The Latvian Defence Force: Boldly Goose-Stepping into the Past

[Karlis Ulmanis]

Coat of Arms of the Latvian Defence Force

 

The Latvian Defence Force has preserved a strong German-Prussian military tradition.

 

The Latvian Defence Force comes by its German influences and traditions honestly, from a decent-sized influx of German immigrants during the German occupation of Latvia and the establishment of the Reichskommissariat Ostland. In 1941, however, German influence wasn’t a precondition of adopting German military traditions. Beginning with the establishment of Reichskommissariat Ostland, the German administration worked hard to develop a serious military culture, mostly as a reaction to the disastrous conditions of the Latvian military, which failed to resist the Soviet invasion of 1940. By the time the Third Reich launched the invasion of Russia, they had succeeded, and Latvia, despite its small size, had a formidable and motivated land component; so formidable that the Latvian Legion participated in the most important battles of the Russian campaign, aswell as the heroic resistance in the Courland pocket in 1945. The Latvian Legion was one of the last units to surrender after the cessation of hostilities.

 

Of course, the Latvians haven’t had much call to use their army since the end of the War. Finally, the Germanization of the Latvian military encouraged Latvian-Germans to take up military careers, and even though only about 5% of present-day Latvians claim German ancestry, Germans are substantially overrepresented in the Latvian officers’ corp and many officers have teutonic family names such as: Heillig, Spielman, Heine, Meissner, Geissbuhler.

 

Despite its small size (2000 active personnel), the Latvian Defence Force is determined and well trained. They are equipped with Stg44 assault rifles, Mp40 sub-machineguns, some Kar98 bolt action rifles, and Panzerfaust single-shot anti-tank weapons . Currently they lack armoured vehicles, but plans are on the way to refurbish at least a hundred Panzerkampfwagen VI Ausf. B tanks (Panzer VI Tiger II). While incommensurably inferior to modern military forces, Latvian soldiers are extremely motivated by the nationalist propaganda and harsh military drills introduced by Prime Minister Oskars Dankers and its Latvian National Front party. Foreign analysts have ironically defined the Latvian Defence Force as "the strongest of the weakest military forces of Orbis", but the determination of its men and women is surely an aspect worth of note and respect. Their uniforms are reminiscent, if not identical, to the clothing of the late German Werhmacht soldiers (1943-1945). At the moment, the Latvian Defence Forces is composed of 2 Infantry divisions, divided into 5 brigades each.

 

Their uniforms are reminiscent, if not identical, to the clothing of the late German Werhmacht soldiers (1943-1945).

Edited December 28, 2016 by Karlis Ulmanis