Latvian partisans were fighters in irregular military groups participating in the Latvian resistance movement, including against Nazi Germany and collaborationism during World War II.
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Latvian War of Independence
The decisions of the 1917 congresses and the declaration of independence on 18 November 1918, with Latgale as part of the Latvian state, moved both the Military of Latvia as well as local partisans to struggle for the liberation of Latgale, a difficult task, given the territorial interests of both Bolshevik Russia and Poland. On June 10, 1919 the Lithuanian army reached the territory controlled by Latvian partisans (Green Guard) and supplied them with munitions.[1]
Anti-Nazi
A large number of Latvians resisted the occupation of Latvia by Nazi Germany. Many Latvians were actively involved in the resistance movement against the policies of the German occupation regime.[2] Daugavpils was the scene of fierce Jewish resistance during the Holocaust.[3] Armed combat, behind the German Front lines was done by left Latvian Riflemen, people guards and Red Army soldiers. Activity picked up in 1942, one year after the first winter war, but real work by the partisans in Latvia started only in 1943 after the German Army Group B stalled at Stalingrad and Kursk.[4] The partisan regiment "To padomju Latviju" was organized and started training June 1942 in Leningrad and from Staraya Russa, three small Latvian partisan units (about 200 men) headed for Latvia. July 7, the regiment with combat reached Latvian Kārsava region, but there the German found and dispersed them with great losses and only several partisans escaped.[5] Next partisan unit was formed September 1942 by Moscow from volunteers, from 201st Latvian Riflemen Division and Latvian partisan regiment "To padomju Latviju" combatants. These units commander was Vilis Samsons. This partisan regiment combat began East of Latvian borders and only 1943 winter started to fight in Latvia. March this unit renamed to Latvian Partisan Brigade.[6] Better organized and led the partisan movement in Latvia from January 1943 until October 1944 fought all of Latvia.[7] From January 1943 the Red Partisans in Latvia were under the leadership of Arturs Sproģis. Another prominent commander was Vilis Samsons, who later became a historian.[8] His 3,000-man unit is credited with the destruction of nearly 130 German trains.[9] Altogether Latvia had 24 partisan units, as also 33 smaller groups. From March 1944 until July they formed 4 partisan brigades: 1st Brigade with about 3000 men (commander V. Samsons) fought Northern and Northeastern Latvia. 2nd Brigade (about 1500 men, commander P. Ratins) fought Latvian center. 3rd Brigade (about 500 men, commander Otomars Oškalns) fought Zemgale, and 4th Brigade, also with about 500 men. Leningrad partisan brigade, which consisted only of Russians (commander M. Klementjevs) fought around Lake Lubāns.[10] In 1944 and 1945 in Courland they formed many small partisan units (2 to 12 men each) but very active. Most noted was "Sarkana bulta". The Latvian Red partisan suffered great losses, and many from smaller groups were completely eliminated. The Red partisan movement in Latvia ended in October 1944.[11]
People
Anti-Soviet
In Latvia the number of active combatants peaked at between 10,000 and 15,000, while the total number of resistance fighters was as high as 40,000.[12] One author gives a figure of up to 12,000 grouped in 700 bands during the 1945 - 1955 decade, but definitive figures are unavailable.[13] Over time, the partisans replaced their German weapons with Russian ones. The Central Command of Latvian resistance organizations maintained an office on Matīsa Street in Riga until 1947.[12] In some 3,000 raids, the partisans inflicted damage on uniformed military personnel, party cadres (particularly in rural areas), buildings, and ammunition depots. Communist authorities reported 1,562 Soviet personnel killed and 560 wounded during the entire resistance period.[13] In Latvia, preparations for partisan operations were begun during the German occupation, but the leaders of these nationalist units were arrested by Nazi authorities.[12] Longer-lived resistance units began to form during the last months of the war; their ranks were composed of a good number of Latvian Legion soldiers as well as civilians.[14] The Latvian Forest Brothers were most active in the border regions. Areas where they were most active included Dundaga, Taurkalne, Lubāna, Aloja, and Līvāni. In the eastern regions, they had ties with the Estonian Forest Brothers; in the western regions, with the Lithuanians. As in Estonia and Lithuania, the partisans were killed off and infiltrated by the MVD and NKVD over time, and as in Estonia and Lithuania, Western assistance and intelligence was severely compromised by Soviet counter-intelligence and Latvian double agents such as Augusts Bergmanis and Vidvuds Sveics.[15] Furthermore, the Soviets gradually consolidated their rule in the cities, help from rural civilians was not as forthcoming, and special military and security units were sent to control the partisans.[13] The last groups emerged from the forest and surrendered to the authorities in 1957.[15]
See also
- Belarusian partisans
- Forest Brothers (Estonian)
- Jewish partisans
- Lithuanian partisans
- Polish partisans
- Soviet partisans
External links
References
- ^ Lesčius, p. 133
- ^ Occupied Latvia During World War II.
- ^ Dvinsk.
- ^ Mark Healy, Zitadelle: The German Offensive Against the Kursk Salient 4-17 July 1943.
- ^ Andris Straumanis, Human rights court overturns war crimes ruling.
- ^ Simon Araloff, AIA European section, Documents of the Soviet Intelligence Testify: Abrene Region is Latvian Territory.
- ^ JULY 1941 TO MAY 8, 1945.
- ^ The Partisan War.
- ^ Soviet partisans.
- ^ Friendship barrow.
- ^ RED PARTISANS.
- ^ a b c Laar, p. 24
- ^ a b c Plakans, p. 155
- ^ Plakans, Andrejs. The Latvians: A Short History, 155. Hoover Institution Press, Stanford, 1995.
- ^ a b Laar, p. 27
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