Report of Captain Jānis Ozols of the III./19th Artillery Regiment (2nd Latvian) on the battles of December 24 and 25, 1944

Captain and Jānis Ozols 27.12.1944. in the report to the commander of the 15th (1st Latvian) SS-art. regiment about the losses of the weapons of the 7th, 8th and 9th batteries in the battles from December 24-25 in the Zvejnieku - Dirba district:

9. battery:

24.12.1944 the battery was located 300m NE from Zvejnieki. Pl. 10:00 the battery was attacked by the infantry of the 1st company of Dirbas. the battery allowed the infantrymen to a distance of 500m, with directly aimed fire they destroyed part of them, the rest scattered and retreated. [..] 25.12.1944 pl. At 10:00, 3 tanks approached - already in the first 2 minutes, one tank received a direct hit and caught fire, the other two retreated back into the forest. After 30 min. 6 enemy T-34 tanks and 1 enemy company from the forest S of Dirba approached along the N edge of the Dirba forest. Again the battery repulsed these attacks with direct aim.

Ignoring the intense fire and losses, the battery did not allow the enemy to break into its position. 3 cannons were destroyed, 2 soldiers fell, 1 officer (battery commander), 3 instructors, 8 soldiers were injured. On both days of the battle, the battery fired 442 shells.

As darkness fell, the enemy repeated the attack and the exit route of the battery through Zvejnieki was cut off. the battery commander ordered the guns to be destroyed and retreated.

8. battery:

24.12.1944 the battery was located 400m SW from the Rumba railway station. Around noon, the battery was attacked by a company of infantry, some of whom were destroyed by directly aimed fire, the rest scattered and retreated. 25.12.1944 the battery was attacked by 6 T-34 tanks. Shooting with direct aim, 500m destroyed 3 tanks, the rest broke away and crawled back into the forest. The newly arrived 4 tanks from a distance of 600m in 30min. led directly aimed fire. One tank bypassed the battery and stormed the battery position. It was destroyed by a fist round.

On both days the battery also received very heavy artillery and volley fire. Losses: 1 gun shot from the tank, 2 soldiers killed, 6 soldiers wounded. The small losses were due to the fact that the battery was placed directly behind the embankment of the tank ditch, which created a field of attack against tank fire.

In the night from 25 to 26.12.1944, the battery left its position and moved near Cīruļi. At 9:00 AM, the battery was attacked by 2 infantry companies, threatening to bypass the battery. The commander of the battery called for advance vehicles, but all 3 six yokes were destroyed by the enemy with submachine gun fire. The battery commander gave the order to detonate the cannons and returned to Ormani with the people.

7. battery:

24 and 25.12.1944 the battery was in positions 800m NE of Rumba. Directly aimed fire along the 1200m edge prevented the enemy from launching an attack. Shot down 1 tank, it caught fire. 26.12.1944 the battery was in position near Cīruļi. when the enemy battery had already gone around the forest, the commander gave the order to leave. The cannons were not fired. With the soldiers gathered in the Ormani district, the forest was cleared and the 7th battery was recovered.

Direct losses on 24.12.1944. the headquarters of the division was hit when the bunker of the telephone exchange was destroyed by a direct hit, the commander of the communication line was also found dead. during 23-26.12.1944 23 fallen, 66 injured in the division.

24 and 25.12.1944 the division, being in the center of gravity, carried all the weight on its shoulders in stopping the enemy invading from the rear. Failing this selfless action, the enemy already on 24.12.1944. would have reached a significantly greater depth. The division has greatly facilitated the regrouping of our forces. Battles took place without infantry.

WH'stuf. and d-na commander

(captain and divisional commander)