Latvians unknown

[VJK]

Hi Phil,

I'll try to bring some clarity to the confusion, though again my sources are quite vague.

JANSONS Harijs Hugo Kārlis (13/01/1896 - 13/01/1992 in Buenos Aires, Argentina) - according to my sources he was an interpreter in the German army, I can find no indication that he served in the Latvian Legion.
JANSONS Jānis-Aleksandrs (17/04/1895 - 03/01/1974) - my sources merely state that he was an officer in the Latvian Legion. Since he was promoted to Lt. Colonel in November 1939, he would have been an Ostubaf. It was Jānis-Roberts, who served in the Ausb und Ers Brigade 15.
JANSONS Jānis-Roberts (24/03/1893 - 07/11/1944) - I can't find confirmation of his promotion to Staf, but a number of sources do refer to him as such.
4 May 1943 - 12 Nov 1943: Kdr., Ersatz- und Ausbildungs Battalion der 15. (lett.) SS Freiw. Division
12 Nov 1943 - 18 May 1944: ?
18 May 1944 - 17 Aug 1944: Kdr., Lett Grenz Rgt 2.
17 Aug 1944 - 4 Nov 1944: Kdr., Waffen-Grenadier Regiment der SS 106 (lett. Nr. 7)

Kind regards,

Valdis

[Phil Don]

Hi Valdis

In my files both Janis Aleksandrs and Janis Roberts were Staf (I join their SS files from John P. Moore).
Even if difficult to read, Janis Aleksandrs was kdr of the Ausb und Ers Btl 15 in 9/44.
For Janis Roberts no mention of the ausb und erzatz brigade only grenz rgt.
For Harijs Hugo JANSONS here what I have from a list (in latvian):

Jansons Harijs Hugo Kārlis Mihaila d., *13.01.1896 Rīga, +13.01.(27.05.)1992. Argentīna, {02.1917.prap}, pltn., Lkok
04.1920. Tukuma k/p., 1928. KS/kursi un LU inţ/fak., Sap/p., 1935.arm.būvn.daļa., 11.40. 24.TSK un 01.41. atv., 02.1941.rep.uz Vāciju, 03.1943. 15.apm/btl. kom (līdz okt.), tulks vācu arm., 1945. Vāc., Austrija, 1948.Argentīnā, kur miris un apb. Buenosairesā

So if I'm not wrong, before going in the german army as interpreter, he starts in latvian legion from 3/43 to 10/43 as commander of the training battalion 15.

Best regards

Phil

[VJK]

Hi Phil,

First of all, thank you for the confirmation re Jānis Roberts promotion to Staf. on 2.11.1944.
I now also have his command from 12 Nov 1943 - 18 May 1944: Head of Officer and NCO Training in Bolderaja. One problem resolved.
You say that "For Janis Roberts no mention of the ausb und erzatz brigade only grenz rgt. ", but the entry clearly states "Lett. A. u. E. Einh. 15" from 1.5.1943.

Regarding Jānis Aleksandrs, the SS file you posted shows a rather odd entry - "Kdt. SS. Pz. Gr. A. u. E. Btl 2". Usually, "Pz. Gr." would mean Panzer Grenadier, the "A. u. E. Btl 2" is clearly Ausbildungs und Ersatz Battalion 2. Most likely this would be the 2nd Battalion of the Lettische SS-Ausbildungs un Ersatzeinheiten 15 (former SS-Grenadier Ausbildungs und Ersatz Brigade 15), but why "Pz." should appear there, I have no idea. I also have grave doubts regarding his promotion to Staf. It seems an amazing coincidence, that 2 Ostubaf. Jānis Jansons should be promoted to Staf. on the very same day. I very much suspect that this is a clerical error.

As for Harijs Hugo Kārlis, once again I think that your source has him confused with Jānis Roberts - it would seem highly unlikely that 3 Ostubaf. Jansons all served in the Lettische SS-Ausbildungs un Ersatzeinheiten 15.

All highly confusing and inconclusive, I could of course be wrong in my conclusions. I hope next year to start work on the Latvian Legion archives at the Latvian War Museum after I have finished my book on the Latvian Army 1918-1940, maybe then it may be possible to definitively clear up this situation.

Kind regards,

Valdis

[history1]

[...]
Even if difficult to read, Janis Aleksandrs was kdr of the Ausb und Ers Btl 15 in 9/44.
[...]
Best regards

Phil

I wonder, Phil, if Janis Aleksandrs is identical with "Janis Janson" from the file you posted.
BTW, the text reads
" 15. Waffen- Grenadier Division - SS
Kommandant SS- Panzer Panzergrenadier Ausbildungs - und Ersatz Battailon 2, from Sept. 11th- until Sept. 30th, 44"
Conclusion: He wasn´t the commander of " Ausb und Ers Btl 15 in 9/44 " but the commander of the "SS- Panzer Panzergrenadier Ausbildungs - und Ersatz Battailon 2". And even this only for 19 days.

Regards,
Roman

PS.: In the meantime, while I wrote a few sentences, Valdis posted a whole article. :roll:

[VJK]

Hi Roman,

Yes, the SS file card for Jānis Jansons refers to Jānis Aleksandrs Jansons.

Kind regards,

Valdis

[Phil Don]

For Valdis

In july 43 Janis Roberts JANSONS was battalion commander in “3 Inf Rgt der lett SS Freiw Legion” (later Rgt 32 in division 15). Here a doc from his regiment commander, Kripens (always doc from John P Moore).

Regards
Phil

[VJK]

Hi Phil,

Many thanks for the confirmation - I had a source that cited J.R. Jansons as a battalion commander in the 3rd Regt., but have not been able to find any other mention of this fact until now.

Kind regards,

Valdis