Jūlij Bērziņš's testimony about the 201st (43rd Guards) Latvian Rifle Division of the Red Army in 1942-1945

From December 23 to 28, 1944, the 130th Latvian Rifle Corps fought in the battles near Džukste against the 19th Division of the Latvian Legion. On December 31, battles in the vicinity of Kārmači followed, then in February 1945, battles near Zvārde, in March 1945, the 130th Latvian Rifle Corps was assigned to the reserve. It was concentrated in Blīdene (near Saldus) and in the wider area, where regular battles took place in March. It should be noted that the battle near Blīdene, which began on March 4, can be described as a "blow with the forehead against the wall". What had already started in December 1941 during the Moscow battles continued - Latvian soldiers were assigned to fight in a practically hopeless sector of the front. The battles near Blīdene lasted a month.
On May 8, 1945 - the day the war ended, the 130th Latvian Rifle Corps was on the banks of the Imulas River.
In March 1947, the division was transformed into the 29th Separate Guard Latvian Riga Rifle Brigade, in June 1950 - into the 43rd Guard Latvian Rifle Riga Division, but in May-June 1956, the division and its units were disbanded.
In fact, the entire stage of the battles of the 201st Latvian Rifle Division was characterized by both the lack of commanders and the large losses of personnel on the battlefields and the subsequent difficulties in replenishment, especially with Latvian soldiers. This radically changed the national composition of the division, causing the dissatisfaction of the division commander, especially Veikin.
THE PERSONALITY OF JULIUS BÄRZINS
The only source of information about the person of Jūlij Bērzins is what he says about himself in his memories. Jūlijs Bērziņš is a Russian Latvian, probably born in Nizhniy Novgorod (from 1932 to 1991, Gorky), where he lived until his enlistment in the 201st Latvian Rifle Division. He was probably born on the territory of Latvia and evacuated to Russia after the start of the First World War in 1914. Born in 1900. Participated in the Russian Civil War, however, it is not known for how long and in which sector of the front. Before the start of the German-USSR war, he worked as an accountant in Gorky in the farm part of the Water and Sewerage Trust. He was conscripted into the Red Army on May 25, 1942, sent to the 1st separate Latvian rifle reserve regiment, after completing training he joined the machine gun company in the 1st battalion of the 191st regiment of the 201st Latvian rifle division. Until the spring of 1943, Bērziņš had the rank of private, probably during the war he was promoted, because in his memories he mentions the fact that at the end of the war he was the commander of the ammunition supply (platoon). It was not clear from the memories whether he suffered in 1937-1938. in the repressions in Russia, it is not confirmed by the databases of those arrested and punished during the political terror of the USSR. The possible connection of Bērziņš with the repressions is evidenced by the open 1937-1938 characteristic of memories. criticism of the events and consequences of the year.
In September 1942, during the battle near Tuganova, Bērziņš was wounded, after which he had a three-month journey through war hospitals, until on December 15 of the same year, he returned to the Gorohovec camp in the 1st separate Latvian rifle reserve regiment. After preparation, at the end of March 1943, he returned to the 201st Latvian Rifle Division, this time in the 121st Guards Latvian Rifle Regiment. There he was both in the machine gun company and was transferred (due to his age) to the farm platoon, where he served until the end of the war. Lived in Moscow after the war.
He started writing his memoirs about the period from June 1942, and although only 1942 and 1943 are mentioned, the author also reviews what happened in 1944 and 1945. Bērziņš writes not only about the events in which he was an accomplice, but also gives an assessment of the past. It is difficult to judge whether the author has a phenomenal memory or used good books, but sometimes he gives a detailed insight into various stages of Russian history.
The memories are a new, so far unpublished testimony about the 201st Latvian Rifle Division and what they saw in the war. The value of memories is determined by the overall objective judgments of the author (they can be placed next to information in other sources, including official documents) and details that complement certain events not found in other sources. The memoirs give a general idea of the situation in the division when the outcome of the war was already known. This is indicated by the author's judgments about events in the past, or what should have been done so that the outcome was different.
Separate fragments of Bērziņš's memories have been selected and translated for this publication. The parts that describe "dry" military developments are not included, but those that allow you to follow the observations of a "live" soldier in the relationship: soldier - commander, soldier - other soldiers, soldier - duties, soldier - events are included.