Let's Build the Latvian Legion

[VJK]

Hi!

I have been posting a number of OOBs for the 15. Division of the Latvian Legion, and will be continuing in the same vein also for the 19. Division. I have suggested to Marcus, and he has agreed that it would be good idea to keep the info together for the sake of convenience, therefore he will be making this thread a sticky, and I will post all future info here.

Best regards,

VJK

[VJK]

SS-Nachschubtruppen 15:
Formed into SS-Versorgungs-Regiment 15 in March 1945.

Kdr.:
Mar 1943 - Nov 1943: Waffen-Obersturmbannführer Eižēns Oto Viktors Kozlovskis
Nov 1943 - Jun 1944: Waffen-Obersturmbannführer Reinholds Veckalniņš
Jun 1944 - Mar 1945: Waffen-Sturmbannführer Valdemārs Baumanis

Deputy Kdr.:
Mar 1943 - 1944: Waffen-Sturmbannführer Alfreds Krimuldēns
1944 - Mar 1945: Waffen-Hauptsturmführer Kārlis Robežnieks

Adjutant:
Waffen-Untersturmführer Laimonis Klinsons
? - Mar 1945: Waffen-Untersturmführer Ansis Mauriņš

IVA:
? - Mar 1945: Waffen-Obersturmführer Pēteris Biezais

IVB:
? - Mar 1945: Waffen-Hauptsturmführer Kaufmanis

IVC:
? - Mar 1945: Waffen-Obersturmführer Augusts Antons

Kraftfahr Company
1943 - Jun 1944: Waffen-Hauptsturmführer Eduards Riekstiņš
Jun 1944 - Mar 1945: Waffen-Hauptsturmführer Elmārs Kiršteins

Auto und Waffen Werkstätte Company
1943 - Jun 1944: Waffen-Hauptsturmführer Osītis
Jun 1944 - 1944: Waffen-Obersturmführer Kārlis Grūbe

Supply Company
1943 - Mar 1945: Waffen-Hauptsturmführer Silvestrs Skurulis

1. Horse Transport Squadron
1943 - Jun 1944: Waffen-Hauptsturmführer Apsītis
Jun 1944 - 1944: Waffen-Hauptsturmführer Jānis Miesnieks

2. Horse Transport Squadron
1943 - Mar 1945: Waffen-Obersturmführer Maigonis Gaujmalietis


SS-Versorgungs-Regiment 15:
Formed in March 1945 from SS-Nachschubtruppen 15.

Kdr.:
Mar 1945 - 2 May 1945: Waffen-Sturmbannführer Valdemārs Baumanis

Deputy Kdr.:
Mar 1945 - 2 May 1945: Waffen-Hauptsturmführer Kārlis Robežnieks

Adjutant:
Mar 1945 - 2 May 1945: Waffen-Untersturmführer Ansis Mauriņš

IVA:
Mar 1945 - 2 May 1945: Waffen-Obersturmführer Pēteris Biezais

IVB:
Mar 1945 - 2 May 1945: Waffen-Hauptsturmführer Kaufmanis

IVC:
Mar 1945 - 2 May 1945: Waffen-Obersturmführer Augusts Antons

Kraftfahr Company
Mar 1945 - 2 May 1945: Waffen-Hauptsturmführer Elmārs Kiršteins

Auto und Waffen Werkstätte Company
Mar 1945 - 2 May 1945: Waffen-Obersturmführer Pēteris Rēvalds

Supply Company
Mar 1945 - 2 May 1945: Waffen-Hauptsturmführer Silvestrs Skurulis

1. Horse Transport Squadron
Mar 1945 - 2 May 1945: Waffen-Untersturmführer Gaiķis

2. Horse Transport Squadron
Mar 1945 - 2 May 1945: Waffen-Obersturmführer Maigonis Gaujmalietis

1. Sanitary Company
Mar 1945 - 2 May 1945: Waffen-Untersturmführer Dr. Aleksandrs Osītis

2. Sanitary Company
Mar 1945 - 2 May 1945: Waffen-Hauptsturmführer Dr. Voldemārs Jansons

Veterinary Company
Mar 1945 - 2 May 1945: Waffen-Untersturmführer Oļģerts Ķuze

VJK

[Phil Don]

What a very good idea.

As Alfreds KRIMULDENS was Kdr of the III/Rgt 33 too, do you know if it was before of after beeing deputy commander of the Nachschub. As I don't have many infos on him, do you have some and perhaps a pic.

Thanks

Phil.

[Phil Don]

I was thinking that the two Sanitäts Kompanie more one Krankenkraftwagen Kompanie (or platoon) were forming a Sanitäts Bataillon or Abteilung.
I have :
Sanitäts Bataillon (if existing): commander Hstuf Dr. Voldemārs JANSONS
1 San Kp: Hstuf Dr. EGERTS then Ustuf Dr. Alexanders OSĪTIS
2 San Kp: Hstuf Dr. Voldemārs JANSONS
Krankenkraftwagen Kp: Hstuf BĀTIŅŠ

As I know, from 1943 to beginning 1945, normally, were existing the SS Nachschubstruppen 15 and a Wirtschaft Bataillon which was charged of the food of division (one baker company, one butcher company and one administration company). These two units were added to form the Versorgungs Regiment 15.

Phil.

[VJK]

Hi Phil!

I'll answer you're last question tomorrow, but as far as Alfreds Krimuldēns is concerned, there is very little info about him. All I have is what I posted here (no pic available): http://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic. ... s#p1182916

Best regards,

VJK

[VJK]

Hi Phil!

I have no record of the existance of a Sanitäts Bataillon, my sources show Hstuf Dr. Voldemārs JANSONS comanding just the 2 San Kp.

Prior to the formation of the SS-Versorgungs-Regiment 15 in March 1945, the 1. and 2. San Kp. and the Krankenkraftwagen Kp (I have the CO as Hstuf BĒTIŅŠ) were directly subordinated to the IVB of the 15. Division. Similarly, the Baker Kp., and the Butcher Kp. were directly subordinated to the IVA of the Division (I have no record of a Wirtschaft Bataillon) and the Veterinary Kp. to the Divisional IVC. At the beginning of March 1945, the Kdr. of the SS-Nachschubtruppen 15 was ordered to form SS-Versorgungs-Regiment 15 which was to include the units of the SS-Nachschubtruppen 15 and those directly subordinated to the Divisional staff.

I hope this helps to make the situation slightly more clear.

Best regards,

VJK

[Phil Don]

Hi VJK

For the Wirtschaft Bataillon, I don't have my books with me actualy but I think I've seen feldpost for him. I try to verify at the end of the week. But even the Axishistory Factbook, for the 15 Waf.Gren.Div. der SS, have a sanitäts and a wirtschafts bataillon.

Phil.

[e.polis]

If it is of any help, my father was in the 15 WSS, 15th Pioneer Battalion, Vetinary Company between 1943 - 1945

[Phil Don]

Hi

Here what I have for the 15 SS division's staff.

Ia : Legions Standartenführer Artūrs SILGAILIS
SS Hauptsturmführer HAHN
SS Sturmbannführer Franz KNEBEL
SS Sturmbannführer Hans ENDRES
SS Sturmbannführer Erich WULFF
SS Sturmbannführer Adolf KOPP

Ib : SS Hauptsturmführer FRITSCHER
SS Hauptsturmführer HAHN
SS Hauptsturmführer von ZENETTI

Ic : SS Hauptsturmführer Josef GEILLING
SS Obersturmführer Friedrich PREFFEN

IIa : SS Hauptsturmführer Josef GEILLING
SS Obersturmführer Arnold SACK
SS Hauptsturmführer Karl BESTMANN
SS Sturmbannführer Josef SCHWÖDER

IVa : SS Sturmbannführer Erich WITTESCH
SS Hauptsturmführer Ernst JAHNKE
SS Hauptsturmführer Wilhelm OETTING
SS Sturmbannführer Josef SCHWÖDER

IVb : SS Sturmbannführer Dr. Kurt TIEDJEN
SS Sturmbannführer Dr. Harry BEHRNDT

IVc : SS Sturmbannführer Dr. Friedrich WAHL

V : SS Untersturmführer Hermann ADRIAN

VI : SS Sturmbannführer Alfred MÄDER
SS Hauptsturmführer Josef SCHEER

Liaison officer : Waffen Obersturmbannführer der SS Indriķis JURKO

WuG : Waffen Untersturmführer der SS PUTNINS

Chaplains: Jūlijs STRAUME (lutherian) and Kasimir RUCS (catholic)

Regards

Phil.

[Mikedc]

Phil Don wrote the following:

Here what I have for the 15 SS division's staff.
Ia : Legions Standartenführer Artūrs SILGAILIS Are you sure???
SS Hauptsturmführer HAHN This is Franz Hahn
SS Sturmbannführer Franz KNEBEL
SS Sturmbannführer Hans ENDRES
SS Sturmbannführer Erich WULFF
SS Sturmbannführer Adolf KOPP
Ib : SS Hauptsturmführer FRITSCHER This is Ernst Fritscher
SS Hauptsturmführer HAHN Are you sure, when did he had this post???
SS Hauptsturmführer von ZENETTI This is Leopold von Zenetti
Ic : SS Hauptsturmführer Josef GEILLING He was Ic after Proffen
SS Obersturmführer Friedrich PREFFEN Correct name is Friedrich Proffen
IIa : SS Hauptsturmführer Josef GEILLING Before he became Ic???
SS Obersturmführer Arnold SACK
SS Hauptsturmführer Karl BESTMANN
SS Sturmbannführer Josef SCHWÖDER Are you sure??? Correct name is Josef Schwörer
IVa : SS Sturmbannführer Erich WITTESCH
SS Hauptsturmführer Ernst JAHNKE Are you sure????
SS Hauptsturmführer Wilhelm OETTING
SS Sturmbannführer Josef SCHWÖDER Correct name is Schwörer
IVb : SS Sturmbannführer Dr. Kurt TIEDJEN
SS Sturmbannführer Dr. Harry BEHRNDT Are you sure???
IVc : SS Sturmbannführer Dr. Friedrich WAHL
V : SS Untersturmführer Hermann ADRIAN Are you sure???
VI : SS Sturmbannführer Alfred MÄDER
SS Hauptsturmführer Josef SCHEER
Liaison officer : Waffen Obersturmbannführer der SS Indriķis JURKO Are you sure????
WuG : Waffen Untersturmführer der SS PUTNINS I don't have anything about him
Chaplains: Waffen-Sturmbannführer Jūlijs STRAUME (lutherian) and Kasimir RUCS (catholic) I don't have anything on this person

I have some additional info as well:
SS-Hauptsturmführer Egbert Hochhauser(Ib from 1-8-44 to ??-44).
Waffen-Obersturmbannführer Karlis Cirulis(IVc from 6-44 to ??).
SS-Hauptsturmführer Otto Wieland(O1 from 6-44 to ??).

Greetings,
Mike

[Phil Don]

Hi Mike

For Arturs SILGAILIS as Ia, I think that he had this post during the first weeks of the division.

For Franz HAHN (thank you for the first name), I found that he had the two post during the same time Ia/Ib.

For the chaplains, there's a topic on this forum and with VJK we try to study the rank of these men. Jūlijs STRAUME (I was thinking he was Stubaf but VJK don't agree) was the lutherian chaplain for the 15 SS division and Kasimir RUCS was the roman catholic for both 15 and 19 divisions. I have a pic of RUCS in SS uniform but I can't see his rank.

Phil.

[Mikedc]

Hi Phil,

Thanks for letting me know about Silgailis, that's indeed possible what you say....

About those chaplans, well, let's see what comes up.

Mike

[Phil Don]

I was knowing that a Ostubaf Karlis Cirulis (21/03/1906 - 05/03/1973) was existing but I doesn't know where we serve. Is someone having more on him?

Phil.

[VJK]

Hi!

Silgailis was indeed Ia of the 15. Division from 1 March 1943 to the end of March 1943. At the same time, Gruf. Bangerskis was commander of the Division. They received their appointments on 19 March 1943 (mit Wirkung vom 1.3.1943) but Berlin changed their minds very quickly and appointed German officers instead, creating the post of Inspector General as an appeasement.

Best regards,

VJK

[VJK]

Kārlis CĪRULIS
Obersturmbannführer der Waffen-SS
born: 21 Mar 1906 in Lubana parish
died: 5 Mar 1973 in Saldus

Latvian Army service:
Feb 1929: Called up into the Latvian Army as a Private in the Vidzeme Artilery Regiment
Dec 1929: Graduated from the Sanitary NCOs course and transferred to the Cavalry Regiment
May 1930 - 1935: Junior Veterinarian in the Kurzeme Artillery Regiment
1935 - 1936: Veterinarian in the Zemgale Artillery Regiment
1936 - 1937: Veterinarian in the Cavalry Regiment
1937 - Oct 1940: Senior Veterinarian in the Cavalry Regiment
Oct 1940 - Jun 1941: Transferred to the 623. Artillery Regiment of the XXIV Territorial Rifle Corps
Jun 1941: escaped from Litene camp

Promotions:
Veterinary-Lieutenant: May 1930
Veterinary-1st Lieutenant: 1932
Veterinary-Captain: 1937
Veterinary-Lt. Colonel: Jul 1940

WWII service:
Apr 1943 - May 1945: Mobilised into the Latvian Legion

Latvian Awards:
Cross of Recognition, V Class

Married in 1932 to Olga Meža, son Ivars (born 1934) and daughter Egita (1937). Remarried in 1949 to Velta, son Aldis (1952), daughter Gundega (1962).

VJK