| Frīdrihs Briedis | |
|---|---|
| Born | June 23, 1888 Vitebsk governorate, Russian Empire |
| Died | August 28, 1918 (aged 30) Moscow, Soviet Russia |
| Allegiance | Russian Empire White movement |
| Service/branch | Army |
| Years of service | 1906 — 1918 |
| Rank | Colonel |
| Battles/wars | World War I Russian Civil War |
| Awards | Order of Lāčplēsis (I, II, III clases), Cross of St. George, Sword of St. George, Order of St. Vladimir (IV class), Order of St. Anna (II, III and IV classes), Order of Saint Stanislaus (II and III classes)[1] |
Frīdrihs Briedis (June 23, 1888 – August 28, 1918) was a Latvian colonel and one of the most famous Latvian Riflemen commanders. He was posthumously the recipient of all classes of the Order of Lāčplēsis.[2]
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Briedis was born in Vitebsk guberniya to a Latvian emigrant family. He graduated with distinction from parish school and Vitebsk's church school.
He continued his education in the Daugavpils school, completing his six years of senior education, and graduated from it with distinction. In Daugavpils, he learned the Latvian language, and even though he was a Latvian he spoke with an accent.
In 1906 he was accepted into the St.Petersburg's Vladimir War School. Due to his excellent tactical knowledge he reached the rank of Senior sergeant by his last year at the school.[1] Briedis graduated from the war school with the rank of Podporuchik, and afterwards he served in the 99th Ivangorod infantry regiment, which was deployed in Daugavpils. In 1912 he attained the rank of Poruchik and was appointed the company's Commander.
He participated in World War I, initially serving in East Prussia, where he successfully led reconnaissance patrols. When the formation of the Latvian Riflemen battalions begun in 1915 he was appointed to command the 1st Daugavgrīva battalion. He and his men participated in battles near the Misa River, and near Ķekava. In March 1916 Briedis was severely wounded in the jaw, but he recovered and participated in the Christmas Battles as commander of a battalion. During the Christmas Battles he fought in Tīreļpurvs, where he was wounded for a second time.
Briedis was in hospital when the February Revolution broke out, triggering the collapse of the army. Many riflemen joined the Red Army, but Briedis was among those who refused to do so.[1] When he recovered from his injury he was arrested, but managed to escape, going into the inner Russia where he joined the White movement. He worked in intelligence and was responsible for anti-bolshevik propaganda for the Red Latvian Riflemen. He also commanded an anti-bolshevik uprising near the Volga River in the Rybinsk district.
On July 23, 1918, he was arrested by the Bolsheviks, and on August 27, 1918, he was executed in Moscow by firing squad. He received all classes of the Order of Lāčplēsis for his valor in the Christmas Battles, and for participation in almost all the rifleman's operations on the Riga front.[1] In Riga there is also street named in his name
Latvian pagan metal band Skyforger has a song Pulkvedis Briedis (Colonel Briedis) dedicated to Frīdrihs Briedis. It is included in the Latvian rifleman album.