The heroic deed of the War Order of Jānis Zikmanis Lāčplēsis

"On January 9, 1920, after the capture of the town of Viļaka, the commander of the 6th Company, Lieutenant Janis Zikmanis, was ordered: In order to ensure the rapid advance of the regiment to the east from enemy attacks from the village of Cūkine, where the Soviet 2nd Petrograd Rifle Regiment was located, the 6th Company was to knock out the enemy from the said village with one machine gun.

"First Lieutenant Zikmanis, through the skillful action of his company's scouts, captured the enemy's scouts, after which, having placed his 65 soldiers in sledges, he skillfully maneuvered around the village of Cūkines from the northeast under heavy enemy fire, capturing the village at an unusually fast pace, and captured the entire enemy company (approx. 75 riflemen) with one machine gun and 75 rifles, thus instilling panic in the enemy troops. Through which he brilliantly carried out the assigned task and ensured the regiment's further success."

Biography of Jānis Zikmanis

Born on May 16, 1891 in Vidzeme, graduated from the Agricultural School in Pskov.

Joined the Russian Imperial Army on September 9, 1915, assigned to the 96th Simbirsk Reserve Infantry Regiment. From May 1, 1916, sent to the Alexander Military School in Moscow.

He graduated from school on October 1, 1916, received the rank of ensign (lieutenant) and was transferred to the 10th Siberian Rifle Regiment, where he commanded a company from March 4, 1917. He held various positions until February 17, 1918, when he was retired from active military service.

Conscripted into the Latvian Army on June 24, 1919 and assigned to the 9th Rēzekne Infantry Regiment. On September 9, 1919, transferred to the 8th Daugavpils Infantry Regiment as the commander of the 6th company.

After the War of Independence, he continued his service in the Latvian Army, reaching the rank of lieutenant colonel. He died on October 31, 1938, and was buried in the Riga Brothers' Cemetery.