Roberts Gaigals

Roberts Gaigals (born 16 March 1913, Twer, Russian Empire – died 15 April 1982, Riga, Latvian SSR) was a Waffen-Obersturmführer (First Lieutenant) in the Latvian Legion during World War II. He was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross, which was awarded to recognize extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership by Nazi Germany during World War II.

Biography

The son of Latvian emigrants, Gaigals was born in Twer, in the Russian Empire. After 1920, the family returned to independent Latvia, and he studied at a commercial school in Riga.

In 1936 he was drafted into Latvian army, where he served in 9th Rēzekne infantry regiment. In 1937 he graduated from his training as a non-commissioned officer and was promoted to the rank of corporal. He entered the Latvian military academy in 1938 and graduated in July 1940, when Latvia was already occupied by the Soviet Union. He was promoted to lieutenant and served in a Pioneer regiment. Gaigals was still serving as an officer in Pioneer units when the Latvian army was incorporated into the Red Army. He deserted from the Red Army after Operation Barbarossa started in 1941.

He enlisted as an officer in the Latvian Legion after the formation of that unit in 1943. In May 1944 he was awarded the Iron cross II class; in July he received the Iron cross I class. Waffen-Obersturmführer Gaigals was the commander of the 6th Company, 42nd Waffen Grenadier Regiment, 19th Waffen Grenadier Division of the SS (2nd Latvian), when he was awarded the Knight's Cross on 5 May 1945(a). After the German capitulation in the Courland pocket, Gaigals entered Soviet captivity. He was sent to the Far East, Magadan. Gaigals returned to Latvia in 1954. He died in Riga on 15 April 1982.

Notes

(a)  Gaigals' nomination had been finalized by the Heeres Personalamt HPA (Army Staff Office) and was ready for signature by the end of the war. According to the Association of Knight's Cross Recipients (AKCR) the award was presented in accordance with the Dönitz-decree. This is illegal according to the Deutsche Dienststelle (WASt) and lacks legal justification. The presentation date is an assumption of the AKCR.

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• Mitcham, Jr.Samuel (2007). Retreat to the Reich. Stackpole books. ISBN 0-8117-3384-X
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