Biography Krišjānis Berķis
1 biography
1.1 first world war
1.2 latvian war of independence
1.3 post-war years
biography
krišjānis berķis born on april 26, 1884 in bērzkrogs homestead, Īslīce parish, courland. graduated local parish school , bauska city school. after graduation decided become soldier , entered vilnius military school. graduated in 1906 in rank of podporuchik. served in 2nd. finnish rifleman regiment in helsinki. during service in finland married finnish girl hilma lehtonen (1887-1961). in 1909 promoted poruchik , in 1913 stabskapitan.
first world war
in 1914 berķis officer in finnish corps of russian army deployed front in east prussia. serves company commander, later battalion commander. participated in battles near masurian lakes. in january 1915 finnish corps deployed south eastern front in carpathians. berķis promoted captain , participated in many battles, including brusilov s offensive in 1916. in 1917 promoted lieutenant colonel , after many request transferred latvian rifleman units. became battalion commander in 6th. tukums latvian rifleman regiment since october commanded whole regiment. regiment participated in battle of jugla securing main russian units safe withdrawal riga. in november 1917 refuses join red army , dissmised post. goes finland family.
latvian war of independence
when finnish civil war starts in 1918 berķis family goes smolensk, russia. later through latvia , estonia returns finland. in autumn 1918 berķis newspapers learns proclamation on latvian republic , forming of first military units. in march 1919 manages tallinn meets delegates of latvian government. after meets colonel jorģis zemitāns , on 21 march enlists in latvian army. ordered form latvian reserve battalion. after 2 months battalion hes became regiment. later becomes 2nd. cēsis infantry regiment , berķis appointed commander. in may 1919 regiment deployed front , participates in battles in vidzeme. on 1 june, regiment entered valmiera , later cēsis. after fighting in battle of cēsis regiment chases retreating germans until strazdumiža ceasefire. on 6 july other latvian units, regiment entered riga. in august berķis appointed commander of latgale infantry division , promoted colonel in october. participated in battles against bermontians , later in liberation of latgale.
post-war years
after latvian war of independence stayed in military , continued service commander of 3rd. latgale infantry division. in 1925 promoted general. in 1930 graduated 8 monthlong officer courses. later moved army hq. berkis 1 of prime minister kārlis ulmanis principal co-conspirators in coup d état of may 15, 1934. after coup appointed commander of 2nd. vidzeme infantry division , commander of riga garrison. served commander-in-chief of army 1934 - 1940 , briefly became minister of war in spring 1940. in short term minister tried promote latvian cooperation estonia, finland , great britain, late.
after latvian occupation dissmised post , retired army. family manages finland on 12 july decides return latvia. on way friends manages discourage berķis such move , stops in tallinn.
there arrested soviet authorities , deported perm oblast, siberia, died in prison hospital in 1942. child, valentins, died in russia, , grandson went missing. berķis recipient of latvian military order of lāčplēsis, 1st , 2nd class.
Comments
Post a Comment