Latvian Riflemen Soviet Divisions
Latvian Riflemen Soviet Divisions | |
---|---|
Latviešu strēlnieku padomju divīzijas | |
Active | 1940–1956 |
Country | Proletarians of all countries, unite!") |
March | The Internationale |
Battle honours | Honorable Red Flag of VTsIK |
Latvian Riflemen Soviet Divisions were military formations of the
Background
After the occupation of Latvia in June 1940 the Soviet Armed Forces began to demobilize the Latvian Land Forces. The army was renamed People's Army and in September–November 1940- the Red Army's 24th Territorial Rifle Corps. In September the corps contained 24,416 men but in autumn more than 800 officers and about 10,000 instructors and soldiers were discharged. The arresting of soldiers continued in the following months. In June 1941, the entire Territorial Corps was sent to Litene camp. Before leaving the camp, Latvians drafted in 1939 were demobilised, and replaced by about 4000 Russian soldiers from area around Moscow. On June 10, the corps senior officers were sent to Russia where they were arrested and most of them shot. On June 14 at least 430 officers were arrested and sent to Gulag camps. After German attack to Soviet Union, from June 29 to July 1 more 2080 Latvian soldiers were demobilised, fearing that they might turn their weapons against the Russian commissars and officers. Simultaneously, many soldiers and officers deserted and when the corps crossed the Latvian border only about 3000 Latvian soldiers remained.[1]
Latvian workers regiments
In July 1940, 1st and 2nd workers regiments (the last later changed to
43rd Latvian Riflemen Guards Rifle Division
See
308th Rifle Division
See
1st Latvian Riflemen Reserve Regiment
Regiment was organized on February 18, 1942. That was subordinate to
Separate units
Latvian Riflemen name was given to its aviation squadron, which contained 10
Mobilisation in 1944-45
Following the Soviet re-occupation of Latvia in 1944 mobilisation of persons born between 1903 and 1926 began in Eastern Latvia on July 27 and in Riga on November 3. According to Soviet sources, a total of 50,000 Latvian citizens were mobilised in combatant units by the end of the war (not only in the Latvian units, but also in other Red Army units). However many Latvians evaded mobilisation and deserted. By January 1945, 2214 soldiers had deserted and by February 1529 soldiers had been sent to Gulag camps. The Latvian Division in Soviet Army continued operating in Latvia after the war until 1956.[8]
References
- OCLC 70240317.
- ^ Aviel Roshwald, Ethnic nationalism and the fall of empires.
- ^ "2x2 Divisions". Archived from the original on 18 May 2011. Retrieved 23 November 2017.
- ^ ([email protected]), Gunars David Zulis - Copyright 2004. "WW2 - Latvian Aviators in Soviet Service". latvianaviation.com. Retrieved 23 November 2017.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ "Cultural-educational courses". Archived from the original on 17 August 2009. Retrieved 23 November 2017.
- ^ "LATVIAN UNITS IN THE RED ARMY". www.lacplesis.com. Archived from the original on February 23, 2012.
- ^ "Avalanche Press". www.avalanchepress.com. Retrieved 23 November 2017.
- OCLC 70240317.