Let's Build the Latvian Legion

[Phil Don]

Thanks Valdis. I think he was battalion commander in this regiment.

Phil D.

[Phil Don]

The next battalion.

272 Schutzmannschaft Bataillon
Kdr:
Oberstleutnant Karlis MANGULIS
Oberstleutnant Juris TAUBE

Nothing more except the battalion was integrated to the Latvian SS legion.

Phil D.

[Phil Don]

Hi Valdis

I have a question. Did Hauptmann LAGZDINS, commander of the 268th Schuma could be Augusts LAGZDINS (11/02/1894-07/02/1960) who was captain in the latvian army, Lkok, and who join the latvian legion. A pic and his bio are into the lkok site.

Regards.

Phil D.

[Requin Marteau]

Bonjour,

See web site : http://www.lkok.com/index.asp

Thierry

[VJK]

Hi Phil,

Sorry for the delay in replying but I didn't have access to all my records. I've re-checked, but can't find any confirmation as to whether it was Augusts LAGZDINS who commanded the 268th Schuma (Lagzdins is a fairly common surname in Latvia).

To supplement your post on the 272 Schutzmannschaft Bataillon:

272. Schutzmannschaft Battalion:
Formed on 1 July 1942 in Rīga. The 1. Company was redesignated 274. Schutzmannschaft Battalion on 1 October 1942. Transferred to the Lettische Legion in February 1943.

Commander:
1 Jul 1942 - 22 Jul 1942: Oberstleutnant Kārlis Mangulis
22 Jul 1942 - 1 Oct 1942: Oberstleutnant Juris Taube
1 Oct 1942 - Feb 1943: Hauptmann Pēteris Ziediņš

1. Company:
1 Jul 1942 - 1 Oct 1942: Hauptmann A Liepiņš

2. Company:
1 Jul 1942 - Feb 1943: Hauptmann Pēteris Ziediņš

3. Company:
1 Jul 1942 - 1 Oct 1942: Hauptmann Kārlis Ludvigs Kronis

Best regards,

VJK

[Phil Don]

Hi Valdis

It's real that the Lkok site only said in the bio of Kapteini Augusts LAGZDINS:

"2. pasaules kara laikā dienējis latv. leģionā. Kara beigās nokļuvis Vācijā. No 1946. g. dienējis angļu armijas transporta vienībā Bīlefeldē. Miris 1960. g. 7. febr. Vācijā."

For the next Schuma Battalion, the 273th, I only have the name of a commander, Oberstleutnant Janis BIRZULIS.

Regards.

Phil D.

[VJK]

Hi Phil,

Unfortunately I don't have a lot more on the 273. Schutzmannschaft Battalion:

273. Schutzmannschaft Battalion:
Formed on 1 July 1942 in Ludza. Assigned to guard duties in Ludza and on the Latvian border. Consisted of 12 officers, 17 NCOs and 143 enlisted men. Disbanded and merged with the 276. Schutzmannschaft Battalion on 15 July 1943.

Commander:
1 Jul 1942 - 13 Jul 1942: Hauptmann Erichs Ezernieks
13 Jul 1942 - 15 Jul 1943: Oberstleutnant Jānis Birzulis

Best regards,

VJK

[VJK]

The next Battalion:

274. Schutzmannschaft Battalion:
Formed on 1 October 1942 in Warsaw by redesignating the 1. Company, 272. Schutzmannschaft Battalion. Remained at Company strength throughout its existance with 2 officers, 14 NCOs and 186 enlisted men. Formally transferred to the Lettische Legion on 10 February 1943.

Commander:
1 Oct 1942 - 10 Feb 1943: Hauptmann Ādolfs Brunners

Best regards,

VJK

[VJK]

275. Schutzmannschaft Battalion:
Formed on 16 October 1942 in Rīga from members of the 266-E. Schutzmannschaft Battalion. Remained at Company strength throughout its existance with 4 officers, 14 NCOs and 148 enlisted men. Disbanded and merged with the 276. Schutzmannschaft Battalion on 7 December 1942.

Commander:
16 Oct 1942 - 7 Dec 1942: Hauptmann Fridrichs Kuģinieks

Best regards,

VJK

[Phil Don]

Hi Valdis

Here my informations on the next:

276 Schutzmannschaft Bataillon (lettische)
Became part of the Lett.Freiw.Pol.Rgt. 1 (the fourth battalion if I'm right) in august 1943.

Commanders:
Oberstleutnant Osvalds MEIJA
Oberstleutnant Jānis BIRZULIS

Regards
Phil D.

[VJK]

276. Schutzmannschaft Battalion:
Formed on 7 December 1942 in Rīga from members of the 266-E. Schutzmannschaft Battalion, the single Company of the 275. Schutzmannschaft Battalion and the 2. Company of the 279. Schutzmannschaft Battalion. Transferred to the Lettische Freiwilligen Polizei Regiment 1 as the IV Battalion on 11 August 1943.

Commander:
7 Dec 1942 - 15 Jul 1943: Oberstleutnant Osvalds Meija
15 Jul 1943 - 11 Aug 1943: Oberstleutnant Jānis Birzulis

IVb:
7 Dec 1942 - : Hauptmann Kārlis Babris

1. Company:
7 Dec 1942 - : Oberleutnant Pēda

2. Company:
7 Dec 1942 - : Hauptmann Alfrēds Bisenieks

3. Company:
7 Dec 1942 - : Hauptmann Alsters

Best regards,

VJK

[Phil Don]

Hi

Here two others latvian Schuma Battalions.

277 Schutzmannschaft Bataillon (lettische)
(join the Latvian Legion in august 1943)
Commander: Oberstleutnant Juris TAUBE

278 Schutzmannschaft Bataillon (lettische)
(join the Lett.Freiw.Pol.Rgt. 1 as its 2nd battalion)
Commander: Oberstleutnant GREDZENS

As you see, very few informations.

Regards

Phil D.

[VJK]

277. Schutzmannschaft Battalion:
Formed on 7 December 1942 in Rīga. The 4. Company was formed on 6 January 1943 in Krāslava and transferred to the 281. Schutzmannschaft Battalion on 14 May 1943. On 15 July 1943, the 282. Schutzmannschaft Battalion was disbanded and merged into the 277. Schutzmannschaft Battalion as a new 4. Company. Transferred to the Lettische Freiwilligen Polizei Regiment 1 as the I Battalion on 11 August 1943.

Commander:
7 Dec 1942 - 11 Aug 1943: Oberstleutnant Juris Taube

Adjutant:
7 Dec 1942 - : Oberleutnant Pauls Krasts

1. Company:
7 Dec 1942 - : Oberleutnant Emīls Bensons

2. Company:
7 Dec 1942 - 29 May 1943: Hauptmann Bērtulis Pabērzs
29 May 1943 - : Oberleutnant H Liepiņš

3. Company:
7 Dec 1942 - 29 May 1943: Oberleutnant Kārlis Priedītis
29 May 1943 - : Oberleutnant Eriks Smiltnieks

4.Company:
6 Jan 1943 - 6 May 1943: Hauptmann Erichs Ezernieks
6 May 1943 - 14 May 1943: Oberleutnant A Sproģis
15 Jul 1943 - 11 Aug 1943: Hauptmann Kārlis Ludvigs Kronis

Best regards,

VJK

[VJK]

278. Schutzmannschaft Battalion:
Formed on 7 December 1942 in Rīga. Merged with the 279. Schutzmannschaft Battalion on 15 July 1943. Transferred to the Lettische Freiwilligen Polizei Regiment 1 as the II Battalion on 11 August 1943.

Commander:
7 Dec 1942 - 3 May 1943: Oberstleutnant Alfrēds Jānis Gredzens
3 May 1943 - 15 Jul 1943: Hauptmann Ēvalds Vērsāns
15 Jul 1943 - 11 Aug 1943: Oberstleutnant Alberts Kleinbergs

1. Company:
7 Dec 1942 - :

2. Company:
7 Dec 1942 - :

3. Company:
7 Dec 1942 - :

4. Company:
Jan 1943 - 3 May 1943: Hauptmann Ēvalds Vērsāns
3 May 1943 - 15 Jul 1943: Oberleutnant K Vairogs

5. Company:
3 Apr 1943 - 15 Jul 1943: Hauptmann Mārtiņš Baumanis

Best regards,

VJK

[VJK]

279. Schutzmannschaft Battalion:
For a very brief period, there existed 2 Schutzmannschaft Battalions numbered 279. The first was formed on 9 June 1942 in Liepāja as the 271. Schutzmannschaft Battalion. It was renamed the 279. Schutzmannschaft Battalion on 23 January 1943. The second Battalion, commanded by Hauptmann Oskars Tiltiņš, was formed in Rīga on 4 January 1943, but was disbanded on 25 January 1943 and split between the 275., 276. and 278. Schutzmannschaft Battalions. The 279. Schutzmannschaft Battalion was disbanded and merged with the 278. Schutzmannschaft Battalion on 15 July 1943.

Commander:
9 Jun 1942 - : Oberstleutnant Jānis Baltakmenis
Hauptmann Aleksandrs Tomass
- 21 Aug 1942: Hauptmann Verners Ādamsons
21 Aug 1942 - 15 Jul 1943: Oberstleutnant Alberts Kleinbergs

1. Company:
9 Jun 1942 - : Hauptmann Arturs Salmiņš

2. Company:
9 Jun 1942 - : Oberleutnant Oto Umurs

3. Company:
9 Jun 1942 - : Hauptmann Verners Ādamsons

4. Company:
22 Dec 1942 - Dec 1942: Hauptmann Arturs Eduards Lindbergs
Dec 1942 - : Hauptmann Fricis Mežgrāvis

Best regards,

VJK