VI. SS Army Corps (Latvian) And The Third Battle for Kurland

 Published in „Siegrunen“ Magazine – Volume 6, Number 2, Whole Number 32,

October-December 1983

The third battle for the Kurland Pocket in Latvia in December- January 1944-1945, probably was the high point in the history of the 19th Latvian SS Div. and the VI. SS Army Corps. The battle began on the morning of 21 December 1944. It started with a massive Soviet artillery barrage that lasted for several hours, then the attacking Red Army forces moved forward on a broad 30 km front that ran on both sides of the town of Frauenburg. The focal point of the assault lay to the south-southeast of Frauen-burg, so the 19th Latvian SS Div. was not initially engaged. However, the division provided tactical support to its beleagured neighbors by readjusting some of its own positions and moving up reinforcements by the evening of 21 December.

The Latvian SS sector still had not been attacked by 22 December, although strong enemy scouting parties had been reported before the lines. The 19th SS Div. was now placed on maximum alert and deployed to the fullest. The divisional components were situated as follows:

On the divisional right (south) wing was the Waffen-Grenadier Rgt. der SS 44 under Waffen-Obersturmbannführer der SS Kocins; supporting this regiment was the Waffen-Fusilier (Recconnaissance) Btl. der SS 19 under Waffen-Sturmbann- führer der SS Laumanis. In the center of the divisional lines was the WGdSS Rgt. 43 led by W-Ostubaf. Osis, with its positions running between the forestry houses at Lutiki and Berzbeke. II.Btl./SS Rgt.43 was kept in divisional reserve in the Mezmali-Priezusargs area. The left wing (north) of the division was held down by WGRdSS 42 under W-Ostubaf. Galdins, with its positions stretching from Berzbeke to Pecuri. To the right (south) of 19th SS Div. stood the German 93rd Inf. Div. and to the left (north) of 19th SS was the 21st Luftwaffe Field Division.

Attached to the 21st Luftwaffe Field Division (which was subordinated to VI. SS Corps), was the independent Latvian SS Rgt. 106 led by Waffen-Sturmbannführer der SS Stipnieks. It was composed of the remnants of Latvian border guard regiments and was stationed in the area between Krumiesi and Sudmali. The Latvian SS Artillery (from both the 15th and 19th Latvian SS Divisions; 15th SS had left behind its artillery regiment when it was transferred to Germany for refitting), was deployed as follows:

II. Detachment/SS Artillery Rgt. 19, under W.-Hstuf. Strauts, in support of SS Rgt. 44.

III. /SS AR 19, under W-Hstuf. Linins, in support of SS Rgt. 43.

I./SS AR 15, under W-Hstuf. Jaunsilis, in support of SS Rgt. 42.

The light artillery detachments (II./SS AR 15 led by W-Stubaf. Insbergs and III./SS AR 15 led by W-Stubaf. Ozols), were attached to the 21st Luftwaffe Field Division.

In the night of 23 December 1944, the 22nd Soviet Army began a major offensive in the Doblen area on the orders of Gen. Yeremenko, commander-in-chief of the 2nd Baltic Front. Commencing at 0300 on 23 December, the Red artillery opened fire and didn’t stop until it had expended 117,000 shells of all calibers on the VI. SS Corps sector. Then 12 Soviet divisions, a reinforced tank corps and many specialist units flooded towards the German-Latvian lines with Russian dive bombers striking right before them. It was an enormous effort and the „old foxes’’–the frontline veterans–had never seen anything like it before. Facing this onslaught were the three VI. SS Corps divisions–93rd Inf., 19th Latvian SS and 21st Luftwaffe Field. Some 1,600 combat air missions were also counted from the enemy side. It was clear that Yeremenko was out to drive all the way to the Baltic Sea!

Ogruf. Walter Krueger, Commander VI.SS Army Corps (Latvian).

Gruf. Bruno Streckenbach, CO 19th Latvian SS Division.

The first deep enemy penetration in the VI. SS Corps lines was made in the sector of 21st LW Field Div. on the Corps’ left wing. Strong Soviet infantry and tank units began moving through there to the west, threatening to outflank the 19th SS Division. As the morning went on, the communists began to punch holes along the entire Corps’ fronts. Battalion and regimental command posts, along with static artillery positions, were soon fighting for their survival in close combat. By midday, the Soviet forward elements had reached a line that ran from Priezusargi to Rumbinas to Kriumunas to Pienava to Irbes.

II. /SS Rgt. 43 under W-Stubaf. Ruks, situated in Priezusargi, was ordered to stay in place and let the Russians advance around them. The battalion’s job was to form a dangerous strongpoint behind the enemy line of advance, while the SS Rgt. 42 dealt with the penetrating forces. It was hoped that the regiment could eventually link-up with II./SS 43 and therefore create an encirclement of the forward enemy elements.

The sector held by 21st Luftwaffe Div. rapidly became the critical one, as strong Soviet tank forces smashed through the infantry positions. Parts of the division had already taken 50% casualties in the preliminary artillery bombardment so they were not able to offer much resistance. The partial collapse of 21st Luftwaffe left open the route to the seaport of Windau (Ventspils– and its loss would have meant the quick end of Army Group „Kurland.” But the Russian tanks now ran into some unexpected resistance in the forested area from Berzi to Dirbas to Sunas and Rumbinas.

In this area were the artillery detachments (II. and III.) from the SS Artillery Rgt. 15, led respectively by the Waffen-Sturmbannführers Insberg and Ozols. The Latvian SS gunners brought their pieces to bear directly on the enemy tanks and succeeded in bringing their advance to an abrupt halt. Some 14 of the Soviet armored vehicles were destroyed just in front of the Latvian positions. This was enough to cause the other Red tankers to turn tail, but the Soviet infantry was pushed forward with frantic intensity. At a point some 70 meters from the Latvian lines, they were driven to the ground; unable to advance further in the face of the lethal fire from the artillery batteries. Towards evening the survivors were thrown back in a brisk counterattack.

Although having taken considerable losses themselves, the Latvian artillery detachments, particularly W-Stubaf. Ozols’

III. /SS AR 15, had clearly saved the day. On 23 December, they had completely shot to pieces two Russian tank brigades composing the better part of a Red Army tank corps!

Elsewhere the Soviet artillery bombardment in the early morning of 23 December had severed the links between the heavy weapons batteries and forward observation posts of the Latvian SS Rgt. 106. This severely curtailed the effectiveness of the field pieces and enabled the Reds to make a deep penetration through the regiment’s positions. The regiment soon found itself in a desperate fight for its existence. Both the I. Btl. command post at Irbes and the II. Btl. command post at Pienava were almost overrun and had to be defended in violent, hand-to- hand combat. The commander of I./SS 106, W-Hstuf. Salmins was badly wounded and most of the battalion’s other young officers were also lost in short order. By the end of the day SS Rgt. 106 had taken 60% casualties.

In the afternoon it proved possible to set-up new observation posts for the heavy weapons and the resulting accurate artillery fire slowed down the enemy rate of advance and took some of the pressure off of the Latvian grenadiers. Towards evening the communists overwhelmed Riemeikas where the II./SS 106 HQ had been moved to. The battalion CO, W-Hstuf. Kisis, led an immediate counterattack that recaptured the town, but in the process, Kisis was badly wounded in both legs. Throughout the whole night the units of SS Rgt. 106 worked frantically to fortify new defensive positions.

Latvian and German officers of VI.SS Corps staff.

On 24 December 1944, the front of 19th Latvian SS Div. looked like this: SS Rgt. 44 on the right (south) wing, then I./SS 43 and I./SS 42 in their old positions (they had not been attacked on 23 December). Running northwards the frontlines now went through the following locations: Stragi - Jenkas - Audzi - Jatnieki- Rumbinas-Katini-Pienava-Irbes.

In the Dirbas sector the front was not fully stabilized and on the morning of 24 December, the situation was still unclear. At Dirbas was the SS Engineer Btl. 19 under W-Ostubaf. Taures, that had fought valiantly but had taken heavy casualties and was now unable to fully block the oncoming Russians. The 19th SS HQ sent up some reserve in the form of the 180 man divisional „combat school” led by W-Obersturmführer Ancans, to try and bolster the engineers. Joined by some small German units, parts of Ancans’ force was able to go over on the attack while other elements held down a line of anti-tank trenches. Two more battalions took up readjusted positions nearby in an effort to block off the Russian penetration force. These were: Battalion „Mohr”/93rd Inf. Div. and I./SS 43 led by W-Hstuf. Paulis Krasts.

At daybreak on 24 December, the Soviets began making preparations for a major assault on the tautly stretched lines of SS Rgt. 44. Following two hours of heavy artillery bombardment that reached deep behind the entire regimental front, the Red infantry charged forward at 1030. The main point of the attack was focused on the II./SS 44 sector commanded by W-Stubaf. Zalitis. Zalitis and his men held firm and flung back the enemy effort. Three further times the Russians came forward and three more times they were repelled. A small inroad was made in the positions of SS Fusilier Btl. 19, but it was cleared out through a rapid counterthrust.

Elsewhere, the communists continued their attacks on Jat- nieki, Tevini and Dirbas with seemingly undiminished force. On this day, II./SS 43 returned to the control of SS Rgt. 43 along with the Battalion „Mohr” and I./SS 43. II./SS 43 under W- Stubaf. Ruks and the Battalion „Mohr” were sent on the attack towards Priezusargi, Pakuli and Anuzi. Their efforts were successful and the Russians were driven back.

Latvian volunteer with a rifle grenade.

At Dirbas, W-Ostuf. Ancans battlegroup fought along with troops from a German „combat school”; but the attacking enemy was far too strong and Ancans’ men were cut off. In the meantime, reserve units of SS Rgt. 42 led by W-Ostuf. Videnieks liberated the troops at strongpoint Stari under W-Ustuf. Gaigals who had held out for 24 hours while being encircled and continuously attacked by the Reds. In the sector between Jatnieki and the Berz Forestry house, W-Hstuf. Krasts held down the front with a newly improvised battalion created from the SS Rgt. 43 engineer platoon, an emergency artillery commando, the SS Rgt. 43 bicycle platoon under W-Ustuf. Gailits and the emergency company of W-Hstuf. Stiprais that had been assembled from divisional maintenance and support troops. The battle raged with ferocity in this sector, but thanks to good support from artillery and assault guns, Krasts’ command drove back all attacks.

Further to the north the enemy was somewhat more successful. German units at Vanzi were pushed back and the town of Lestene was directly threatened. In the sector of SS Rgt. 106 at Irbes and Rimeikas, the Soviets continued to press their attack with tank assistance. The regimental units had by now recovered from their failures on the previous day thanks to the vigorous leadership of the commander, W-Stubaf. Stipnieks. He had regrouped his depleted forces and had restored coordinated artillery support. The morale of the soldiers improved and they responded by fighting with renewed strength. All enemy attacks on SS Rgt. 106 were repelled on this day.

Latvian SS artillerymen.

19. Waffen-Gr-Div-der-SS (Latvian #2) Emblem: The same as Div. number 15, except for a second parallel bar indicating that this was the 2nd Latvian volunteer division. It may not have been in actual use during the war although probably planned.

19th SS Divisional collar patch, ID shield and armshields.

The Soviets continued to make progress in the sector of 21st Luftwaffe Field Div. on 24 December, and they took the town of Pienava. But major communist setbacks occurred on the well- fortified front held by SS Rgt. 44, where all enemy attacks were broken up with heavy losses. The Soviet command decided against making any further assault in this area. On 25 December, SS Rgt. 44 reported that they had lost 1 killed and 8 wounded in two days of action, with most of the casualties coming from the heavy artillery barrages.

The hotspot of the breakthrough front remained in the sector held by W-Hstuf. Krasts’ makeshift battalion where the fighting continued at a feverish pace. Jatnieki was lost and then regained in a counterattack, but by dusk the battalion was nearly spent. Further counterattacks, however, were still carried out by W.-Hstuf. Galiitis’ bicycle platoon. Possession of the forestry house at Berz kept changing over from one side to the other until W-Hstuf. Dardzans and his emergency commando of artillerymen recaptured it and firmly held on to it.

Near Dirbas, W-Ostuf. Ancans’ embattled group slugged it out with the enemy at close quarters, knocking out 12 Russian tanks in the process. Nearby, W-Ostuf. Eglajs’ battery from SS Artillery Rgt. 19 was cut off after having shot up 4 enemy tanks with one functioning field piece. On Christmas Day in the SS Rgt. 106 sector, the communists punched their way forward at Irbes, Rimeikas and Gailisi. At mid-day, W-Hstuf. Lidums who now commanded II./SS 106, was able to retake Irbes in a counterattack. In the afternoon W-Stubaf. Ozols (III./SS AR 15) led another successful counterattack that retook Gailisi. It was apparent that the heavy losses absorbed by the Soviets on this and the previous day had seriously weakened their assault forces. SS Rgt. 106 was now able to stay in its positions until 29 December, when it came directly under the command of 19th SS Div. and served in that division’s sector.

In the violent fighting to this point the Latvian units had taken substantial casualties; the formations with the fewest losses were SS Rgt. 44 and the Latvian Fusilier Btl. 19. In order to upgrade the front and assemble new reserves, VI. SS Corps ordered 19th SS Div. to pull back its middle sector and right wing to new defensive-blocking positions during the night of 25/26 December. The new battle lines ran like this: Annenieki- Brunumuiza-Stepisi-Tempji-Rumbas-Zvetjnieki. The regrouping was carried out without incident. Afterwards these were the regimental positions: SS Rgt. 44 on the divisional right from Saulites to Bitskepi; SS Rgt. 43 with part of the SS Fusilier Btl. 19 in the divisional center from Stavaini to the woods east of Birznieki; SS Rgt. 42 on the divisional left with its left flank running along the swamp to the west of Vanagi. The special combined unit battalion of W-Hstuf. Krasts was now dissolved.

 Soldiers of the 19th SS Division In the field.

At Dirbas, W-Ostuf. Ancans group received orders to attempt a breakout from their encirclement. Ancans divided his com

’mand into two attack wedges and personally led the assault. Only 35 men out of the combat school’s original 180 were able to make it back safely to the main lines, reaching the railroad station at Rumbas on 26 December 1944. The other wounded and dead were later retrieved by armored assault gun crews.

Roberts Ancans was awarded the Knight’s Cross for his leadership and the determined performance of his men at Dirbas. Ancans was a true veteran having served with the first Latvian combat battalion to see action on the Eastern Front in 1941. He participated in major battles at Cholm, Lake Ilmen, before Leningrad and at Luga and Ostrov. After being wounded for the eighth time, Ancans was evacuated from Kurland on 8 May 1945 and was spared from entering Soviet captivity.

On 26 December, the Latvian Fuslier Btl. 19 was engaged in a hard battle for Rumajas, and this place changed hands several times before winding up in the possession of the Latvians towards the end of the day. The Russians exerted their major efforts on this day against both the Fusilier Btl. and SS Rgt. 42. A desperate fight raged for the hill at Janukrogs which the Soviets wanted to take at any price for use as an observation post. The soldiers of SS Rgt. 42 were initially forced off of the hill, but later retook it in a valiant effort.

SS Rgt. 43 held firm against a forceful communist attack along the Tempji-Janukrogs road. Towards 2100 hours the Russians smashed through the sector held by I./SS 43 (now led by W-Ostuf. Bumbers) in a surprise night attack. They were able to seize Hill 73 and the town of Stavaini before going on to reach Upmali and Tiltini. The situation here was particularly critical because the enemy force had made a 2 km breach between the sectors of SS Rgts. 44 and 43. The left flank of Rgt. 44 and its rear area positions had now become exposed. After the Soviets took the important crossroads near Janukrogs, the rear area of the entire 19th SS Div. became threatened.

A unit from the right wing of SS Rgt. 43, the company led by W-Ustuf. Baumanis, reassembled at the command post of I./SS 44, after having lost its positions at Makikas. The commander of SS Rgt. 43, W-Oberführer Osis, then informed the commander of SS Rgt. 44, W-Ostubaf. Kocins, of the negative developments in the sector of I./SS 43. At the same time, the CO of l./SS 44, W-Stubaf. Praudins, reported the new battalion positions to the staff of Rgt. 44 by field telephone. W-Ostubaf. Kocins then ordered W-Stubaf. Praudins to disrupt the enemy assembly area with an assault troop attack and then retake Hill 73. For this mission, the regimental reserves–6th Co. under W-Hstuf. Adamsons and the Bicycle Platoon under W-Ustuf. Pikelis were assigned to I./SS 44. W-Ustuf. Baumanis’ 2nd Co./SS Rgt. 43, and some other detached elements from I./SS 43 that had turned up in I./SS 44’s sector, were ordered to reoccupy the lost villages of Upmali and Tiltini. W-Oberfhr. Osis (Rgt. 43) then notified W-Ostubaf. Kocins (Rgt. 44), that his Rgt. 43 had already begun a counterattack.

 Soldiers of the 19th SS Division at rest.

Ogruf. Krueger confers with Stubaf. Koop, Chief-of-Staff of the 19th SS Division.

The first success was not long in coming; W-Oberjunker Ansons’ platoon from 3rd Co./I./SS 44, which had been formed into an assault group, had hit the Russians in the rear and had completely broken up preparations for a surprise attack. This enabled the main counterattack to go off without a hitch and by 0100 hours on 27 December the old positions of l./SS 43 had been fully restored. 6./SS 44 and the regimental bicycle platoon both went back into SS Rgt. 44’s reserves.

At 0600 on 27 December, the Reds shifted their attention to the divisional right wing between Saulites and Stepisi. A weak, unsuccessful attack was made and some captured Red Army soldiers explained part of the reason for this failure. Although having lost their earlier jumping-off positions on the banks of the Berzupe River, the Soviets had still been under orders to proceed with the attack. This meant that the infantrymen had to be forced straight ahead through a Russian minefield without the benefit of having it cleared out first by the combat engineers! To be sure this was a suicidal course of action, but the communists had plenty of men to spare, and human life was never a consideration in the plans of the field commanders and political officers. As a result, the attacking Soviet forces lost about 75% of their personnel to their own mines! One prisoner stated that out of his 19-man platoon, only 5 had managed to survive the minefield.

In the late morning of 27 December, the battle raged anew along the Janukrogs-Tempji road. The Russians concentrated their efforts on the positions of SS Rgt. 43 and the SS Fusilier Btl. 19. Continuous enemy attacks were broken up by the furious fire of the Latvian defenders. SS Rgt. 42 made a vain effort to retake Zvejnieki Hill on this day. With the support of heavy weapons, W-Ostuf. Berzins’ company led off the attack in the Vanagi-Zvejnieki sector. It got nowhere; it proved impossible to advance through the massive enemy fire.

The Russians in turn tried to attack in the Lestene area only to be repulsed by the German units there. The third battle for Kur-land was developing into a costly standoff for both sides. The communist strength had clearly deteriorated as was demonstrated by a feeble assault on the positions of the weakened SS Rgt. 106 at Dzukste, that was repelled without difficulty.

The staff of 19th SS Div. now wanted to start conserving as much of the divisional strength as possible for future use. So after the reconquest of the Janukrogs positions it was proposed to withdraw the SS Rgts. 42 and 43 along with the SS Fusilier Btl. 19 from the frontlines while they still had adequate manpower. It proved possible only to place SS Rgt. 43 in reserve and late in the day it was sent to the Priezu Kundzini-Jaginti sector in the rear.

SS Rgt. 43’s former lines were assumed by SS Rgt. 44 and were elongated somewhat to take in Bitskepi on the right boundary. SS Rgt. 44’s positions were in turn taken over by Inf. Rgt. 270 of the 93rd Inf. Division. The SS Fusilier Btl. 19 remained in its old sector and was tactically subordinated to SS Rgt. 44. On divisional orders, II./SS 44 was placed in a rear area secondary defensive trench line. By 0930 on 28 December, 19th SS Div. had completed its frontline readjustments. SS Rgt. 44 and the SS Recce Btl. 19 manned the lines on the right wing from Bitskepi to Birznieki with SS Rgt. 42 on the divisional left wing from the slopes of Zvejnieki Hill on north to Puces. SS Rgt. 43 was held in ready-reserve.

At 0130 on 28 December the Soviets began an enormous artillery barrage that lasted a full hour. It was followed up by the largest infantry attack yet along the entire front of SS Rgt. 44. In a short time the key point at Rumbas was lost to the enemy. The regimental Co, W-Ostubaf. Kocins had concentrated artillery fire placed on Rumbas and Birznieki and then sent in the SS Fusilier Btl. 19 with orders to retake these strongpoints. With great courage and contempt for danger the Latvian „Fusiliers” stormed their objectives and expelled the enemy in hand- to-hand fighting. Rumbas was to be the object of two days of non-stop fighting. Losses were high on both sides.

II./SS 44 had to remain in reserve because it was clear that the success of the division might depend on having some fresh troops to spare. If the enemy attacks continued for many more days, the use of this unit would be critical to events. Even as the SS Fusilier Btl. 19 reported successes, SS Rgt. 44’s HQ received a telephone message from the staff of 270th Inf. Rgt. concerning the plight of its right-hand neighbor, 1st Co./SS 44 led by W-Ostuf. Suna. This company had been fully engaged defending the Bitskepi farm from the onslaught of massive Russian attacks that came from the vicinity of Hill 73. It put up a desperate resistance, in close combat, against what proved to be two full-strength communist battalions.

W-Ostuf. Suna fell with a bad cheat wound and his successor, W-Ustuf. Petersons soon had an arm shattered. Both were evacuated with nine other severely wounded to the dressing station of 270th Inf. Regiment. The company had lost all of its communication links to battalion and regimental headquarters, so it was unable to receive any artillery support. In the end, l./SS 44 was forced to give ground and the communists captured the east part of Bitskepi.

Soon afterwards, the Reds crossed the railroad lines in force and seized West Bitskepi before moving on towards Hill 68.5. Here they were brought to a halt by automatic weapons fire from 3./SS 44. Further Russian attacks along the Tempji- Janukrogs road were driven back by elements of I./SS 44. In the afternoon of 28 December the Soviets launched another assault on Rumbas only to be repelled once again.

W-Ostubaf. Kocins, CO of SS Rgt. 44, then began making new plans for a counterattack to regain the railroad lines and the ground lost around Bitskepi. A daytime effort would have had little chance for success due to the good enemy observation posts on Hill 73, so the operation had to take place under the cover of darkness. Chosen to lead the attack was the regimental bicycle platoon. This unit was composed of men from the „Aizsargi” home guard which had served the Latvian government in Riga (now lost to the Reds). The guardsmen had volunteered to serve with SS Rgt. 44. Well-trained and well-armed, these men were considered an „elite troop.” From mid-November 1944 to the beginning stages of the third Kurland battle the platoon was led by W-Ustuf. Pikelis.

The counterattack got underway at dusk (15:45) on 28 December, after a brief artillery barrage. The Aizsargi men stormed forward across the railroad lines and swiftly threw the Russians out of West Bitskepi. It was hoped to keep the attack going into East Bitskepi with the help of soldiers from the German 270th Inf. Rgt., but it proved to be too difficult to coordinate movements, and W-Ostubaf. Kocins halted the advance. However, the principal objectives had been secured. The railroad lines through the swamp between Janukrogs and Vanagi had been retaken and contact had been firmly restored with 19th SS Division’s right-hand neighbor, the 93rd Inf. Division.

At 1800 on 28 December the Soviets renewed their attack on SS Fusilier Btl. 19 and were able to reoccupy Rumbas. It was just one more chapter in what seemed to be an interminable seesaw struggle. During the next two hours, a platoon of Latvian Fusiliers, acting on their own initiative, charged back into Rumbas and once more flung the enemy out in violent, close combat. But regimental HQ was getting a little bit tired of this costly and largely useless battle. W-Ostubaf. Kocins now designated Rumbas a „forward outpost” to be guarded by only one heavy machine gun nest; it was no longer to be considered part of the frontlines proper, so the burden of defending would not have to be so debilitating. The SS Fusilier Btl. 19 had become so seriously depleted that W-Ostubaf. Kocins assigned 8./SS 44 under W-Ostuf. Vinklers to work with it and fill in the gap between l./SS 44 in the south and two Latvian Fusilier companies in the north. 8th Co. successfully attained its positions by 2000 hours.

During the night of 28/29 December further alterations were made in the 19th SS Division’s lines. The front was pulled back behind the railroad tracks and now ran along the following points: Brunumuiza - Stepisis - West Bitskepi - Upmali - Pumpuri- Vanagi - Silgaili - Hill 68.0 - Ermes - Vamzi. The division bordered on the Tempji-Janukrogs road on its right (south) wing and on Kraucas-Salinu Pupji on its left (north) wing. Specific unit locations looked like this: SS Rgt. 44 was on the divisional right with its left wing running through the cemetery north of Vanagi; in the center of the divisional lines, between the cemetery and Mucenieki was SS Rgt. 42; between Mucenieki and Ormani was SS Rgt. 106 and on the divisional left wing was SS Rgt. 43. Its place in reserve was now taken over by the SS Fusilier Btl. 19 which had been pulled back to Pastorat.

In the morning hours of 29 December, the Reds shelled the entire width and depth of the SS Rgt. 44 sector and then began a tank-supported attack against the front of the regiment. Because of the narrow focus of the advance it was possible for the Ger-mans and Latvians to concentrate artillery and rocket mortar fire on the enemy forces with great accuracy. In fact, all of the enemy efforts on this day were broken up by well-placed automatic and heavy weapons fire.

Of the many Latvian heroes of the Kurland fighting, probably none was more swashbuckling than Waffen-Hauptsturmführer Miervaldis Adamson, the commander of 6th Co./SS Rgt. 44. Earlier in his life, after finishing his schooling and motivated by a spirit of adventure, Adamson had signed up for a 6 year stint with the French Foreign Legion. He served his term with the Legion in North Africa.

By 1941 he was back in Latvia and he quickly volunteered his services to the Germans in their war against Soviet communism. While serving in a Latvian „Police” Btl. in June 1942, he joined the later Knight’s Cross winner Zanis Butkus on a special „underground” mission. Disguised as farmers, the two Latvians infiltrated a Red partisan band near Molodetschno by saying they had been sent as couriers from Moscow. Their ruse worked and the information they sent back to their battalion caused the destruction of the entire communist terrorist band.

In September 1942, Adamson and Butkus carried out another successful anti-partisan operation of a similar nature and in March 1943, Adamson once again distinguished himself by leading a long-distance scouting party on a mission behind the enemy lines near Lake Ilmen. For his success with this assignment he was promoted directly from W-Ustuf. to W-Hstuf. (skipping W-Ostuf.), and received a mention in the prestigious Wehrmacht Communique. He had already been awarded the Iron Cross, 1st Class back in 1941. Due to his stay in the Foreign Legion, the men in his command referred to Adamson as the „strange Morrocan.”

Waf.-Ostuf. Roberts Ancans, CO of the 19th SS Div. „Close Combat School.”

From 28 to 31 December 1944, W-Hstuf. Adamson’s 6th Co./ SS Rgt. 44 defended the Vanagi strongpoint 12 km northwest of Doblen. The regimental sector, laying between two swamps, was confronted by the entire 100th Soviet Army Corps, which consisted of three tank-supported Guards Divisions. Up until 29 December every enemy attack had been driven off with heavy losses. Then on 29 December the Russians laid down a heavy artillery barrage directly on Vanagi and attacked and seized the spot with a strong infantry force. Miervaldis Adamson personally led a counterattack that threw the enemy out of Vanagi, but the fighting raged on for three more days non-stop and Vanagi changed hands 17 times! In the night of 1 January 1945, Adamson and his men recaptured Vanagi for the last time–the enemy was finished. The 100th Soviet Army Corps had squandered all of its forces in suicidal attacks and now scarcely existed. Waffen-Hstuf. der SS Miervaldis Adamson was awarded the Knight’s Cross for his performance at Vanagi.

After the capitulation, Adamson was forced into slave labor at the Soviet nickel mines near Murmansk. He engineered a successful escape but before he could cross into Finland he was caught by communist border guards. During his subsequent interrogation Adamson remained stalwart and defiant. This time the Bolsheviks took no chances and had him executed.

 The Last Phase of the Third Battle for Kurland

In six days of fighting the Soviets had absorbed enormous losses, now on 29 December 1944 they were ready to begin their final push. To the north of the Janukrogs „angle,” the Reds made a „reconnaissance in force” that managed to push part of SS Rgt. 106 off of the hill north of Mucenieki. But by evening the Latvian grenadiers of SS Rgt. 106 had managed to retake the hill. Heavy fighting went on on this day for the Vanagi farm defended ably by W-Hstuf. Adamson’s 6./SS 44. Finally, after absorbing heavy losses, 6th Co. reported that Vanagi could no longer be held with certainty. All of the farm buildings had long since vanished under the destructive might of the enemy artillery.

Between the hours of 0200 and 0400 each morning, W- Ostubaf. Kocins routinely had small raiding parties sent out with instructions to bring back enemy prisoners for interrogation. Ideally the captives would give some clue as to what could be expected from the communist side on that particular day. Early in the morning of 30 December, a Latvian scout troop brought in two Russian soldiers who were serving as messengers for a Soviet battalion staff. SS Rgt. 44 HQ learned from them that a communist attack was planned for 0900 aimed at Pumpuri and Vanagi. The enemy apparently believed that these locations had been kept under intense fire for such a long time that the defenders surely would have been rendered hors de combat by now! In that belief they were not too far from wrong.

Armed with this information, W-Ostubaf. Kocins decided to play into the Soviet’s hands by pulling all of his men out of the Vanagi post and letting the Reds make a small breakthrough. He would then have his 6th and 7th Companies close in on the enemy advance force from the right and left and wipe it out in the envelopment. Things rarely worked as planned on a chaotic battlefield and this case was no exception.

Waf.-Hscha. Zanis Ansons, 3rd Co./WGR 44, Knight’s Cross winner.

The prisoner’s information was a little bit premature. The preliminary Soviet artillery barrage did not begin until 0930, and it was followed in kind by a Latvian-German reply at 1000, aimed at the enemy jumping-off positions. The Russian infantry attack actually got underway at 1015 against Pumpuri and Vanagi, and an advance force soon broke into Vanagi (as W- Ostubaf. Kocins had planned). At 1045 the Latvian SS counterattacked, but the cooperation between 6. and 7./SS 44 seemed to leave a little to be desired. Adamson led 6th Co. back into Vanagi. But the original plans had not yet been discarded. Vanagi was „Rumbasized” by having 6th Co. fall back while leaving only an observation post and machine gun nest there. Hopefully the Reds could still be lured into ambush. But the usual inconclusive see-saw pattern soon developed. Here’s how the rest of the day went:

1300: The Russians were back in Vanagi.

1400: 7./SS 44 under W-Ustuf. Smits retakes Vanagi and expells the Soviets. The defense of Vanagi and the nearby ceme-tery becomes the responsibility of W-Ustuf. Biters’ 2./SS 44 and W-Ustuf. Vanags’ 3./SS 44, both from I. Battalion.

1700: Soviets again retake Vanagi.

1900: W-Ustuf. Biters and the men of 2nd Co. throw the Reds back out of Vanagi.

At mid-day on 30 December, the Soviets broke off their losing effort to capture Pumpuri and shifted their attack towards Silgaili in the sector of SS Rgt. 42, and soon were able to occupy the town. In the afternoon, units of SS Rgt. 42 led by W-Ostuf. Pauzers, counterattacked with the assistance of armored assault guns. Silgaili was won back but W-Ostuf. Pauzers was badly wounded.

All along the front of SS Rgt. 44 prisoners had been taken and among them were representatives from six different infantry regiments attached to the 21st Red Guard Div. and the 28th and 37th Rifle Divisions. Towards evening a Soviet 1st Lt. was captured and he conceded that all of these divisions belonged to Maj.Gen. Dimitrov’s 100th Corps, which was headquartered on Zvejnieki Hill and lined up against only the front sector of SS Rgt. 44. Colonel Gen. Yeremenko, commanding the 2nd Baltic Front, had given the corps strict orders to break through the Janukrogs „angle.” The Russian POWs also noted that their casualties, particularly those caused by the lethal Latvian- German artillery fire, had been enormous. Although the enemy enjoyed a 6 to 1 regimental advantage over SS Rgt. 44, they could „only” muster a personnel advantage of about 3 to 1. In the Red Army regiments and divisions were allowed to bleed dry, with replacements being used instead to form new units with higher numerical designations thus puffing up the paper rosters that much more!

On 31 December at 0930, the Russian artillery started up again and the usual attack on Vanagi followed. The Reds again captured the place at 1100 and a short while later–on schedule almost–W-Ustuf. Biters’ 2./SS 44 took it back. At the same time the enemy charged across the marshland towards W-Ustuf. Vanags’ 3./SS 44’s positions in the Vanagi cemetery, but was driven back in disarray.

In the afternoon the Russians launched a renewed attack in regimental strength along the Zvejnieki-Vanagi road. This time they advanced without artillery or tank support. About 400 m from the Latvian SS lines they were driven to the ground by heavy fire. A general slaughter commenced since the Soviets found themselves unable to move safely in any direction and were without protection where they were. Panic set in and detached groups of Red soldiers desperately tried to escape into the swamps to the north. As evening fell a Latvian patrol went out to round up prisoners from the battlefield. They discovered that their captives had come from the 91st Rgt./37th Rifle Division. This regiment had been virtually annihilated in the one-sided fighting. Also on 31 December, the official Wehrmacht Coomunique made mention of the 19th SS Div. and paid a special tribute to the efforts of 6th Co./SS Rgt. 44 at Vanagi.

By the end of 1 January 1945, with Vanagi firmly back in Latvian SS control, the enemy’s fighting spirit had largely been broken. The next day saw some more heavy skirmishing but it was clear that the communists no longer wanted to attack. Then on 3 January 1945, 19th Latvian SS Div. struck back with a powerful offensive of its own. Divided into three assault groups, the soldiers of the division rolled over the enemy defenses. At times the communists fought back with determination, but to no avail–the Latvian volunteers were fighting for their homeland and their continent. In three days of a bloody, fierce struggle the heavily fortified hill at Gibelis which had been defended by 20 dug-in communist tanks and assault guns was captured by the Latvians. The conqueror of the hill was W-Ostuf. Berzins, a company commander from SS Rgt. 42. He was awarded the Honor Roll Clasp and his deeds were recorded forever in the Wehrmacht Roll of Honor.

 Waf.-Ostubaf. Nikoljas Galdins, Commander of WGR 42.

The town of Gibeli itself, also defended by tanks, was a tougher nut to crack and it did not fall until 14 January. On this day, after more than three weeks of continuous fighting, the third battle for Kurland came to an end. The Soviet forces that besieged Kurland had been battered into exhaustion. In the sector held by the VI. SS Army Corps (Latvian) they had lost 328 tanks, 17 airplanes, 350 field pieces and 830 prisoners. Their casualty figures were astronomical and many of their former divisions and regiments had dwindled to company or platoon size.

The 19th Latvian SS Div. would fight its way through several more Kurland battles and emerge from each undefeated. Its legacy as a superlative „elite” fighting force was etched in blood in the history of the 20th Century and can never be denied. After the conclusion of the January fighting, the heroic Waffen- Grenadier Rgt. der SS 106 (Latvian Nr. 7) had to be disbanded and its surviving personnel were used as replacements in the WGRgt. der SS44.