Rudolf Bangerskis and Baltic States Generals

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Greyfinn
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Rudolf Bangerskis and Baltic States Generals

#1

Post by Greyfinn » 03 Apr 2003, 06:10

I'm looking for bios and photos foloowing generals:
SS Gruf Rudolf Bangerskis
SS Oberf Sigalis
SS Brif Johannes Soodla
I'm especially interested in Pre-war careers
Regards from Gdansk

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Requin Marteau
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#2

Post by Requin Marteau » 03 Apr 2003, 08:48

Wa OFHR d. Ss
Artur Micheal SILGALIS

Born : 13 November 1895 at Grenzhof,
Russische Armee,
Second-Lieutenant (1 September 1915),
Premier-Lieutenant (2 March 1918),
Lettisches Armee on 22 December 1919,
Hauptmann (15 June 1920),
IR 6 (December 1928-1934),
Chef d. Stab d. 4. Lettische ID,
Oberstleutnant (18 November 1932),
Oberst (11 November 1939),
Armeekommando 18,
Propaganda Kie 621 until March 1942,
Chef d. Stabes d. 15. (Lett.) SS Freiw Div,
Legion STAF (1 March 1943),
WA OFHR d. SS (9 November 1943),
Kdr SS Freiw Gre Rgt 34 (December 1943-January 1944),
Infanterieführer d. 15. SS,
Infanterieführer d. 19. SS (April-June 1944),
Kdr 19. SS (12-19 May 1944),
Chef d. Stabes Inspektion d. Lettische Legion (1 July 1944-mai 1945).
POW in Belgium until March 1946,
Died in 1997 at Toronto.

- Drei Stern Orden 4. kl,
- Drei Stern Orden 5. kl.,
- Aizsargu Verdienstkreuz,
- Latvijas Atbrivosanas Kara Pieminas Zime,
- Latvijas Republikas Atbrivosanas Cinu 10 Gadu Jubilejas Pieminas Medala,
- Abzeichen des Infanterie Regiment 6 Riga,
- EK-II (21 January 1942),
- Ostmedaille,
- KVK-II mit Schwertern (10 January 1944),
- EK-I (24 May 1944).


Tapani K.
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#3

Post by Tapani K. » 03 Apr 2003, 09:36

Actually, the name is Arturs Silgailis. The final s is often left out from Latvian names. I suppose people think it is a case ending or something similar, but it really is a part of many (actually most) male names in Latvian.


regards,
Tapani K.

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Requin Marteau
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#4

Post by Requin Marteau » 03 Apr 2003, 14:47

Pics Wa Ofhr Silgalis...
Attachments
Silgalis.jpg
Silgalis.jpg (37.6 KiB) Viewed 3286 times

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AJK
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#5

Post by AJK » 03 Apr 2003, 15:38

Here are details of General Bangerskis' pre-war career in the Latvian Army.

AJK

Rudolfs BANGERSKIS (L.k.o.k.) (21 Jul 1878 - 25 Feb 1958)
Served in the Russian and White Russian Armies, having commanded the 1., 2., and 4. (Latvian) Rifle Regiments, and reaching the rank of Lieutenant-General. Returned to Latvia in 1921 and joined the Latvian Army as Colonel in February 1924. After retirement, remained in Latvia and was appointed Inspector-General of the Latvian Volunteer SS Legion by the Germans in April 1943. After the war, lived in exile in Germany, where he was killed in a hit-and-run accident.

Feb 1924 - 23 Dec 1924: Commanding General, 1. Kurzeme Division
23 Dec 1924 - 24 Dec 1925: Minister of War
(1925: Promoted to General)
24 Dec 1925 - 18 Dec 1926: Reserve status
18 Dec 1926 - 23 Jan 1928: Minister of War
23 Jan 1928 - 6 Jul 1928: Reserve status
6 Jul 1928 - 31 Jul 1928: Commanding General, 3. Latgale Division
4 Aug 1928 - 30 Sep 1929: Commanding General, 4. Zemgale Division
30 Sep 1929 - 2 Aug 1930: Commanding General, 3. Latgale Division
4 Aug 1930 - 27 Sep 1930: Commanding General, Technical Division
27 Sep 1930 - 25 Oct 1933: Chief of Military Training Courses
25 Oct 1933 - Oct 1936: Commanding General, 4. Zemgale Division
Oct 1936: Retired

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AJK
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#6

Post by AJK » 03 Apr 2003, 15:42

Here are details of Colonel (SS Oberfuehrer) Silgailis' pre-war career in the Latvian Army.

AJK


Arturs SILGAILIS (13 Nov 1895 - 15 Aug 1997)
Served in the Russian and White Russian Armies, and joined the Latvian Army on December 22, 1919 as a 1st Lieutenant. In March 1941 he fled to Germany but returned later that year with the German Army. In 1943 he joined the Latvian Volunteer SS Legion, serving as Deputy Commander of 15. SS Division, Commander, 34. SS Grenadier Regiment and Chief of Staff of the Legion, receiving a promotion to SS Oberführer (Brigadier-General). After World War II, he worked for the British Army in Germany until moving to Canada in 1953, where he remained until his death at the age of 101 years.

22 Dec 1919 - 1928: Attached to 12. Bauska Infantry Regiment
(1921: Promoted to Captain)
1928 - 1931: Attached to the staff of 2. Vidzeme Division
1931 - 1934: Deputy Chief of Staff, 2. Vidzeme Division
(1932: Promoted to Lieutenant-Colonel)
1934 - 1935: Battalion Commander, 6. Rga Infantry Regiment
1935 - Oct 1939: Lecturer, Military Academy
(1939: Promoted to Colonel)
Oct 1939 - 27 Sep 1940: Chief of Staff, 4. Zemgale Division

Tapani K.
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#7

Post by Tapani K. » 03 Apr 2003, 18:24

Johannes Soodla

Johannes Soodla was born in 1897. He took part in the Estonian War of Independence and received the Freedom Cross, the highest Estonian military award. In 1940, when Estonia was occupied by the Soviets, he was the commander of the Military Academy with the rank of Colonel. He managed to get to Germany since his wife had German ancestors. In 1941 he came back to Estonia and was given the rank of Standartenführer. When the Germans started to form the Estonian legion Soodla was for a while the commander of the 1st Regiment. In 1944 he was promoted Oberführer, then to Brigadeführer and became the General Inspector of the Estonian Legion.

I will probably be able to dig up something more but tomorrow I am going for a vacation and will not be able to do any research for a week. If any info seems to be needed at that time, I will see what I can do.

regards,
Tapani K.


edited on 0404 to correct a typo and an error

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Requin Marteau
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#8

Post by Requin Marteau » 07 Apr 2003, 11:22

Hi,
Bangerskis's pic,

I seek an identification of the ribbons on the chest.
Thank you

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Greyfinn
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#9

Post by Greyfinn » 07 Apr 2003, 14:29

Merci beaucoup Requin.
Le photo est bien belle :)

THX onece more and Regards
Greyfinn

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Greyfinn
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#10

Post by Greyfinn » 07 Apr 2003, 14:34

Uuups...
...and best thanks for Tapani and AJK for very useful infos.
Greetings from Gdansk
Greyfinn

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Michael Miller
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Soodla

#11

Post by Michael Miller » 07 Apr 2003, 17:30

Here's a little on Soodla- source: Bender/Taylor, "Uniforms, Organization and History of the Waffen-SS" (Volume 5).

Best wishes,
~ Mike Miller / ABR


Johannes Soodla
Waffen-Brigadeführer und Generalmajor der Waffen-SS

Born: 14. January 1897 in Dorpat, Estonia.
Died: 26. May 1965 in Goslar / BRD.

Promotions:
Colonel (Estonian Army): 24. February 1940
Legions-Standartenführer: 1943
Legions-Oberführer:
Waffen-Brigadeführer und Generalmajor der Waffen-SS:

Career:
Commander of the Estonian Higher Military Academy: - Summer 1940.

Forced to leave Estonian Army by Soviet authorities (after the Soviet invasion of Estonia in July 1940); fled toGermany.

Returned to Estonia: 1941.

Entered Waffen-SS: Early 1943.

Kdr. 1.Regiment / Est. SS Legion: August 1943 -.

Generalinspekteur of Estonian SS Legion (HQ: Tallinn): 1943 – 1945.

Postwar Activities:
Evaded arrest by Soviets via the French Occupation Zone, Germany. Eventually went to Florida, USA. Later returned to Europe, settling in West Germany.

Decorations & Awards:
Kriegsverdienstkreuz II. Klasse mit Schwertern
Eesti Vadaduse Rist VR II/2 (Estonian Cross of Liberty VR II/2 [one of 28
recipients, named as a National Hero of the Estonian War of Liberation,
1918 – 1920])
Eesti Vadaduse Rist VR II/3
Badge of the Estonian Higher Military Academy

Notes:
* Married to Irene ____ (of German ancestry).

Andreas Schulz
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Soodla

#12

Post by Andreas Schulz » 07 Apr 2003, 23:36

Soodla

promotions:
19.12.1916 russischer Leutnant
26.02.1920 estnischer Leutnant (1923 RDA vom 21.04.1917 erhalten; 16.07.1927 RDA vom 21.04.1916 erhalten)
28.11.1927 estnischer Hauptmann (mit RDA vom 21.04.1920)
24.02.1930 estnischer Major
24.02.1934 estnischer Oberstleutnant
24.02.1940 estnischer Oberst
20.07.1943 SS-Standartenführer d. R. der Waffen-SS
20.09.1943 SS-Oberführer d. R. der Waffen-SS
15.09.1944 Waffen-Brigadeführer und Generalmajor der Waffen-SS

AnDie

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Greyfinn
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#13

Post by Greyfinn » 08 Apr 2003, 13:50

Thank You Gentlemen :)
...and Soodla's pic (if someone could ).....
Regeards
Greyfinn

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Requin Marteau
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#14

Post by Requin Marteau » 09 Apr 2003, 08:44

Hello,
Greyfinn, Here a site on the war of indépendence of Estonia :

http://www.hot.ee/vabadussoda/index.htm

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Greyfinn
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#15

Post by Greyfinn » 09 Apr 2003, 09:12

Hi ,
Interesting but...............
........Firstly I have to learn Estonian language.....
....or wait for English or German version :)))))
Greyfinn
BTW - Pics are international :D

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