Žanis Lipke Memorial

On Ķīpsala island in Rīga, the Žanis Lipke Memorial tells how dock worker Žanis Lipke and a small network helped Jews escape the Riga Ghetto during World War II. The wooden building resembles an overturned boat, and its exhibits include a reconstruction of the underground bunker where Lipke hid people beneath a shed on his property. It is a quiet place to learn about rescue and risk during the Nazi occupation, with an audioguide available. Entry is free; donations are optional.

Lipke and the rescue network

Žanis Lipke worked at the docks during the Nazi occupation of Latvia. His job brought him into contact with Jews from the Riga Ghetto who were taken to work. He helped people escape and arranged for them to reach safe houses around the country.

Lipke’s family and close friends took part in the effort. A network of about 25 people helped save Jews from the Nazis. Accounts give different totals for those rescued, but agree that Lipke and his helpers saved dozens of people.

The hiding place and memorial

As conditions worsened, Lipke built an underground shelter beneath a shed on his property. He hid people there, including a group of 13, before they could move to safer places. The shelter was not discovered by German police, and Lipke was not caught.

The memorial stands beside Lipke’s former home in Ķīpsala. Its wooden form recalls a shed and has also been likened to an overturned boat or Noah’s Ark. A reconstructed bunker gives visitors a sense of the refuge beneath the original shed. The exhibits also address the conditions faced by people rescued from the ghetto.