Latviešu leģions (1st and 2nd Latvian)

Latvian Legion of the Waffen-SS

19.Lettische SS-Freiwilligen-Division (lettische Nr. 2)

The 15.Waffen-Grenadier-Division der SS, together with the 19.Waffen-Grenadier-Division der SS formed the Latvian Legion. During the second half of 1944, the 15th Latvian Waffen-SS Division was in training near Danzig. In January 1945 the division consisted of about 15,000 soldiers fighting near Danzig before retreating to Pomerania. By early April 1945, the division was reduced to 8,000 men and about 1,000 were sent by sea to replenish Heeresgruppe Nord in the Courland Pocket. On April 11 1945, the division was told about plans to transfer the entire division to Courland. Understanding that being sent to Courland would mean eventually having to surrender to the Soviets, the rest of the 15th Latvian SS Division decided to surrender to the Western Allies instead, disobeying German orders. The 19.Waffen-Grenadier-Division der SS continued to fight in Latvia. In October 1944, Soviet advances in Lithuania cut off it and other European units in the Courland Pocket from the rest of the German forces. It was a part of the six battles between Soviet and German armies in the Courland Pocket in 1944 and 1945. Together with other units in the Courland Pocket, the 19th Latvian Waffen-SS Division surrendered to the Soviets at the end of the war on May 9 1945. Subsequently almost 50,000 Latvian soldiers became Soviet prisoners of war, interred in filtration or Gulag camps. Credit: Wikipedia i.a. Top mage: the Latvian Waffen-SS Volunteer Legion in a parade in Riga on Latvian Independence Day, according to various sources, the 15th Latvian SS Division. Bottom image: Regimental commander of the 19th Latvian SS Division Voldemārs Veiss funeral in Riga. Legion-Obersturmbannführer Voldemārs Veiss was the first Latvian to receive the Knight's Cross. He died on April 17 1944 from wounds he had suffered from an artillery shell-splinter. Photo by Kriegsberichter Lothar Foltinek. Commons:Bundesarchiv.