Battles of Ķekava

The Battle of Kekava in 1916 was an attack by the 12th Army of the Russian Empire during the First World War in March and July 1916 against the positions of the German Army on the Riga Front south of Kekava. For the first time in the March battle, two Latvian rifle battalions - the 1st Daugavgriva Latvian Rifle Battalion and the 2nd Riga Latvian Rifle Battalion, but in the July battles five (also 6th Tukums, 7th Bauska and 8th Valmiera) Latvian battalions - worked together and carried out a joint attack. .

There were 1278 people and 4 machine guns in each battalion. In fact, the battalions were even larger because they had troops above the state. The battalions were armed with very precise but in-service rifles of the American type "Winchester" type.

The Latvian battalions learned about the upcoming attack on March 16, but on March 18 they also awaited the order of the attack. On the morning of March 21, after a brief preparation of artillery in a fire attack in the direction of Ķekava-Vecmuiža, the 13th Siberian Rifle Division of the Russian 12th Army with six Latvian Rifle Battalions (1st, 2nd, 5th-8th Latvian Rifle Battalion) was transferred. Only the first two, most experienced, Latvian rifle battalions took an active part in the battles in the Bauska highway area. They were divided into the right flank of the attack together with the 51st Siberian Rifle Regiment. For the first time, two Latvian rifle battalions fought side by side under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Jānis Frances, the commander of the second battalion. The 7th Bauska Latvian Rifle Battalion also received a limited assignment from the other Latvian battalions that remained in reserve.

Both Latvian battalions attacked along the Bauska highway over an open field in the opponent's crossfire. The Siberians and Latvians managed to occupy the first German trench and receive prisoners. After the German counterattack was repulsed, the riflemen also took the second and third lines of the opponent's fortifications. Here the riflemen tried to fortify themselves to repel the German attacks. When it got dark, the battle was stopped and the Latvian battalions returned to their starting positions. The shooters lost 704 people in the March battles (265 of whom fell and disappeared). Briedi, the commander of the 1st Company of the 1st Daugavgrīva Rifle Battalion, was seriously injured in the battle (broken jaw bone). In his memoirs, Lieutenant Colonel Jānis Francis described F. Deer's perseverance:

"In the battle, among others, the commander of the 1st Company of the Daugavgrīva Rifle Battalion was seriously wounded in the head. It came to me with sanitary help. Blood seeped through the headband. Unable to speak, Captain Briedis demanded paper and pencil with signs; drew the situation of the front jewelry, showed where the Germans are most opposed, where help is needed, and if it does not bring in additional forces, it is not worth sacrificing people for free. In addition, it is not possible to retreat to the chair. All the written leaves were dripped with his blood. He managed to get him from the battlefield to the back with great effort. ”

Without additional support, the riflemen were forced to retreat to their starting positions under the guise of artillery fire in the evening. As a result of the unsuccessful combat operation, Latvian riflemen suffered heavy losses - 262 soldiers were killed. The failure and the great sacrifices caused dissatisfaction. Kārlis Miglis expressed in his memories a bitter disappointment: “This battle was just a demonstration - so a test of strength for further battle operations. Did this demonstration require so much blood? Can't the enemy's forces be tested in any other way? ”