Janis Purins (in Russian historiography, Jan Janovich Purin ; Latvian. Jānis Puriņš ; April 25, 1889, Marsno parish - 1944[?] ) - Latvian shooter , commander of the Kurzeme division , head of the Eastern Front during the operation to liberate Latgale.
| Janis Purins | |
|---|---|
| Latvian. Jānis puriņš | |
 | |
| Date of Birth | April 25, 1889 |
| Place of Birth | Marsnian parish |
| Date of death | 1944 |
| Affiliation |  Russian Empire →  Latvia →  Germany |
| Years of service | 1910-1944 |
| Rank | Colonel (Latvia) |
| Commanded | Kurzeme Division 2nd Ventspils Infantry Regiment |
| Battles / wars | World War I Civil war in Latvia The Second World War |
| Awards and prizes | Lachplesis Order 3rd degree Order of the Three Stars , 4th Degree Virtuti militari 1st Class Order of Merit to Lithuania |
Biography
He was born on April 25, 1889 in the Marsno parish in a peasant family. In 1910 he was drafted into the Russian Imperial Army . At the beginning of 1915 he served in the 3rd reserve regiment in Toropets and Peterhof . In February 1917 he graduated from the 1st Moscow school of ensigns. In March 1918 he was discharged.
In 1918 he joined the Latvian army . As the commander of the Cēsis voluntary company, he participated in battles against the Red Army . In June 1919 he was sent to the Latgale Front. On August 7, he was appointed commander of the 2nd Ventspils Infantry Regiment. From October 16th and. about. the commander of the Kurzeme division and the head of the Eastern Front. Under the leadership of Purins, the Kurzeme division managed to occupy significant positions in the operation to liberate Latgale. On August 13, 1920, he was awarded the Lachplesis Order for the battles to free Latgale. June 22, 1925 promoted to colonel. In 1939 he resigned.
During the Second World War , from 1941 to 1944, he was the commandant of the Marsnensky , Liepsky and Ranksky volosts. On October 13, 1944, after the Red Army entered the territory of Latvia, he was arrested. On November 18, the Soviet military tribunal sentenced to 7 years in prison. He was sent to the 2nd Riga Prison, where he went missing.
Literature
- Es viņu pazīstu: latviešu biogrāfiskā vārdnīca. [redaktors Žanis Unāms]. [Grandheivena]: Raven Printing, 1975. 398.lpp.
- Bebris, R. “Daugavpils atbrīvošana 1920. gada 3. janvārī.” Militārs apskats, 1935. Nr. 2, 214. — 229. lpp.