Pavel Bermondt-Avalov I WW1, I Wars of Independence
Commander of the Pro-German Volunteer Army of the West and one of the troops formed. In autumn 1919 he took part in the unsuccessful war against the armies of Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia in the so-called Bermontiada.
On 26 August 1919, Bermont took part in a meeting in Riga of representatives of Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, Poland, the anti-Bolshevik North-Western Front and the Entente, which sought to coordinate military action against Bolshevik Russia.
On 5 September 1919, he declared himself Commander-in-Chief of the West Russian Volunteer Army and refused to join Yudenich's attack on Petrograd, because he believed (or was forced to believe so by German financial conditions) that it was essential to maintain a Russian army presence in the Baltics.
Armed struggle of the Republic of Latvia against the Western Volunteer Army (RBA) 08.10.-03.12.1919 in the framework of the Latvian War of Independence (1918-1920). The Western Volunteer Army was defeated and left the territory of Latvia in December, evacuating to Germany together with P. Bermont.
After the defeat of the West Russian army, he emigrated to Germany, where he became involved in the Russian National Socialist movement, was one of the leaders of the Russian National Socialist organisation and participated with the German Nazis in the repression of the German communists.
More information sources
bermontiad - National encyclopedia (enciklopedija.lv)
Pavel Bermont - National Encyclopedia (encyclopedia)
Bermontiad is widely reflected in Latvian art, literature and cinema. The best-known works are: the novel “Soul Blower” (Aleksandrs Grīns, 1934), the poem “Daugavmala” (Uldis Bērziņš, 1999) and others; paintings “From Bermont Times (Jānis Roberts Tilbergs, 1923),“ Bermont Attack on Riga in 1919 on the Lübeck Bridge ”(Fricis Zandbergs, 1939),“ Expulsion of Bermont from Pārdaugava ”(Jānis Lauva, 1936), drawing cycle“ Bermontāde ” Sigismunds Vidbergs, 1926); feature films “Bear Bear” (director Aleksandrs Rusteikis, 1930), “Guardians of Riga” (director Aigars Grauba, 2007), documentary “Bermontia” (director Askolds Saulitis, 2009) and others.
Related objects
Freedom Trail (Karosta route)
A well-maintained, 9 km long walking trail created to commemorate the bravery and heroism of Latvian men during the Latvian Freedom Struggle in 1919.
The trail starts in Redana and runs through the forest area of Karosta, along the seashore and the Cietokšņa Canal, including a visit to the Tsarist-era fortifications and Soviet-era military heritage. The trail features 5 information boards, which introduce the creation of the Karosta and the fortification system that encircles the entire city, the 1919 Battle of Freedom in Liepāja, the military structures built in later years and life in the Karosta during the Soviet era.
On 18 November 1918, the independent Republic of Latvia was proclaimed, but several foreign troops were still stationed on the territory of the newly established Latvian state.
The Battle of Liepaja in November 1919 played an important role in Latvia's regaining its freedom, when, thanks to the heroism of the soldiers, the enemy was outnumbered almost 5 times. After the decisive battles in Liepaja, Bermont was driven out of Latvia
Radviliškis windmill
The octagonal 4-story wooden mill stands near the outskirts of Radviliškis, in the village of Vaidulių.
The Radviliškis windmill was built in the 19th century. at the end of 1984-1985 - restored. It is said that in 1919 November 22 near the mill, the famous battle of the Lithuanian volunteer army took place with the Bermontinkai, a Russian military unit with a provocative orientation. After the Bermontians captured Radviliškis, an important railway junction, Lithuania's independence was in danger. The 2nd Algird regiment, led by lieutenant colonel V. Grigaliūnas-Glovacki, was entrusted with recapturing Radviliškis.
About 30 Lithuanian soldiers were killed in the battle, but the fighting ended with a Lithuanian victory. According to the volunteers who took part in the fighting, the whole company went out to attack the mill occupied by the Bermonters, the commander armed with a rifle always attacked first, and the others followed his example, so the mill was captured, and Radviliškis was also captured the next evening.
In commemoration of the 70th anniversary of the battle against the Bermontians, in 1989 a chapel pillar was built near the mill and 70 oak trees were planted. The oak grove was added in 2019 to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the battle.
Although there are versions that the battle itself could have taken place a little further away, at another mill, it was the Radviliškis mill that became the symbol of the battle. Historical reconstructions of the battle took place at the Radviliškis windmill more than once, in 2010 and 2014. the battle was recreated by military history club reenactors from Lithuania, Estonia, Latvia and Poland.
Related stories
Reasons for awarding the award to Commander of the Armoured Train A.Klestrov
After successfully repelling an enemy attack, the commander of the armed train A.Klestrov falls and Colonel Danker issued the grounds for the award
Description of the combat activity of Vilis Narkevics on 6 November 1919
Description of the combat activity of the commander of the detachment, Lieutenant Commander Julius Rosenthal Vilis Narkevics, 3 November 1921