Let's Build the Latvian Legion

[Phil Don]

Thanks Valdis

For the 281 Schutzmannschaft Bataillon (lettische):
Commander: Oberst Voldemars VEISS

and for the 282 Schutzmannschaft Bataillon (lettische)
Commander: Hauptmann J. ZILVERS

For the 3 others, 283th, 284th and 285th, nothing and I'm not sure they were created.


Regards

Phil D.

[VJK]

281. Schutzmannschaft Battalion:
Formed on 23 January 1943 in Rīga. Disbanded on 9 April 1943.

Commander:
23 Jan 1943 - 9 Apr 1943: Oberstleutnant Voldemārs Veiss


282. Schutzmannschaft Battalion:
Formed on 5 March 1943 in Rīga. Disbanded on 15 July 1943 and merged with the 277. Schutzmannschaft Battalion.

Commander:
5 Mar 1943 - 3 Jul 1943: Hauptmann Jānis Zilvers
3 Jul 1943 - 15 Jul 1943: Hauptmann Jānis Nikāns

Adjutant:
5 Mar 1943 - 15 Jul 1943: Hauptmann Fēlikss Auseklis

IVb:
5 Mar 1943 - 15 Jul 1943: Hauptmann Jānis Ķimenis

1. Company:
5 Mar 1943 - 15 Jul 1943: Hauptmann Leonhards Trēziņš

2. Company:
5 Mar 1943 - 15 Jul 1943: Hauptmann J Avotiņš

3. Company:
5 Mar 1943 - 15 Jul 1943: Hauptmann Kārlis Ludvigs Kronis

Best regards,

VJK

[VJK]

311-W. Schutzmannschaft Battalion:
Formed as the 280-A. Schutzmannschaft Battalion on 5 May 1943 in Valmiera. The 5. Company was disbanded on 19 May 1943. Renamed 311-W. Schutzmannschaft Battalion on 29 July 1943. Disbanded on 2 August 1943.

Commander:
5 May 1943 - 14 May 1943: Hauptmann K Deksnis
14 May 1943 - 2 Aug 1943: Oberstleutnant Eduards Hermanis Ozoliņš

Adjutant:
5 May 1943 - 2 Aug 1943: Hauptmann Arnolds Rullītis

IVa:
5 May 1943 - 2 Aug 1943: Hauptmann P Edelmanis

1. Company:
5 May 1943 - 2 Aug 1943: Oberleutnant P Miķelsons

2. Company:
5 May 1943 - 19 May 1943: Hauptmann V Michailovskis
19 May 1943 - 2 Aug 1943: Hauptmann T Miezītis

3. Company:
5 May 1943 - 2 Aug 1943: Hauptmann Krišs Blitte

4. Company:
5 May 1943 - 2 Aug 1943: Hauptmann Žanis Helmuts

5. Company:
5 May 1943 - 19 May 1943: Oberleutnant G Stūrmanis

Best regards,

VJK

[VJK]

312. Schutzmannschaft Battalion:
Formed as the 281-A. Schutzmannschaft Battalion on 15 May 1943 in Daugavpils. Consisted of 15 officers, 68 NCOs and 405 enlisted men. Renamed 312. Schutzmannschaft Battalion on 29 July 1943. Transferred to the Lettische Freiwilligen Polizei Regiment 1 as the III Battalion on 11 August 1943.

Commander:
15 May 1943 - 11 Aug 1943: Hauptmann Kārlis Michelsons

Best regards,

VJK

[VJK]

313. Schutzmannschaft Battalion:
Formed as the 282-A. Schutzmannschaft Battalion on 2 August 1943 in Rīga. Renamed 313. Schutzmannschaft Battalion. Transferred to the Lettische Freiwilligen Polizei Regiment 2 as the III Battalion on 4 February 1944.

Commander:
2 Aug 1943 - 28 Oct 1943: Hauptmann A Jumis
28 Oct 1943 - Jan 1944: Hauptmann Krišs Blitte
Jan 1944 - 4 Feb 1944: Hauptmann Grāvelis

IVa:
2 Aug 1943 - : Oberleutnant Leonīds Uijerts

IVb:
2 Aug 1943 - : Major H Siliņš

1. Company:
2 Aug 1943 - : Major Fricis Neimanis

2. Company:
2 Aug 1943 - : Hauptmann P Dišlers

3. Company:
2 Aug 1943 - 28 Oct 1943: Hauptmann Krišs Blitte
28 Oct 1943 - : Hauptmann Arturs Silenieks

4. Company:
2 Aug 1943 - : Hauptmann Kārlis Ozols

Best regards,

VJK

[VJK]

316. Schutzmannschaft Battalion:
Formed as the 280-B. Schutzmannschaft Battalion on 2 August 1943 in Rīga. Renamed 316. Schutzmannschaft Battalion. Transferred to the Lettische Freiwilligen Polizei Regiment 2 as the IV Battalion on 4 February 1944.

Commander:
2 Aug 1943 - 1943: Oberstleutnant Eduards Hermanis Ozoliņš
1943 - 1943: Hauptmann K Bergs (acting)
1943 - 5 Jan 1944: Major Harijs Fricis Nātiņš
5 Jan 1944 - 14 Jan 1944: Hauptmann K Deksnis (acting)
14 Jan 1944 - Jan 1944: Major Harijs Fricis Nātiņš
Jan 1944 - 4 Feb 1944: Hauptmann Ansis Voldemārs Eglītis

Adjutant:
2 Aug 1943 - : Hauptmann K Bergs
Oberleutnant Sproģis

IVb:
2 Aug 1943 - : Oberleutnant P Veģis

1. Company:
2 Aug 1943 - 1943: Major Harijs Fricis Nātiņš
1943 - 1943: Hauptmann Eduards Mārtiņš Zutiņš
1943 - 3 Dec 1943: Oberleutnant Kārlis Jansons

2. Company:
2 Aug 1943 - : Hauptmann K Deksnis

3. Company:
2 Aug 1943 - : Hauptmann Rūdolfs Akmeņkalns

4. Company:
2 Aug 1943 - : Hauptmann A Sils

Best regards,

VJK

[VJK]

317-F. Schutzmannschaft Battalion:
Formed as a Company on 18 October 1943 in Rīga from members of the 266-E. Schutzmannschaft Battalion. Redesignated as a Battalion in February 1944. Transferred to the Lettische Freiwilligen Polizei Regiment 3 as the I Battalion on 14 February 1944.

Commander:
18 Oct 1943 - 14 Feb 1944: Hauptmann Žanis Krūmiņš


318-F. Schutzmannschaft Battalion:
Formed on 25 October 1943 in Rīga. Transferred to the Lettische Freiwilligen Polizei Regiment 3 as the II Battalion on 14 February 1944.

Commander:
25 Oct 1943 - Feb 1944: Oberstleutnant Augusts Dzenītis
Feb 1944 - 14 Feb 1944: Hauptmann Žanis Mittenbergs

Adjutant:
25 Oct 1943 - : Leutnant E Smilga

IVa:
25 Oct 1943 - : Oberleutnant Matuzelis

1. Company:
25 Oct 1943 - : Oberleutnant Serģis

2. Company:
25 Oct 1943 - : Oberleutnant Prauliņš

3. Company:
25 Oct 1943 - : Oberleutnant Smilga

4. Company:
25 Oct 1943 - : Oberleutnant Arnolds Vilks

Best regards,

VJK

[VJK]

319-F. Schutzmannschaft Battalion:
Formed on 25 October 1943 in Rīga. Surrendered in Kurland on 8 May 1945.

Commander:
25 Oct 1943 - 20 Feb 1944: Oberstleutnant Voldemārs Ginters
20 Feb 1944 - 18 Mar 1944: Hauptmann J Krūmiņš (acting)
18 Mar 1944 - 10 May 1944: Oberstleutnant Voldemārs Ginters
10 May 1944 - Aug 1944: Major Oskars Tiltiņš
Aug 1944 - 1944: Hauptmann J Krūmiņš (acting)
1944 - 8 May 1945: Major Oskars Tiltiņš

Adjutant:
25 Oct 1943 - : Oberleutnant Eltermanis

1. Company:
25 Oct 1943 - : Leutnant Krasts
1945 - 8 May 1945: Hauptmann J Krūmiņš

2. Company:
25 Oct 1943 - 1944: Hauptmann Daugulis
1944 - : Leutnant Dzenītis
- 8 May 1945: Leutnant Ozols

3. Company:
25 Oct 1943 - 8 May 1945: Oberleutnant Grigals

4. Company:
25 Oct 1943 - 1944: Hauptmann J Krūmiņš

Best regards,

VJK

[VJK]

320-W. Schutzmannschaft Battalion:
Formed on 1 December 1943 in Rīga. Disbanded on 20 September 1944.

Commander:
1 Dec 1943 - 20 Sep 1944: Hauptmann Aleksandrs Lui Toivo Lēvings

Best regards,

VJK

[VJK]

321-F. Schutzmannschaft Battalion:
Formed on 22 December 1943 in Daugavpils. Transferred to the Lettische Freiwilligen Polizei Regiment 3 as the III Battalion on 14 February 1944.

Commander:
22 Dec 1943 - 14 Feb 1944: Oberstleutnant Pēteris Penčuks

1. Company:
22 Dec 1943 - 14 Feb 1944: Hauptmann Gothardsons

Best regards,

VJK

[VJK]

322-F. Schutzmannschaft Battalion:
Formed on 23 July 1943 in Rīga and Bauska. Surrendered in Kurland on 8 May 1945.

Commander:
23 Jul 1944 - 29 Jul 1944: Oberstleutnant Kārlis Gerbers
29 Jul 1944 - 8 May 1945: Hauptmann Alfons Ķikuts

IVb:
23 Jul 1944 - : Hauptmann H Brūveris

1. Company:
23 Jul 1944 - Aug 1944: Hauptmann Edgars Alfrēds Elsis
Aug 1944 - : Leutnant Alberts Lavenieks

2. Company:
23 Jul 1944 - Aug 1944: Oberleutnant A Ozols
Aug 1944 - : Oberleutnant Žanis Remesis

3. Company:
23 Jul 1944 - Aug 1944: Oberleutnant H Balodis
Aug 1944 - : Oberleutnant Valdis Briedis

4. Company:
23 Jul 1943 - : Hauptmann Arvīds Roga

That is the last of the Battalions.

Best regards,

VJK

[Phil Don]

Hi Valdis

Without you all this work will be impossible. Thanks again. I suppose that Schuma Bat. 314 and 315 and 323 to 328 whose numbers were normally for Latvian never be formed.

For the 318th, I have Hauptmann Rūdolfs Ābeltiņš commander but perhaps only acting.

For the 321th, I have a certain Oberstleutnant Jekabs ZELTINS (Lkok) and Hauptmann FRIDICHSONS (no first name) as commander too.

For the 322th, I have Hauptmann Rūdolfs JENKĒVICS (Lkok) commander too.


And I have a question for the rank of all these Latvian officiers. Did they were “Hauptmann” or “Hauptmann der Schutzmannschaft”. I have read such rank in a book.

Best regards

Phil D.

[VJK]

Hi Phil,

As you say, the other Battalions you refer to were never formed.

Hauptmann Rūdolfs Ābeltiņš took command of the (former) 318-F. Schutzmannschaft Battalion on 5 April 1944 when it had already become the II Battalion of Lettische Freiwilligen Polizei Regiment 3.

I can’t find any trace in my records that either Zeltiņš or Fridrichsons commanded the 321-F. Battalion.

Hauptmann Rūdolfs Jenkēvics was acting commander of the 322-F. Schutzmannschaft Battalion only for a few hours on 28 July 1944 when Oberstleutnant Gerbers was summoned to the HQ of the German 16. Police Regiment.

By Order Nr. “O.Kdo I O Nr. 204/42” dated 30 May 1942, issued by “Der Reichsführer SS und der Chef der Deutschen Polizei” and signed by Daluege, the ranks were designated as Leutnant der Schutzmannschaft, Oberleutnant der Schutzmannschaft, Hauptmann der Schutzmannschaft, Major der Schutzmannschaft and Oberstleutnant der Schutzmannschaft.

Best regards,

VJK

[Phil Don]

Thanks Valdis.

For Pulkvedis-leitnants Jēkabs Zeltiņš (02/08/1896 - 29/08/1983) do you know if he join the Latvian Legion ?

Phil D.

[VJK]

Hi Phil,

Zeltiņš didn't join the Latvian Legion - he was Head of Tukums District 1942-1944.

Best regards,

VJK