Krišjānis Berķis
| Krišjānis Berķis | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Born |
26 April 1884 Īslīce parish, Russian Empire |
| Died | 29 July 1942 (aged 58) Perm Oblast, Soviet Union |
| Allegiance |
Russian Empire Latvia |
| Service/branch | Army |
| Rank | General |
| Battles/wars |
World War I Latvian War of Independence |
Krišjānis Berķis (April 26, 1884 in Īslīce parish, Bauska municipality, Courland, modern Latvia – July 29, 1942 in Perm, Russia) was a Latvian general. Rising to prominence as an officer of the Latvian Riflemen in World War I, he was promoted to the rank of general during the Latvian War of Independence, and served on the Army General Staff after the war.
Krišjānis Berķis was born on April 26, 1884 in Bērzkrogs homestead, Īslīce parish, Courland. He graduated local parish school and Bauska city school. After graduation he decided to become a soldier and entered Vilnius military school. He graduated in 1906 in the rank of podporuchik. He then served in 2nd. Finnish rifleman regiment in Helsinki. During his service in Finland he married Finnish girl Hilma Lehtonen (1887-1961). In 1909 he was promoted to poruchik and in 1913 to stabskapitan.
In 1914 Berķis as an officer in Finnish corps of Russian Army is deployed to front in East Prussia. He serves as a company commander, later as battalion commander. He participated in battles near Masurian lakes. In January 1915 Finnish corps is deployed to south eastern front in Carpathians. Berķis was promoted to captain and participated in many battles, including Brusilov's offensive in 1916. In 1917 he was promoted to lieutenant colonel and after many request was finally transferred to Latvian Rifleman units. He became battalion commander in 6th. Tukums Latvian rifleman regiment but since October he commanded whole regiment. With his regiment he participated in Battle of Jugla securing to main Russian units safe withdrawal from Riga. In November 1917 he refuses to join Red Army and is dissmised from his post. He goes to Finland to be with his family.
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