Voldemar Ozols

Voldemars Ozols was a Latvian military commander, lieutenant colonel, honored with the highest military award- Order of Lāčplēsis, and 8 highest orders of Russian Empire. A military theorist, and a politician.

Served in Russian imperial, Estonian, Latvian and Lithuanian, Spanish Republican armies as chief of the staff, planing all main succesfull battles in WWI and Wars of Independence of Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania.

1914 Served in Russian Imperial Army, succesfully planing operations in Armenia, organising Armenian self-defence forces in 1915. Awarded with Golden sword and monument built for him personally in Armenia, but removed from post by Russian military staff due ignoring orders to disarm armenians and transferring liberated territories to Russian kazaks.

1916. transferred to Riga, where planned Christmas battles and year later- battles near Jugla (Riga) allowing retreat of Russian Army.

1917 Active participant of "february revolution" in Russia, elected as chairman of Iskolastrel ("Rifflemen Executive committee"). Critised from leftists and anarchists due supporting "monarchist officeers" in Latvian national military units, (whilst in other Russian army units they were executed.)

After communists (bolsheviks) "october revolution" in Russia resigned from the posts of  Iskolastrel.

1918 Joined Estonian national army as a chief of staff.

1919 Participated as member of staff of Estonian Army in liberation of Cesis from West-Russian army by Estonian Army; afterwards as chief of staff supervised liberation of Riga. After Latvia liberation from German and Russian forces, joined Lithuanian Army, later returned to Latvia.

On December 15, 1932 he founded a right extremist organization, The Society of the Cavaliers of the Order of Lāčplēsis and Freedom Fighters "Legion" (Lāčplēša kara ordeņa kavalieru un brīvības cīnītāju biedrība "Leģions"), known simply as the Legion. It was a rather small organization, primarily of World War I and Latvian War of Independence veterans. Probably became as an agent of GRU of USSR (almost all Soviet intelligence officeers in 30-ties were former Latvian rifflemen, who stay in Soviet Russia after revolution)

In 1934, in the declaration of the martial law by Kārlis Ulmanis, the Legion was the only organization mention by name as a threat to the state, and Ozols was arrested, accused in the preparation of a coup

Exiled from Latvia in 1936. Moved to live in Telshai (Lithuania), later to Paris, France.

Served as Brigade general in Republican Army in Spanish Civil War. (Among 140 Latvians, fighting on the side of Republicans, about 25 were not from Latvia, but ethnic Latvians of USSR (Russia), including military advisor of Jose Miaja- general Janis Berzins. In the Soviet advisors' group here were also native latvians Davids Beika, advisor for aviation Peteris Pumpurs, advisor for artillery Vilhelms Kumelans, inteligence officeers Arturs Sprogis, Kristaps Salins etc. All "soviet Latvians" were executed in USSR during "Great Purges" or non-russian genocides of 1937-38. )

In 1937 Ozols was imprisoned by Republicans "for ties with regime", but all accusations were cleared. Moved to Paris.

In 1939 lost Latvian citizenship due participation in Spanish Civil War, .

Since 1939 -1945 became resident of Soviet Intelligence net (GRU) in Nazi occupied France, participated in french resistence.

After retirement,- worked in University of Latvia, (USSR), teacher of geography and topography.

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• Order of St. Stanislaus 3rd class (05/08/1914)
• Order of St. Stanislaus 2nd class
• Order of St. Stanislaus 1st class
• Order of St. Anne 4th class
• Order of St. Anne 3rd class
• Order of St. Anne 2nd class
• Order of St. Vladimir 4th class with swords and bow
• Order of St. George 4th class (Regulation for the XII Army No. 161 dated 02/13/1917; PAF 08/28/1917).
• Order of Lacplesis 3rd class (Latvia)