The Latvian Legion (Latvian: Latviešu leģions) was a formation of the Nazi German Waffen-SS during World War II. Created in 1943, it consisted primarily of ethnic Latvians.

SS grenadieru divīzija (latviešu Nr. 1)), originally called the Latvian SS-Volunteer Division (German: Lettische SS-Freiwilligen-Division, Latvian: Latviešu SS brīvprātīgo divīzija) was an infantry division of the Waffen-SS during World War II.

Remembrance Day of the Latvian Legionnaires (Latvian: Leģionāru piemiņas diena), often known simply as the Legionnaire Day (Leģionāru diena) or 16 March (16. marts) in Latvia, is a day when soldiers of the Latvian Legion, part of the Waffen-SS, are commemorated.

Nazi Germany mobilized some 110–150,000 Latvian men into combat service, including the Latvian Legion, aka Waffen grenadier divisions "der SS" (of the SS), to fight against the Red Army on the Eastern Front. 1 By the end of the war, the Germans had illegally ordered every Latvian male born after 1905 conscripted.

Waffen-Grenadier Regiment der SS (Latvian numeration: 6th Regiment). The 1st Regiment was commanded by Maj. Galdins, the 2nd—by Col. Lobe, and the 3rd—by Lt.-Col. Kocins. Col.

Mar 16, 2025 · But few people remember and know that the history of the Latvian Waffen SS Legion remains one of the darkest chapters of the Second World War. The legionnaires who swore allegiance to Adolf Hitler not only served on the side of Nazi Germany, but also participated in crimes against civilians.

Eventually the Latvian Legion and the Latvian SS Volunteer Brigade (formerly 2nd SS Infantry Brigade) would served under the VI SS Volunteer Corps. In November 1943, the Latvian Legion saw action at Novo-Sokolniki, northern Russia, as part of the 16th Army Group North.

Even though formally the Latvian Legion was under the subordination of the SS organisation and its leader H. Himmler, actually the legion was a regular component of the German military forces that fought against the Red Army in the front.

Oct 4, 2024 · During World War II, tens of thousands of Latvians served in German-led military formations, primarily in the Waffen-SS Latvian Legion. After the war, around 25,000 former Legionnaires transitioned from prisoner of war camps run by the Western Allies to civilian life in a variety of Western countries.

In order to control the Latvian Divisions of the Waffen-SS, a Latvian SS Army Corps was established in October 1943. Personnel came from the IV SS Panzer Corps (which had absorbed the VII SS Panzer Corps) and the "Artillerie Kommandeur (ARKO)" of the VII SS Corps.