[ENG] “The Island of Death” was the nickname of a bridgehead on the left bank of the river Daugava, about 30 kilometres south of Riga. The name of the so-called island comes from the fact that the Latvian riflemen were isolated on three sides by German army, with the Daugava River behind them.. The bridgehead was 3 kilometres deep. Supplies and reinforcements had to be ferried across Daugava under German artillery fire. The bridgehead was subjected to mortar and artillery barrages daily. The Russian artillery supporting the Island of Death was stationed on the other bank of Daugava. The 2nd and 3rd Latvian Rifleman Battalions shared the defence of the Island of Death with some Russian battalions, usually two battalions in the bridgehead itself, the rest in reserve on the right bank of Daugava. The Germans had used poison gas for the first time in World War I. Since then all fronts were prepared for such attacks, and soldiers were issued gas masks. In 1924 there are raising a monument by architect E.Laube project (N 56°50.174 E 024°26.250) Since the dam of Riga hydro-electric power station was built the Island of Death accessible only by boat or by swimming. Cache is placed in bunker.
[LV] No 1916.gada pavasara līdz rudenim otrais un trešais Strēlnieku bataljons kopā ar krievu daļām aizstāvēja nelielu nocietinājumu Daugavas kreisajā krastā - priekšā bija ienaidnieks, aizmugure - plata upe, apkārt - klajs akmenains lauks. Aizstāvēties nācās zem vacu šāviņu un indīgo gāzu uguns, kas prasīja lielus cilvēku upurus, tāpēc šī vieta tika saukta par Naves salu.
Tumši tek Daugaviņa
Smagus, melnus viļņus veļ
Lielgabalu dobjus dārdus
No viņa krasta pāri ceļ
Tur Nāves salas uguns laukā
Lodes tikai dziesmas dzied
Un indes gāzēm piepildīti
Šavini cert elpu ciet
Bet ne jau raud un gaužas streļķi
Zem granātuguns tie jautri smej
Jo zina droši, par taisnu lietu
Tie savas asinis te lej
1924.gadā pēc arhitekta E.Laubes projekta te (N 56°50.174 E 024°26.250) uzcēla pieminekli, kuru varam skatīt vēl šodien. Pēc Rīgas HES uzcelšanas Nšves salu iespējams apmeklēt tikai ar laivu vai peldus. Slēpnis atrodas bunkurī.