18th Daugavpils Aizsargi Regiment and its Activities in the Field of Culture and Sport (1923–1940)

– Darba mērķis – izpētīt 18.Daugavpils aizsargu pulka izveides apstākļus un darbību, īpaši akcentējot pulka aizsargu darbību kultūras un sporta jomās. Izpētes rezultātā tika konstatēts, ka 18.Daugavpils aizsargu pulka aizsargu darbību kultūras un sporta jomā laika periodā no 1923. līdz 1940.gadam var iedalīt divos darbības posmos ar katram no tiem raksturīgām attīstības iezīmēm. Pirmajā periodā, 1923.-1933.gados, aktīvākajās pulka aizsargu nodaļās tika uzsākta darbība kultūras un sporta jomā. Aizsargi praktiski visās nodaļās pievērsās kultūras jomai, mazāk sportam, bieži rīkoja kultūras pasākumus ar mērķi gūt peļņu. Otrajā posmā, 1934.- 1940.gados, pamazām, bet konsekventi pieauga aizsargu aktivitātes kultūras un sporta jomā. Īpaši uzskatāmi tas izpaudās Daugavpils un Krustpils pilsētu nodaļās un Daugavpils apriņķa Ziemeļrietumu pagastos. 1930.gadu nogalē 18.Daugavpils aizsargu pulka aizsargi kultūras un sporta darbībā sasniedza pārējās Latvijas Aizsargu organizācijas līmeni, sacenšoties ar citiem aizsargiem gan kultūras pasākumos, gan arī gūstot panākumus sportā.– The aim of the work: to research the conditions of formation and activity of 18th Daugavpils Aizsargi regiment, especially emphasizing the regiment guards’ activity in the field of culture and sport. In the result of the research it was ascertained that the activity of 18th Daugavpils Aizsargi regiment in the field of culture and sport for the period of 1923 –1940 can be divided into two stages of activity with distinctive features of development in each of them. During the first stage, from 1923 to1933, in the most active departments of the regiment was started activity in the field of culture and sport. The guards of practically all departments focused their attention on culture, not so much on sport; they often held cultural events with the aim of getting profit. During the second stage, from 1934 to 1940, little by little, but consequently there was growth in the guards’ activity in the field of culture and sport. Especially brightly it became apparent in the departments of Daugavpils and Krustpils, as well as in North-Eastern parishes of Daugavpils district. In the late 1930s the guards of 18th Daugavpils Aizsargi regiment achieved the level of the other organization of Latvian Defenders in the field of culture and sport, by competing with them at cultural events as well as getting achievements in sport