district committee. In May 1944, M.S. Pyntho was killed by the fascists).
On the Latvian side, a memorial plaque has been erected to Imants Sudmalis (I.Ya. Sudmalis was born on March 18, 1916, in the city of Cesis into a teacher's family, a participant in the revolutionary movement in Latvia. From 1932, he was a member of the Communist Youth Union of Latvia, and led the underground Komsomol organization in the city of Liepaja. In 1940, he joined the Communist Party. After the restoration of Soviet power in Latvia, he served as secretary of the Liepaja Komsomol Committee and editor of the newspaper "Kommunist". At the beginning of the Great Patriotic War, he formed a rifle company from activists, which took part in the defense of the city of Liepaja. During the war years, Imants was the secretary of the party organization of the Latvian partisan brigade, which was stationed in Belarus and fought against the enemy alongside Belarusian and Russian partisans. In February 1944, he was captured by the fascists and killed after brutal torture. In 1957, I.Ya. Sudmalis was awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union).
