Generolas Krišjānis Berkis
I WW1, I Nepriklausomybės karai, IV Sovietų okupacija

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Ģenerālis Krišjānis Berķis. 20. gs. 30. gadi. Avots: Latvijas kara muzejs.

Krišjānis Berķis gimė 1884 m. balandžio 26 d. Bērzukrog mieste, Īslicės valsčiuje. 1903 m., baigęs Bauskės miesto mokyklą, Kr. Berkis įstojo į Vilniaus jaunesniąją mokyklą, kurią baigė po 3 metų jaunesniojo karininko. Tarnavo 2-ajame suomių šaulių pulke Helsinkyje. 1909 m Berķis gavo leitenanto, 1913 metais – štabo kapitono, o 1917 metų sausį – kapitono laipsnį.

1917 metų liepą Kr. Berķis gavo pulkininko leitenanto laipsnį ir tapo 6-ojo Tukumo latvių šaulių pulko bataliono vadu. Po Spalio revoliucijos m Berķi buvo nušalintas nuo pareigų ir trumpam kalinamas, tačiau išėjęs į laisvę vis tiek buvo priverstas slapstytis nuo bolševikų tiek Suomijoje, tiek Rusijoje, kol galiausiai 1919 metų pavasarį grįžo į Latviją.

1919 metų kovo 21 dieną Kr. Berķis, jau būdamas pulkininku leitenantu, įstojo į Latvijos laikinosios vyriausybės ginkluotąsias pajėgas ir tapo rezervinio bataliono (vėliau 2-ojo Cėsių pėstininkų pulko) vadu, o nuo rugpjūčio – Latgalos divizijos vadu. 1919 metų spalį Kr. Berkis gavo pulkininko laipsnį.

1920 metų balandį Kr. Berķis buvo išrinktas Konstitucinės Asamblėjos nariu, tačiau mandato atsisakė. 1925 m Berkiui suteiktas generolo laipsnis. Iki 1934 metų dirbo kariuomenės štabo Administraciniame skyriuje, buvo Vidžemės divizijos vadas ir Rygos garnizono viršininkas. 1934 metų lapkritį Kr. Berķis buvo paskirtas kariuomenės vadu, o 1940 04 05 – karo ministru.

Žurnalas „Kadetai“, Nr. 4., 1936 m. balandžio 1 d. straipsnis apie generolą Krišjānį Berkį rašė: „[..] generolą visada matome kaip puikų veržlumo ir energijos pavyzdį, nenuilstamą eilinį, gerai pažįstantį ir suprantantį karių gyvenimą ir jo aplinkybes. Paslaugus ir nuoširdus, visada tėviškai rūpestingas ir atsiliepiantis savo pavaldiniams – tikrasis savo širdies viršininkas, bet ir ne tik savo širdies viršininkas, bet ir ne tik savo širdies vadovas visų latvių karių širdyse generolo autoritetas ir pagarba, kurią jam turi kariai, nėra pagrįsta tvirtumu ir griežtumu, nėra pagrįsta įstatymo viršenybe ir raide, bet jo autoriteto ir pagarbos pamatus – ir šie pamatai yra granitiški – padėjo audringas mūsų tautos laisvės kovos laikas.

1940 06 20 Kr. Berķi buvo atleistas iš tarnybos, liepos mėnesį suimtas, o rugpjūčio 9 dieną kartu su sūnumi ir martimi ištremtas į Rusiją, kur 1941 metų birželį buvo įkalintas. Mirė 1942 07 29 Permės kalėjimo ligoninėje.

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Daugiau informacijos šaltinių

Latvijos karo muziejus. Generolas Krišjānis Berķis. Prieiga: http://www.karamuzejs.lv/lv/Izstades/generali/generalis_BerkisKrisjanis.aspx [žiūrėta 2021 05 06].

Susijusios vietos

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.

 
Memorial site of General K. Berkis

A monument to General Krišjānis Berķis (1884 - 1942) was erected on the site of his birthplace near an oak tree. The monument was erected by the Latvian National Soldiers' Association at its own expense on April 26, 1998. Kr. Berķis was a general of the Latvian Army, commander of the Latvian Riflemen, fought in World War I and the Latvian War of Independence. Cavalier of the Lāčplēsis War and Three Star Orders. Commander of the Latvian Armed Forces, Minister of War of Latvia.

Krišjānis Berķis was born on April 26, 1884 in Bērzukrog, Īslīce parish. In 1903, after graduating from Bauska city school, Kr. Berķis entered the Vilnius Junkers School, which he graduated after 3 years as a sub-lieutenant. He served in the 2nd Finnish Rifle Regiment in Helsinki. In 1909, Kr. Berķis received the rank of lieutenant, in 1913 – staff captain, and in January 1917 – captain. In July 1917, Kr. Berķis received the rank of lieutenant colonel and became the battalion commander of the 6th Tukums Latvian Rifle Regiment. After the October Revolution, Kr. Berķis was removed from office and imprisoned for a short time, but after his release he was still forced to hide from the Bolsheviks in both Finland and Russia, until finally returning to Latvia in the spring of 1919. On March 21, 1919, Kr. Berķis, already as a colonel - lieutenant, joined the armed forces of the Provisional Government of Latvia and became a commander of a reserve battalion (later the 2nd Cēsis Infantry Regiment), and from August - the commander of the Latgale Division. In October 1919, Kr. Berķis received the rank of colonel. In April 1920, Kr. Berķis was elected a deputy of the Constituent Assembly, but he refused the mandate. In 1925, Kr. Berķis was awarded 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 chief of the Riga garrison. In November 1934, Kr. Berķis was appointed commander of the army, and on April 5, 1940 - the minister of war. On June 20, 1940, Kr. Berķi was discharged from service, arrested in July, and on August 9, together with his son and daughter-in-law, was deported to Russia, where he was imprisoned in June 1941. He died on July 29, 1942, in the Perm prison hospital.

Susijusi istorija

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.