Latvians unknown

Discussions on the foreigners (volunteers as well as conscripts) fighting in the German Wehrmacht, those collaborating with the Axis and other period Far Right organizations. Hosted by George Lepre.
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VJK
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Augusts APSĪTIS-APSE

#46

Post by VJK » 13 Feb 2018, 21:26

Hi,

Here is a more detailed career of Apsītis' Latvian Army career:

10 Dec 1918: Joined the Latvian Army as a 1st Lieutenant in the Officers Reserve Company
20.II.1919 - 24.IV.1919: Commander, Tāšu Padure Volunteer Company
24.IV.1919 - 30.VIII.1919: Commander, 3. Company, 1. Independent Battalion
30.VIII.1919 - 27.IX.1919: Acting Commander, III battalion, 1. Liepaja Infantry Regiment
23.XI.1919 - 4.VII.1922: Commander, II battalion, 3. Jelgava Infantry Regiment
4.VII.1922 - 18.X.1922: Training course
18.X.1922 - 4.XI.1922: Commander, I battalion, 2. Ventspils Infantry Regiment
6.XI.1922 - 8.VII.1925: Commander, II battalion, 2. Ventspils Infantry Regiment
31.VII.1925 - 1.XI.1927: Commander, II battalion, 3. Jelgava Infantry Regiment
1.XI.1927 - 14.XI.1928: Intendant, 3. Jelgava Infantry Regiment
23.XI.1928 - 3.VIII.1929: Acting Commanding Officer, 1. Liepaja Infantry Regiment
30 XI.1928 - 30.XI.1929: concurrently Deputy Commanding Officer, 1. Liepaja Infantry Regiment
30.XI.1929 - 4.VIII.1930: Training course
4.VIII.1930 - 27.VIII.1934: Deputy Commanding Officer, 1. Liepaja Infantry Regiment
27.VIII.1934 - VI.1940 : Commanding Officer, 3. Jelgava Infantry Regiment

Promotions:
Captain: 14.VII. 1919
Lt. Colonel: 3.III. 1920
Colonel: 4.I.1929

Best regards,

VJK

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Kārlis DZENĪTIS-ZENIŅŠ

#47

Post by VJK » 13 Feb 2018, 21:44

Hi,

Here is a more detailed career of Dzenītis-Zeniņš Latvian Army career:

7.XII.1918 - 30.I.1919 1st Lieutenant in the Liepaja Defence Company
30.I.1919 - 27.III.1919 Officer in the 1. Engineer-sapper Company, 1. Latv. Independent Battalion
27.III.1919 - 26.VII.1919 Commander, MG team, 2. Ind. Company, 3. Independent Battalion
26.VII.1919 - 25.VII.1919 Officer in the Liepaja Garrison Volunteer Battalion
25.VII.1919 - 31.X.1919 Commander, II Class Landwehr Battalion
31.X.1919 - 15.XI.1919 Commander, Grobina Battalion
15.XI.1919 - 24.XI.1919 Commander, I battalion, Grobina Infantry Regiment
24.XI.1919 - 30.XII.1919 Commander, Replacement Battalion, Latgale Division
1.I.1920 - 1.VIII.1925 Commander, I battalion, 12. Bauska Infantry Regiment
15.VIII.1925 - 27.XI.1925 Intendant, 12. Bauska Infantry Regiment
8.II.1926 - 8.VI.1926 Acting Commanding Officer, 12. Bauska Infantry Regiment
8.VI.1926 - 4.XI.1927 Intendant, 12. Bauska Infantry Regiment
2.XI.1927 - 30.XI.1928 Commander, II battalion, 12. Bauska Infantry Regiment
30.XI.1928 - 15.X.1929 Acting Commanding Officer, 12. Bauska Infantry Regiment
1.XII.1929 - 11.XI.1930 Training course
14.XI.1930 - 25.I.1931 Commander, I battalion, 12. Bauska Infantry Regiment
25.I.1931 - 1.VIII.1931 Acting Commanding Officer, 12. Bauska Infantry Regiment
4.VIII.1931 - 5.III.1934 Commander, I battalion, 12. Bauska Infantry Regiment
5.III.1934 - 18.IX.1934 Chief of Staff, 12. Bauska Infantry Regiment
28.IX.1934 - 22.X.1934 Deputy Commanding Officer, 1. Liepaja Infantry Regiment
22.X.1934 - 12.X.1936 Higher War School training course
15.X.1936 - 6.II.1937 Commanding Officer, 12. Bauska Infantry Regiment
9.II.1937 - 8.II.1938 Acting Commanding Officer, Armoured Train Regiment
8.II.1938 - VI.1940 Commanding Officer, 12. Bauska Infantry Regiment k-ris.
24.XII.1940 Released from active duty

Promotions:
Captain: 14.X.1919
Lt. Colonel: 18.XI.1924
Colonel: 11.IX.1935

Best regards,

VJK


history1
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Re: Latvians unknown

#48

Post by history1 » 18 Feb 2018, 14:27

I wonder about the details you can post, VJK. What´s your source when you don´t mind the question. Thanks in advance.

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Re: Latvians unknown

#49

Post by VJK » 18 Feb 2018, 17:19

Hi,

My main source is the officers' Army personnel files which I have been accessing at the Latvian State History Archive in the course of completing my book about the Latvian Army. Still some way to go...

Kind regards,

VJK

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Re: Latvians unknown

#50

Post by history1 » 18 Feb 2018, 18:23

Hi VJK,

congratulations to such an excellent and detalied source. And thanks for sharing them with others!

Best regards,
history1

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Arvīds SKURBE

#51

Post by VJK » 19 Feb 2018, 17:43

Since there appears to be an interest, I will continue with some more posts:

Arvīds SKURBE

8.VI.1921 - 23.VI.1922: Administrative Adjutant of the Borderguard Division
1.VII.1922 - 17.III.1924: Officer in the Auto-tank Battalion
24.V.1924 - 29.IX.1926: Deputy Commander, Aviation Battalion
29.IX.1926 - 21.XI.1928: Deputy Commander, Aviation Regiment
20.XII.1928 - 22.X.1934: Commander, Aviation Regiment
22.X.1934 - 25.VII.1935: attended Senior Officers’course
25.VII.1935 - 9.VIII.1935: Commander, Aviation Regiment
14.VIII.1935 - 2.II.1937: Intendant, Technical Division and Head of Aviation Training Courses
2.II.1937 - 9.VI.1937: Temporarily assigned to the Military Tribunal
9.VI.1937 - 31.VII.1939: Intendant, Technical Division and Head of Aviation Training Courses
1.VIII.1939: Released from active duty at his own request

Promotions:
Lt. Colonel: 18 Nov 1924
Colonel: 17 Nov 1929

Best regards,

VJK

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Hermanis ZVIRBULIS

#52

Post by VJK » 19 Feb 2018, 17:52

Hermanis ZVIRBULIS

10 Jun 1919 - 10 Aug 1919:L Joined the Latvian Army as a 1st Lieutenant in the 5. Cesis Infantry Regiment
10 Aug 1919 - 7 Mar 1921: Commander of Mortar Company, Vidzeme Division
7 Mar 1921 - 1 May 1921: Officer, 6. Riga Infantry Regiment
1 May 1921 - 17 Sep 1923: Supervisor of Army Officers’ Club
1 Oct 1923 - 24 Dec 1927: Chief of Administration, Valmiera Military District
24 Dec 1927 - 30 Oct 1940: Commander, Valmiera Military District
1 Apr 1930 - 28 Feb 1935: concurrently Commander of Valmiera Garrison

Promotions:
Lt. Colonel: 20 Dec 1927

vjk

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Arnolds ZAĶIS

#53

Post by VJK » 19 Feb 2018, 18:02

Arnolds ZAĶIS

4 Jun 1919: Joined the Latvian Army as a Lieutenant
9 Aug 1919 - 1 Nov 1919: Commandant of Smiltene area
1 Nov 1919 - 1 Dec 1919: Company commander, Valka Battalion
1 Dec 1919 - 25 Jun 1921: Company commander, Latgale Partisan Regiment
4 Sep 1921 - 15 Apr 1927: Officer in the Pioneer Battalion
15 Apr 1927 - 16 Jan 1932: Adjutant, Pioneer Regiment
16 Jan 1932 - 14 Feb 1934: Company commander, Pioneer Regiment
14 Feb 1934 - ?: Chief of Staff, Pioneer Regiment
? - Sep 1939: Battalion commander, Pioneer Regiment
Sep 1939 - Oct 1940: Instructor at the Military Academy
Oct 1940: Transferred to the XXIV Terr. Rifle Corps of the Red Army and later released from active duty

Promotions:
1st Lieutenant: 11 Feb 1920
Captain: 17 Nov 1924
Lt. Colonel: 1 Feb 1934

VJK

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Oskars Kristaps Ludvigs NEIMANIS

#54

Post by VJK » 19 Feb 2018, 18:11

Oskars Kristaps Ludvigs NEIMANIS

23 Jul 1920 - 10 Sep 1920: Joined the Latvian Army as 1st Lieutenant in the Armoured Train Battalion
10 Sep 1920 - 23 Sep 1921: Officer, 4. Borderguard District
23 Sep 1921 - 24 Mar 1922: Company commander, 3. Borderguard Regiment
24 Mar 1922 - 8 Mar 1923: Officer, 3. Jelgava Infantry Regiment
8 Mar 1923 - 9 Nov 1936: Company Commander, 3. Jelgava Infantry Regiment
9 Nov 1936 - 1 Oct 1938: Chief of Administration, Daugavpils Military District
1 Oct 1938 - Jul 1940: Chief of Administration, Riga Military District
Jul 1940 - Oct 1940: Acting Commandant, President’s Palace

Promotions:
Captain: 17 Nov 1924
Lt. Colonel: Jul 1940

VJK

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Jānis KRŪMIŅŠ

#55

Post by VJK » 19 Feb 2018, 18:40

Jānis KRŪMIŅŠ

16 Mar 1919 - 2 Jan 1920: Joined the Latvian Army as 1st Lieutenant in the Imanta Regiment
12 Jan 1920 - 21 Jun 1920: Intendant, Imanta Regiment
11 Sep .1920 - 1 Nov 1920: Officer, 4. Valmiera Infantry Regiment
1 Nov 1920 - 14 Feb 1923: Company Commander, 4. Valmiera Infantry Regiment
14 Feb 1923 - 16 Oct 1923: Acting Intendant, 4. Valmiera Infantry Regiment
16 Oct 1923 - 4 May 1928: Company Commander, 4. Valmiera Infantry Regiment
4 May 1928 - 8 Oct 1929: Commander, MG Company, Vidzeme Division
8 Oct 1929 - 5 Nov 1929: Company Commander, 4. Valmiera Infantry Regiment
5 Nov 1929 - 15 Oct 1931: Acting Intendant, 4. Valmiera Infantry Regiment
15 Oct 1931 - 24 Oct 1935: Company Commander, 4. Valmiera Infantry Regiment
24 Oct 1935 - 7 Sep 1939: MG specialist, Training Dept., Army General Staff
7 Sep 1939 - Oct 1940: Chief of 3. (Rifle) Section, Training Dept., Army General Staff
Oct 1940: Released from active duty

Promotions:
Captain: 17 Nov 1925
Lt. Colonel: 24 Oct 1935

VJK

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Re: Latvians unknown

#56

Post by Phil Don » 21 Feb 2018, 22:19

Many thanks Valdis for these infos.

Do you know something about a certain Lt Col Ferdinands RIHTERS. His name "sounds" german so perhaps baltic german from Latvia. In some documents he was member of Latvian Legion. And perhaps a picture of him.

Regards

Phil D

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Re: Latvians unknown

#57

Post by VJK » 22 Feb 2018, 01:06

Hi Phil,

Here is what I have for Richters - he was a Baltic German, the spelling of Rihters is used today in the Latvian language, but before the war the Latvians did adhere to the "ch" in their spelling.

Ferdinands Richters
born: 8.IV.1886 in Laucesa parish
died: 13.VI.1964 in Hamburg, Germany

Russian Army service:
1909 - 1910: graduated from Kazan Junker School, assigned to 4. Artillery brigade
1910 - XII.1917: assigned to 6. Mortar battalion
XII.1917: wounded in battles on the Western front, released from active duty

Latvian Army service:
13.VIII.1921 - 28.IV.1922: Joined Latvian army as a Captain in the Latgale artillery regiment
28.IV.1922 - 18.X.1924: Battery commander, Latgale artillery regiment
18.X.1924 - 11.XI.1925: Acting Commander, I battalion, Latgale artillery regiment
11.XI.1925 - 15.X.1927: Battery commander, Latgale artillery regiment
15.X.1927 - 5.XII.1927: Acting Commander, I battalion, Latgale artillery regiment
6.XII.1927 - 22.XI.1930: Intendant, Latgale artillery regiment
22.XI.1930 - 19.V.1933: Commander, II battalion, Latgale artillery regiment
19.V.1933 - 11.V.1936: Intendant, Latgale artillery regiment
1.VIII.1936: Released from active service

Promotions:
1st Lieutenant: 1911
Staff Captain: II.1916
Captain: I 1917
Lt. Colonel: 18.XI.1927

WWII service:
III 1943: Commander, 1. lett. Baubataillon
1944: transferred to the staff of the Inspector General, Latvian Legion

Awards & decorations:
Order of the Three Stars, IV class ( Latvia)
Order of St. Stanislavs, II class with swords (Russia)
Order of St. Stanislavs, III class with swords (Russia)
Order of St. Anne, II class with swords (Russia)
Order of St. Anne, III class with swords (Russia)
Order of St. Anne, IV class (Russia)
Cross of St. George, IV class (Russia)
Kriegsverdienstkreuz, II class (Germany)

Sources:
Latvian State History Archive (LVVA 5601.f., 1.apr., 5384.l.)
Latvijas Armijas Augstakie Virsnieki

Kind regards,

Valdis
Attachments
Richters.jpg
Richters.jpg (109.27 KiB) Viewed 831 times

Phil Don
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Re: Latvians unknown

#58

Post by Phil Don » 22 Feb 2018, 10:17

Thanks you Valdis.
Do you know if the 1 lettische Bau Btl is the same unit with Haralds BEĶERS as commander later in war?
The rank of RICHTERS was Oberstleutnant ou Ostubaf when he serve at the generalinspektion ?

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Re: Latvians unknown

#59

Post by VJK » 22 Feb 2018, 11:37

Hi Phil,

Unfortunately I can find no mention of Richters in all my sources about the Latvian Legion, but yes, I believe that it is the same unit that Beķeris commanded later on. Since Richters was already a Lt. Colonel since 1927, he would have been taken on in the Legion as a Ostubaf.

Kind regards,

Valdis

Phil Don
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Re: Latvians unknown

#60

Post by Phil Don » 22 Feb 2018, 12:04

Hi Valdis
Thanks for your answer.
I have difficults for three Latvian officers named JANSONS. There are confusions in many forums with them:
JANSONS Harijs Hugo Kārlis (13/01/1896 - 13/01/1992 or 27/05/1992), surely Ostubaf.
JANSONS Jānis-Aleksandrs (17/04/1895 - 03/01/1974) surely Staf and serve I suppose in Ausb und Ers Brigade 15.
JANSONS Jānis-Roberts (24/03/1893 - 07/11/1944) surely Staf and serve at Lett Grenz Rgt 2.
Could you give me the unit where they serve in Latvian legion.

Regards

Phil

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