Jewish Veterans living in Riga's file / תיק – חיילים יהודים החיים בריגה

These documents constitute Detailed biographical list of Jewish war veterans, most of them born in Latvia, who served inRed Army During World War II. Each handwritten entry includes the His personal details of the soldier, his date of birth, education, and the military units in which he fought, with an emphasis on 201st and 43rd Latvian DivisionsThe sources document the The decorations and medals which were awarded to warriors for their bravery, as well as the Their civilian professions After discharge from service. These lists, signed by the chairman Latvian Jewish Veterans Association, serve as historical evidence of the military contribution and professional rehabilitation of the survivors. The review encompasses dozens of men and women who served in diverse roles, from riflemen to officers and medical staff.

The sources before us consist of a detailed list of Jewish war veterans, mostly from Latvia, who served in the Red Army during World War II. The document documents the heroism of these soldiers, their injuries, and their return to civilian life after the war.

Source H68-1f It is a large-scale historical document consisting of 14 pages of handwritten notes, documenting the lives and heroism of 94 Jewish war veterans, most of them of Latvian origin, who served in the Red Army during World War II (H68-1f). The document was prepared by the "Association of Jewish War Veterans in Latvia" and signed by the chairman of the board, S. Schwats (H68-1f).

Main information in the source

• Military service and heroism: Most of those on the list served in Latvian units of the Red Army, especially in43rd Latvian Guards Division (43rd Guards Latvian Rifle Division) (H68-1f). The fighters participated in decisive battles, including the defense of Moscow, the liberation of Vienna, Prague and Budapest, and the capture of Königsberg (H68-1f).
• Injuries and disabilities: A significant portion of the fighters are presented as "Invalid of War" to varying degrees. A prominent example is Ira Olas, a radio operator who lost both of her legs during her service (H68-1f).
• Decorations and awards: The list details a wide range of heroic decorations awarded to the fighters, including: the Order of the Patriotic War (1st and 2nd degrees), the Order of the Red Star, the Order of Glory, and medals for courage ("Za Otvagu") (H68-1f).
• Civil rehabilitation: The document provides a fascinating glimpse into post-war life. The survivors integrated into all aspects of life in Soviet Latvia: from blue-collar occupations such as shoemakers, taxi drivers, and carpenters, to senior management positions such as school principals, factory managers (such as the textile factory "Rigas Textile"), lawyers, and university professors (H68-1f).

Expanding on the importance of the source

The source H68-1f constitutes essential evidence ofThe Massive Jewish Contribution to the Soviet War Effort. It refutes the myth of Jewish lack of resistance, and presents an entire generation of Latvian Jews who not only survived the inferno, but did so as lauded fighters (H68-1f). The added value of the document is the link between combatant identity and civilian identity, showing how war veterans formed the professional backbone of the Jewish community in Latvia in the decades after 1945 (H68-1f).

Key figures

Victims and Survivors (Jewish Fighters)

• Berlin Yeguda Khaitovich: Born in 1918, served in the 24th Latvian Corps and the 181st Division. Was decorated with the Patriotic War Order, 1st and 2nd degrees (H68-1f).
• Linzer Roza: Born in 1921, she served between 1942 and 1947 in the Red Army's "SMERSH" unit (H68-1f).
• Polak Yakob Meerovich: Born in Rezkna, he served as a commissar (Komsorg) in Regiment 355 and worked after the war as a school principal (H68-1f).
• Ulass Ira Yudelevna: Born in Riga, she served as a radio operator in the 43rd Latvian Guards Division. She was seriously injured and is noted as having lost both legs (H68-1f).
• Gurevich Aron Lvovich: Born in 1921, he served as a tanker on the 2nd and 3rd Ukrainian Fronts, and participated in the liberation of Vienna, Budapest, and Prague (H68-1f).
• Dumesh Isaak Davydovich: Born in 1917, he served as a cannon commander in the 43rd Guards Division and worked after the war in a furniture factory (H68-1f).
• Zak Izrailim Sholomovich: Born in Daugavpils, he reached the rank of Lieutenant Colonel and served as director of the concert hall of the State Philharmonic (H68-1f).
• Tatyana Tetse (Tetse Tatyana Iosifovna): Born in Riga, she served as a nurse in a field hospital and participated in the occupation of Budapest (H68-1f).

Expansion of important sources

The main source available to us is H68-1f, a handwritten document serving as a historical record of the "Jewish War Veterans Association of Latvia". The importance of this source lies in the comprehensive biographical information it provides on 94 individuals (H68-1f).

The document reveals the The massive involvement of Latvian Jews in combat units, especially in the 43rd Latvian Guard Division (H68-1f). Beyond the details of military service and decorations (such as the Order of the Red Star and the Medal of Courage), the source sheds light on Vocational rehabilitation Of the survivors: we see fighters who became school principals, lawyers, engineers, shoemakers, and taxi drivers (H68-1f). The document was signed by S. Schwatz, chairman of the board of the Latvian Jewish War Veterans Association, which emphasizes its value as an official community record of heroism and survival (H68-1f).

List of sources


• H68-1f : A detailed handwritten list including personal details, military service history in the Red Army, decorations and civilian occupations of 94 Jewish war veterans (mainly from Latvia).

H68-1f

 

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