Subate

Subate ( German: Subbath ), is a city in Latvia near the border with Lithuania. Subate is Sēlija, the eastern part of the region Semgallen ( Latvian: Zemgale ), 40 km west of Daugavpils ( German: Dvinsk ) and has 964 inhabitants.

History

In 1570 transferred Gotthard Kettler, the first Duke of Courland and Semgallen, the Baltic German family Plater, who ruled as nobles throughout southeastern Latvia, a stately home on Lake Subate. This created Alt- Subbath. After the Counter-Reformation the family Plater - Sybergs was converted to Catholicism. When they tried to move their serfs for the transfer and the Lutherans to withdraw their St. George's Church, founded on these, opposite the lake on the estate of Hector Friedrich von Sacken New Subbath ( lett Jaunsubate ). Until 1894 that united the two places. In the late 19th century, Jews accounted for half the population; In 1914 the town had 2,300 inhabitants. 1917 Subate received its town charter. In the city was mainly traded with Lithuanian flax; this trade was insignificant but after the First World War. Almost all Jews from Subate were killed in 1941 during the German occupation by SS units under Walter Stahlecker.

Attractions

In Subate the Lutheran Subater church was built in 1686, representing the aspirations of the Church in her style to create an ideal space for the sermons of Martin Luther. The church was recognized as a European architectural monument.

Famous sons and daughters of the town

• Armin von Gerkan (1884-1969), German classical archaeologist and architectural historian

Weblink

• Shtetl Focus: Subate. Sighting 25. February 2006.