Andrejs Freimanis

Andrejs Freimanis 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.

Andrejs Freimanis was born on 21 December 1914 in Grobiņa, Latvia.

World War II

During World War II, he volunteered for the Waffen SS after Operation Barbarossa.

He served with the 13th Company, 44th Waffen Grenadier Regiment of SS, 19th Waffen Grenadier Division of the SS (2nd Latvian).

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.

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.

Awards

• Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross
• Iron Cross I Class
• Iron Cross II Class

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Freimanis’s Knight’s Cross recommendation reads as follows…

“Obersturmführer Freimanis, commander of the 13./Waffen-Grenadier-Regiment der SS 44 (Lett. Nr.6) and an officer distinguished on account of his boldness and steadfastness, won a major victory at the beginning of the Sixth Battle of Courland. On the 02.03.1945 he prevented an impending Russian breakthrough against Jaunpils through his active defense, during which he demonstrated inspiring personal bravery.

The enemy broke into our positions between Brunumuiza and Velene during the morning hours with overwhelming forces. They overran the II./Waffen-Grenadier-Regiment der SS (lett. Nr.6) and thrusted forward through the Enava forest against the line WW Podini—Podini—Lielapsaujas.

Undeterred by the enemy superiority, Obersturmführer Freimanis doggedly defended his command post (the strongpoint Podini) with 19 men of his Kompanie.

Two frontal enemy attacks launched in company strength were defeated in close combat with heavy losses for the foe. When the enemy then attacked Podini in battalion strength from both the front and either side, Freimanis moved out and struck the frontal enemy group in a totally spontaneous sally with the bulk of his few troops. After a short yet tough bout of close combat the enemy was thrown back to the East. The enemy was so deterred by the tough defense of Podini, our successful counterthrust and their own high losses that they only made weak probes against Podini up until the onset of darkness.

Thus Obersturmführer Freimanis intercepted the thrust against Jaunpils conducted by a tenfold superior enemy with only weak forces of his own, and in doing so he prevented an enemy breakthrough. Through this action time was won to occupy the line Kaulaini—Baltie—Birznieki in a strongpoint-like fashion. The main front was then pulled back to here during the night in an orderly manner.”