Andrejs Freimanis

Andrejs Freimanis
Born 21 December 1914
Grobiņa, Latvia
Died 10 September 1994 (aged 79)
Grobiņa, Latvia
Allegiance  Nazi Germany
Service/branch Waffen SS
Years of service 1942–45
Rank Obersturmführer
Unit 19th Waffen Grenadier Division of the SS (2nd Latvian)
Battles/wars World War II
Awards Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross
Iron Cross I Class
Iron Cross II Class

Andrejs Freimanis (21 December 1914 – 10 September 1994) was an Obersturmführer (First Lieutenant) in the Waffen SS during World War II, who was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross, which was awarded to recognize great battlefield bravery or successful military leadership by Nazi Germany during World War II.

Early life

Andrejs Freimanis was born on 21 December 1914 in Grobiņa, Latvia.[1][2]

World War II

During World War II, he volunteered for the Waffen SS after Operation Barbarossa.[1] He served with the 13th Company, 44th Waffen Grenadier Regiment of SS, 19th Waffen Grenadier Division of the SS (2nd Latvian).[1][2]

He was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross in May 1945, while in command of the 13th Company, when the Division formed the right wing of the VI SS Army Corps during the fighting in the Courland pocket.[1][2] Although he not received his Knight's cross, because of German capitulation on May 8.

Post war

Andrejs Freimanis survived the war and ensuing Soviet captivity and died in his hometown of Grobiņa on 10 September 1994. He received his Knight's Cross in 1993 from German government. The Latvian Navy Band and an honor company from the Latvian Land Forces were at the funeral.[1][2]

References

Further reading

  • Fellgiebel, Walther-Peer (2000). Die Träger des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939–1945 – Die Inhaber der höchsten Auszeichnung des Zweiten Weltkrieges aller Wehrmachtteile [The Bearers of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross 1939–1945 — The Owners of the Highest Award of the Second World War of all Wehrmacht Branches] (in German). Friedberg, Germany: Podzun-Pallas. ISBN 978-3-7909-0284-6.
  • Mitcham, Samuel W (2007). Retreat to the Reich : the German defeat in France, 1944. Mechanicsburg, PA: Stackpole Books. ISBN 978-0-8117-3384-7.
  • Fey, Will; Henschler, Henri (2003). Armor Battles of the Waffen-SS. Mechanicsburg, PA: Stackpole Books. ISBN 978-0-8117-2905-5.
  • Mitcham, Samuel W (2007). The German Defeat in the East, 1944–45. Mechanicsburg, PA: Stackpole Books. ISBN 978-0-8117-3371-7.