When Riga, the capital of Latvia, fell to the Wehrmacht on 1 July 1941, the Germans began forming self-defence and police forces. Veiss was appointed the commander of such a Self Defence organization.[which?] On 20 July the Nazis disbanded this organization and ordered the formation of auxiliary police forces instead, with Lt. Col. Veiss being appointed Chief of the Latvian Auxiliary Police. At the end of 1941, he became First Deputy Director General of the Director General of the Interior when the Latvian Self-Administration was reorganized.
Veiss funeral in Riga
As early as autumn 1941 Latvian auxiliary police units, temporarily attached to the Wehrmacht, were first used in front line duties. This occasional employment continued until the 2nd Latvian Brigade was formed from six Latvian battalions, four of which had combat experience. At the end of April 1943 a three battalion formation fighting under name of Latvian Legion was withdrawn from the front line and renamed 1st Volunteer Regiment of the SS (Latvian), with a change of Wehrmacht ranks to those of Waffen-SS. Voldemārs Veiss was given command of this regiment, which was a part of the 2nd Latvian Brigade, and received a rank of Legion-Obersturmbannführer. In January 1944, Veiss became the first Latvian to receive the Knight's Cross. On 17 April 1944, Veiss died from wounds he had suffered seven days prior.
Scherzer, Veit (2007). Die Ritterkreuzträger 1939–1945 Die Inhaber des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939 von Heer, Luftwaffe, Kriegsmarine, Waffen-SS, Volkssturm sowie mit Deutschland verbündeter Streitkräfte nach den Unterlagen des Bundesarchives [The Knight's Cross Bearers 1939–1945 The Holders of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross 1939 by Army, Air Force, Navy, Waffen-SS, Volkssturm and Allied Forces with Germany According to the Documents of the Federal Archives] (in German). Jena, Germany: Scherzers Militaer-Verlag. ISBN978-3-938845-17-2.
voldemārs, veiss, this, article, includes, list, general, references, lacks, sufficient, corresponding, inline, citations, please, help, improve, this, article, introducing, more, precise, citations, january, 2013, learn, when, remove, this, message, november,. This article includes a list of general references but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations Please help to improve this article by introducing more precise citations January 2013 Learn how and when to remove this message Voldemars Veiss 7 November 1899 17 April 1944 was a Latvian officer and prominent Nazi collaborator who served in the Waffen SS of Nazi Germany Voldemars VeissBorn 1899 11 07 7 November 1899Riga Russian EmpireDied17 April 1944 1944 04 17 aged 44 Riga Reichskommissariat OstlandAllegiance Latvia Nazi GermanyService wbr branchWehrmacht Waffen SSYears of service1918 40 1941 44RankStandartenfuhrerAwardsKnight s Cross of the Iron Cross When Riga the capital of Latvia fell to the Wehrmacht on 1 July 1941 the Germans began forming self defence and police forces Veiss was appointed the commander of such a Self Defence organization which On 20 July the Nazis disbanded this organization and ordered the formation of auxiliary police forces instead with Lt Col Veiss being appointed Chief of the Latvian Auxiliary Police At the end of 1941 he became First Deputy Director General of the Director General of the Interior when the Latvian Self Administration was reorganized Veiss funeral in Riga As early as autumn 1941 Latvian auxiliary police units temporarily attached to the Wehrmacht were first used in front line duties This occasional employment continued until the 2nd Latvian Brigade was formed from six Latvian battalions four of which had combat experience At the end of April 1943 a three battalion formation fighting under name of Latvian Legion was withdrawn from the front line and renamed 1st Volunteer Regiment of the SS Latvian with a change of Wehrmacht ranks to those of Waffen SS Voldemars Veiss was given command of this regiment which was a part of the 2nd Latvian Brigade and received a rank of Legion Obersturmbannfuhrer In January 1944 Veiss became the first Latvian to receive the Knight s Cross On 17 April 1944 Veiss died from wounds he had suffered seven days prior Awards editKnight s Cross of the Iron Cross on 9 February 1944 as Waffen Standartenfuhrer and commander of SS Freiwilligen Grenadier Regiment 42 lett Nr 4 1 References editCitations edit Scherzer 2007 p 756 Bibliography edit Lumans Valdis O Latvia in World War II ISBN 0 8232 2627 1 ISBN 978 0 8232 2627 6 Fordham University Press 2006 Scherzer Veit 2007 Die Ritterkreuztrager 1939 1945 Die Inhaber des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939 von Heer Luftwaffe Kriegsmarine Waffen SS Volkssturm sowie mit Deutschland verbundeter Streitkrafte nach den Unterlagen des Bundesarchives The Knight s Cross Bearers 1939 1945 The Holders of the Knight s Cross of the Iron Cross 1939 by Army Air Force Navy Waffen SS Volkssturm and Allied Forces with Germany According to the Documents of the Federal Archives in German Jena Germany Scherzers Militaer Verlag ISBN 978 3 938845 17 2 Portals nbsp Biography nbsp Latvia Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Voldemars Veiss amp oldid 1206907923, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
