General Krišjānis Berķis
I WW1, I Wars of Independence, IV Soviet Occupation
Krišjānis Berķis was born on April 26, 1884 in Bērzukrogs, Īslīce Parish. In 1903, after graduating from Bauska city school, Kr. Berķis entered the Vilnius Junker School, which he graduated from after 3 years as a podporic. Served in the 2nd Finnish Rifle Regiment in Helsinki. In 1909, Kr. Berk received the rank of Poruchik, in 1913 - the rank of Chief of Staff and in January 1917 - the rank of Captain.
In July 1917, Kr. Berķis received the rank of lieutenant colonel and became the commander of the 6th Tukums Latvian Rifle Regiment Battalion. After the October Revolution Kr. Berki was removed from office and arrested for a short time, but after his release he was still forced to hide from the Bolsheviks in both Finland and Russia until he finally returned to Latvia in the spring of 1919.
March 21, 1919 Kr. Berķis has already joined the Armed Forces of the Provisional Government of Latvia as a colonel and became the commander of the reserve battalion (later in the 2nd Cēsis Infantry Regiment), but from August - the commander of the Latgale Division. In October 1919, Kr. Berk received the rank of colonel.
In April 1920, Kr. Berki was elected a deputy of the Constitutional Assembly, but he resigned. In 1925 Kr. Berkis was promoted to the rank of general. Until 1934, he worked in the Administrative Department of the Army Headquarters, was the commander of the Vidzeme Division and the commander of the Riga garrison. November 1934 Kr. Berki was appointed commander of the army, and on April 5, 1940, minister of war.
Magazine "Cadet", no. In his article of 4 April 1936 on General Krišjānis Berkis, it is written: Helpful and sincere, always paternally caring and responsive to his subjects - a true Latvian heart man - such a direct boss and leader of our life has penetrated not only into the hearts of his closest soldiers, but in the hearts of all Latvian soldiers. The authority and dignity of the general in the military are not based on rigor and severity, they are not based on the rule of law and the letter, but his authority and dignity - and these foundations are hard - have been laid by the whirlwinds of our nation's struggle for freedom. "
June 20, 1940 Kr. Berkis was retired, arrested in July, and sent to Russia on August 9 with his son and daughter-in-law, where he was imprisoned in June 1941. Died on 29 July 1942 in Perm Prison Hospital.
More information sources
Latvian War Museum. General Krišjānis Berķis. Available: http://www.karamuzejs.lv/lv/Izstades/generali/generalis_BerkisKrisjanis.aspx [accessed 06.05.2021].
Related objects
Bumbu hill firewatch tower
Latvian Freedom Struggle memorial site. During the Bermontiade in November 1919, the command post of the Latgale division led by Krišjānis Berķas was located here. 6. The Riga infantry regiment, attacking from Bumbu hill, captured Silver Hill.
Daugavgrīva Fortress
Daugavgrīva Fortress (entry from Birzes street) is located on the Daugavgrīva Island where Buļļupe river joins the Daugava river. The fortress was built in the 17th century to defend from enemies moving in the direction of Riga, which was an important administrative, trade and production centre. Later it became the main fortification of the Latvian Army coastal defence with several support points. This defensive fortification system is one of the most valuable objects of Latvia's military heritage. This fortress has witnessed Latvian military history. For example, during the Crimean War (1853-1856) Latvian and Estonian gunboat crews were trained here. The main objective of these units was to protect local ports and the coast from attacks by the British navy. During World War I Daugavgrīva militiamen companies were formed here. These were the first Latvian combat units, which came even before the Latvian Riflemen. Nowadays it is possible to see the territory of the fortress. ‘Komētforts’ and the Seaside Nature Park are located nearby and Mangaļsala fortifications are on the other side of the Daugava river.
Memorial stone in the battles of Cēsis near the fallen Latvian and Estonian soldiers
Located in Priekuli Parish, on the side of the Cēsis-Valmiera highway near the bridge over Rauna.
A memorial stone with a granite memorial to the soldiers killed in the battles of Cēsis, made by stonemason Voldemārs Koltovs, can be seen.
Discovered in 2004, when the 85th anniversary of the Battle of Cēsis was celebrated.
A memorial stone to 110 Estonian and 44 Latvian soldiers killed in battles on the banks of the Rauna and Gauja banks.
The 6th Regiment of the 3rd Estonian Division (Commander K.Tallo), the 3rd Regiment (Commander J. Krūss) and the 2nd Cēsis Regiment of the Northern Latvia Brigade (Commander K.Berķis) fought heroically in the battles near Rauna and Gauja.
Exposition "Latvian Army in Pļaviņas in the 20th Century"
Located at Odzienas Street 2, Pļaviņas.
The permanent exposition "Latvian Army in Pļaviņas in the 20th Century" can be seen.
The building in Pļaviņas, Odzienas Street 2, has a long history - from the time when Stukmaņi wholesaler Hugo Apeltofts started active economic activity in it, thus promoting the development of Pļaviņas city, until the headquarters of the Latvian Eastern Front was established here during the War of Independence. In 1919, the activities of Latvian army units against the Red Army in Latgale were commanded directly from Pļaviņas.
In 1934, a memorial plaque was unveiled near this house with the inscription: "In 1919, the headquarters of the Eastern Front was located in this house, and here General Jānis Balodis took over the command of the Latvian National Army." It was removed and destroyed by the Soviets in 1940, but on June 16, 1990, with the support of the LNNK Plavinas branch, it was restored.
Now, next to the former headquarters building, there is a memorial stall dedicated to 15 cavalry of the Lāčplēsis Military Order born in Pļaviņas region. In Pļaviņas, as well as provides an insight into the life stories of the Knights of the Lāčplēsis War Order.
Not far from the exposition building is the Latgale Division headquarters building, which was built in 1913 by Count Teodors Medems as a Stukmaņi liqueur factory. In 1919 it was taken over by the regime of P. Stučka, where it had also established a prison. After the expulsion of the Bolsheviks, in 1925 the building was taken over by the Latvian Army, which housed the headquarters of the Latgale Division. 10 generals and other officers of the Latvian Army spent their military careers in this building. In 1940, the building was taken over by the Red Army. In the post-war years, it housed a school as well as a municipality. Around 1970, the building was started to be used by the production association "Rīgas Apīrsbs".
Visits to the exhibition must be booked in advance by calling T. 28442692.
Related stories
Bomb Hill
Bumbu Hill is a high hill in the Bolderāja dunes, Kleistu Forest, Rīga. Memorial to the Latvian Freedom Fights. During the Bermontiad in November 1919, the command post of the Latgale Division led by Krišjānis Berkis was located here. The 6th Riga Infantry Regiment, attacking from Bumbu Hill, captured Sudrabkalniņa. A memorial plaque was erected in 1939 and destroyed in 1969. The memorial site was restored in 1989.