WW1 Diary – June 27, 1916

Twenty-eighth installment from the diary of my great-grandfather’s sister Alise, written during the First World War. When the diary starts, she is living just a few miles from the front lines of the Eastern Front, and is then forced to flee with her husband and two young daughters to her family’s house near Limbaži as the war moves even closer. Her third child, a son, was born there in February 1916. The family has now relocated to a home near Valmiera. For more background, see here, and click on the tag “diary entries” to see all of the entries that I have posted.

June 27, 1916

My birthday, very rich and full of happiness. A dear husband, good healthy children, especially the boy, very lively, lots of presents, pleasant guests, etc. Thanks be to God!!!

WW1 Diary – June 26, 1916

Twenty-seventh installment from the diary of my great-grandfather’s sister Alise, written during the First World War. When the diary starts, she is living just a few miles from the front lines of the Eastern Front, and is then forced to flee with her husband and two young daughters to her family’s house near Limbaži as the war moves even closer. Her third child, a son, was born there in February 1916. The family has now relocated to a home near Valmiera. For more background, see here, and click on the tag “diary entries” to see all of the entries that I have posted.

June 26, 1916

Mother and my sisters have come to visit. How wonderful to take in guests at my own home. Everyone likes it here.

Tombstone Tuesday – KrÅ«miņš and Dulmanis Family

In this series, I am providing pictures of tombstones from Latvian cemeteries, all with death dates prior to 1945. I do not have any further information on the people mentioned.

Photo taken by me, October 2012. Click to enlarge.

Names: Marija Krūmiņa (maiden name Krievs), born August 13, 1870, died August 1, 1925; Pēteris Krūmiņš, born December 31, 1872, died January 29, 1933; Juris Dulmanis, born March 26, 1938, died May 30, 1944

Location: Meža kapi, Rīga

WW1 Diary – June 24, 1916

Twenty-sixth installment from the diary of my great-grandfather’s sister Alise, written during the First World War. When the diary starts, she is living just a few miles from the front lines of the Eastern Front, and is then forced to flee with her husband and two young daughters to her family’s house near Limbaži as the war moves even closer. Her third child, a son, was born there in February 1916. The family has now relocated to a home near Valmiera. For more background, see here, and click on the tag “diary entries” to see all of the entries that I have posted.

June 24, 1916

Midsummer

The weather is gloomy, but it isn’t raining. We live quietly at home. We gave our staff a holiday to go to the events at the “Blue Hill”. We saw lots of people from Valmiera passing by on their way, everyone with excited faces, even though the times are still sorrowful. Battles are continuing along the entire front, all of them are united…

Yesterday on Midsummer’s Eve we awaited our visitors from Kroņi, grandmother had promised – but they did not come. It is nice, that everything is clean and ready for visitors. We have everything we may need, my dears aren’t wanting for anything. Last year we were at Jumprava estate, now at the Anna estate. God knows where we’ll be in other years?

Still, God still gives us mercy. Midsummer is quiet. The birds are quiet, the forests too, the voices of the revellers also going quiet. As it was in the past, when people went singing Ligo songs. The children of Jānis [NB: God of Midsummer and youth] went singing, carrying the picked Jānis’ greens, singing Ligo in the hills, in the valleys, until the pink dawn blooms in the east. The heart swells thinking about the happy moments. Now Vidzeme still lives in peace, the red clover, the sagebrush, blooming in the fields, clearings, but still one has the horrible feeling that is raised by the sound of the cannons, which head this way from the groaning Daugava. I just hope that there will no longer be a need to take up the walking stick…

RÄ«ga Banns – Week of June 23, 1925

Part of my series of publishing the banns read in RÄ«ga in the interwar period. See this post for more details.

June 20, 1925 (Latvijas VÄ“stnesis [Latvian Herald], June 26, 1925)

  • Eižens Nikolājs Pillings (Jelgava) and Marija Anna Feldt (RÄ«ga)
  • Merchant Fridrichs Kārlis Heine (Frankfurt) and Margareta Lukomski (Saint Petersburg)
  • Nikolājs Stoļarovs (RÄ«ga) and Anna Strutinska (RÄ«ga)
  • Cook Vladimirs Å endels (RÄ«ga) and Elizabete Koroļkova (RÄ«ga)
  • Railway worker Augusts Bosse (RÄ«ga) and Alma KristÄ«na Kelle (Sveiciems)
  • Machinist Kārlis Augusts Strandbergs (RÄ«ga) and Otilija Milda Knitze (RÄ«ga)
  • Augusts Konrads Lorencs (RÄ«ga) and Wanda Johanna Feiler (Warsaw)
  • Merchant Otto Rozenbergs (Suntaži) and Milda Stuber-Stubele (Majori)
  • Clerk Ä€dams Polis (RÅ«jiena) and Anna KrÅ«miņa (Skrunda)

June 25, 1925 (Latvijas VÄ“stnesis [Latvian Herald], June 26, 1925)

  • Worker PÄ“teris Krauklis (Posine) and Tatjāna Hodsjukeviča (RÄ«ga)
  • Merchant Vasilijs Kils (RÄ«ga) and Marija Josefina Marer (Jelgava)
  • Heinrichs Marks Treijs (Valmiera) and KatrÄ«na Matilda SÄ“le (RÄ«ga)
  • Merchant Leopolds Meijersons (Jelgava) and Renāte Weiz (Ezerene)
  • Bookkeeper Nikolājs Kusnezovs (Nizhny Novgorod) and Anastāsija Wilhelmine KÅ«lmane (RÄ«ga)
  • Shoemaker Augusts PÄ“tersons (RÄ«ga) and Olga Semjonova (RÄ«ga)
  • Worker Heinrichs Finks (Pastende) and JÅ«le KiÅ¡elis (Kaunas)
  • Worker Antons NeÅ¡pors (Dunava) and Minna Rozālija BÄ“rziņa (Tirza)
  • Clerk Kārlis Lazdiņš (Suntaži) and Olga Ozoliņa (RÄ«ga)
  • Lieutenant Roberts Voldemārs Rutke (JÄ“kabpils) and Zelma WilhelmÄ«ne Dauglau (RÄ«ga)
  • Table-maker Ivans Petrovs (Borovska) and Anastāsija Antonova (Borovska)
  • Shoemaker Jānis Liepa (LÄ«ksna) and Viktorija Romanceviča (RÄ«ga)
  • Worker Jānis Bekmanis (Ä€daži) and Auguste Kellermane (RÄ«ga)
  • Locksmith Gotlibs Konrads Millers (Liepkalne) and KatrÄ«ne Elza Cilke (Liepkalne)
  • Jānis Steins (Daugavpils) and Erna Damberga (RÄ«ga)
  • Kārlis Francis (Lejasmiests) and Zelma RadiÄ·e (RÄ«ga)
  • Merchant candidate Jānis Adlers (RÄ«ga) and EmÄ«lija Goba (Bauska)

June 26, 1925 (Latvijas VÄ“stnesis [Latvian Herald], June 27, 1925)

  • Merchant Persons Birgers (Sweden) and Anna Sokolovska (Jaunpils)
  • Locksmith Jānis Brikmanis (ValtaiÄ·i) and Anna Začele (RÄ«ga)
  • Machinist Fricis Strunke (Aloja) and Olga Avotiņa (RÄ«ga)
  • Student Hermans Saltups (RÄ«ga) and LÅ«cija Seimele (RÄ«ga)
  • Worker Jānis Å ermangs (Mālpils) and PaulÄ«ne Tolene (Jelgava)
  • Merchant Kārlis Lerchs (Talsi) and Elisa Mjakonki (RÄ«ga)
  • Worker Ernsts BÄ“rziņš (RÄ«ga) and Marija SavoroÅ¡nova (RÄ«ga)
  • Worker Wilhelms TimuÅ¡ka (RÄ«ga) and Irma Gresnova (Kurzeme)
  • Table-maker Julius Kochs (RÄ«ga) and Amālija ValentÄ«na Slonova (RÄ«ga)
  • Worker Donats Borks (Kapiņi) and Monika Vaivade (Preiļi)
  • Student Ernsts Kraucs (RÄ«ga) and Vera Varga (Constantinople)
  • Forest assessor Jānis GÅ«tmanis (RÄ«ga) and Aleksandra Semberga (Belarus)
  • Vendor Johans Levinsteins (Liepāja) and Anna Rovicka (RÄ«ga)
  • Technician PÄ“teris MiÄ·elsons (RencÄ“ni) and Marija Smirnova (Voronezh)
  • CLerk Kārlis Hiksteds (RÄ«ga) and Elizabete Heltzele (Jelgava)
  • Worker Viļums PriedÄ«tis (RÄ«ga) and Vilma Priede (RÄ«ga)
  • Arturs DambÄ«tis (Bauņi) and Elza Brasliņa (RÄ«ga)
  • Clerk MiÄ·elis Stepanijs (Mežmuiža) and Grieta Trede (Briežnieki)
  • Locksmith Eduards Keisels (BÄ“rzgale) and Tekla Gudaviča (Panavežys)
  • Clerk Alfons Vachsmuts (Tukums) and Eiženija Zuzanna Dullo (RÄ«ga)
  • Wood-sorter KriÅ¡jānis Glāznieks (Žagare) and Marija BÄ“rziņa (RÄ«ga)

June 27, 1925 (Latvijas VÄ“stnesis [Latvian Herald], June 29, 1925)

  • Declarant Wilhelms Fridrichs Zvikulis (RÄ«ga) and Lilija Elizabete Vimbule (RÄ«ga)
  • Locksmith Aleksandrs Kārlis Bergmanis (RÄ«ga) and Irmgarde ÄŒakare (RÄ«ga)
  • Table-maker Jānis Siliņš (Vec-Abgulde) and Zelma EmÄ«lija Valdmane (Ropaži)
  • Clerk Paulis Viktors Lange (RÄ«ga) and Alida Ernestine Renge (RÄ«ga)
  • Painter Jānis Freijs (Mežotne) and OtÄ«lija Melnsvārka (Golgovska)
  • Merchant Alfreds Aleksandrs Jaunzens (RÄ«ga) and Irena Tatjāna Vilsinga (Moscow)
  • Merchant Johans Wilhelms Weide (Iecava) and Lilija Balcere (Skulte)
  • Worker Kārlis KrÅ«ze (Lielpagasts) and Jefrosinija Asvere (Russia)
  • JÄ“kabs Jānis Pranglis (RÄ«ga) and KatrÄ«ne Kaučuka (Vāle)
  • Clerk Nikolājs Erichs Francis (Saint Petersburg) and Ella KatrÄ«ne BÄ“rziņa (Mežotne)
  • Clerk Verners ArvÄ«ds Puls (RÄ«ga) and Meta Marija Teichmane (RÄ«ga)
  • Table-maker Juris Sanders (Nereta) and Aleksandra Kļavlapa (RÄ«ga)
  • Druggist JÄ“kabs Aleksandrs Gaunings (Valka) and Marta Marija Sunte (RÄ«ga)
  • Vladimirs Balodis (Marciems) and Olga GrÄ«na (RÄ«ga)

Did this post help you find your ancestors? Do let me know!

Fire at RÄ«ga Castle

Last night, just after 10pm local time, a fire broke out on the roof of the Castle of RÄ«ga, which spread to several floors over the next few hours, burning several thousand square metres of area (some estimates say 3200 square metres, mostly the roof, attic and the third and fourth floors). The extent of the damage is not yet known.

RÄ«ga Castle was founded in 1330, with numerous modifications and renovations taking place since, most notably in 1497, 1515, 1641 and throughout the 17th to 19th centuries. Renovations were more recently done in the 1930s, and modern renovations were currently taking place. It is not known at the moment if the renovations under way had anything to do with the fire that arose.

RÄ«ga Castle is the official residence of the President of Latvia, though due to the renovations his offices and residence had been relocated, so he was not in danger during the fire.

The item of biggest concern is the fact that RÄ«ga Castle was also home to several museums, most notably the National History Museum of Latvia, as well as the Literature and Music Museum and some collections belonging to the National Art Museum of Latvia. The full damage or destruction to the collections is not fully known at this time, but early reports state that artifacts haven’t been destroyed, but some may have sustained serious damage. Which artifacts these are is not currently being reported.

News reports:

BBC (English), Delfi as-it-happens feed from last night that I was following (Latvian), Diena interview with Žaneta Jaunzeme-Grende, Latvian Minister of Culture, regarding museum artifacts (Latvian).

What Are You Looking For?

This blog has been going for over three and a half years! Over the years, I’ve made a number of different posts, and I’ve decided to put this post together to highlight some key posts that are particularly useful for helping you find your Latvian ancestors. This is intended to help new visitors to this site find past posts I’ve made that they might have missed otherwise.

First off, you should look to the sidebar to visit my Latvian Genealogy Primers – they will give you a good background on the context of Latvian records, and then you’ll be ready to dive in. Also check out Myths about Latvian Research to dispel popular myths.

Where to find the records

  • A is for Archives – a visit to the Latvian State Historical Archives is a must to put any meat on the bones of your family tree.
  • I is for International Tracing Service – if your ancestors left Latvia in the aftermath of the Second World War, this is the place to start.
  • Newspapers for Genealogy – the Latvian National Library has scanned thousands of issues of Latvian newspapers, many from the pre-war era. Their Optical Character Recognition even makes searches possible (though not completely foolproof, mistakes still happen).
  • R is for Raduraksti – the main online resource for Latvian records.
  • Where Could They Be From? – How to figure out where in Latvia your ancestors were from.

How to read the records

Specific types of records

  • C is for Census – a variety of Latvian census records are available, though most are not online.
  • Getting Out of RÄ«ga – if your ethnic Latvian ancestors list their place of origin as “RÄ«ga”, it likely wasn’t their home for more than a few generations. This post will give you an idea as to how to find their original place of origin.
  • Records after 1905 – what types of records are there for 20th century research?
  • Tracking World War One Refugees – Did your ancestors leave their homes during the First World War? If they lived in Kurland (modern day Kurzeme and Zemgale, the western and southern parts of Latvia), the answer is “almost certainly”. Others moved around as well, especially if they lived in RÄ«ga or along the Daugava river. Refugee documents can help you find what they did, where they went, and where in Latvia they were from.
  • Tuesday’s Tip: Look Randomly – if you’re planning a visit to the archives in RÄ«ga, you might be surprised what you find in some document fonds (collections) – the title of the fonds might not give any indication of the treasures inside!
  • Tuesday’s Tip: House Books – if your ancestors lived in RÄ«ga in the late 19th or early 20th century, house books can help you. Pre-First World War house books are now being digitized and becoming available on Raduraksti.

Is there a post you think should be on this list? Let me know!

Tombstone Tuesday – Alois Tlapa, 1879-1936

In this series, I am providing pictures of tombstones from Latvian cemeteries, all with death dates prior to 1945. I do not have any further information on the people mentioned.

So we have an interesting one today – this individual is Czech, but was living in Latvia during the interwar period. The tombstone inscription is in Czech, and I’ve provided my best guess as to the translation by using some online translators and dictionaries, but if you speak Czech and can correct it, please do.

Photo taken by me, October 2012. Click to enlarge.

Name: Alois Tlapa, born September 29, 1879 in the Czech Republic, died March 23, 1936 in RÄ«ga.

Bottom Inscription: “Za Tvoji lásku nenahraditelnou, nic jiného Ti nemužeme dáti, jak jenom pamÄ›t nezapomenutelnou, a krásny sladky spánek přáti” (“For your love is irreplaceable, It is nothing I cannot give, Just an unforgettable memory, I wish a beautiful sweet sleep.”

Location: Meža kapi, Rīga

RÄ«ga Banns – Weeks of June 9 and June 16, 1925

Sorry I missed last week!

Part of my series of publishing the banns read in RÄ«ga in the interwar period. See this post for more details.

June 8, 1925 (Latvijas VÄ“stnesis [Latvian Herald], June 9, 1925)

  • Carpenter Kārlis Zariņš (Aloja) and EmÄ«lija Emsiņa (RÅ«jiena)
  • Iron-cutter Ernsts Veile (RÄ«ga) and Marija Elza EglÄ«te (RÄ«ga)
  • Chauffeur Jānis Fridrichs Alberts Brodiņš (Jaunmuiža) and Anna CecÄ«lija Kroņkalne (Majori)
  • Worker Donats Visuns (Andrupene) and Leokadija Zelava (Andrupene)
  • Mason Aleksandrs SÄ«pols (RÄ«ga) and Aleksandra Simonova (RÄ«ga)
  • shoemaker Ferdinands Ludwigs Kerns (RÄ«ga) and Anna KarolÄ«na Salna (Liepāja)
  • Gardener Juris Gutfrics (Voronezh) and Augusta Stepanova (RÄ«ga)
  • Mason PÄ“teris Kalviņš (Lazdona) and Alma Antonija RudzÄ«te (Lazdona)
  • Worker Augusts Julius MÄ«lÄ«gs (Valka) and Emma Marija Ä€bele (Valka)

June 9, 1925 (Latvijas VÄ“stnesis [Latvian Herald], June 10, 1925)

  • Scribe Kārlis Medunskis (RÄ«ga) and EvelÄ«na Valtere (Pskov)
  • Painter Jānis Saliņš (Limbaži) and PaulÄ«ne Tomsone (Salaca)
  • Farmer IndriÄ·is Fonarevs (Nirza) and Paula Raikiņa (Polotsk)
  • Merchant Adolfs Gurvičs (RÄ«ga) and Estere Rummere (Disna)
  • Electric fitter PÄ“teris Konstantins Mindals (RÄ«ga) and Lilija Å arlote PaeglÄ«te (RÄ«ga)
  • Weaver KriÅ¡s Alfreds Rops (Lielauce) and Aleksandra Feodorova (Jelgava)
  • Student Teodors RuÅ¡ins (Odzene) and Elizabete Elza Wilhelmsone (RÄ«ga)
  • Clerk Voldemārs Mednis (Gulbene) and Anna Elizabete Siliņa (RÄ«ga)
  • Clerk Julius Puriņš (Smiltene) and EmÄ«lija KristÄ«ne Osis (RÄ«ga)
  • Locksmith Jānis Kovalas (Jelgava) and Anna Spuriņa maiden name Lagzdiņa (Ä’dole)
  • Bookkeeper Kārlis Gaile-GailÄ«tis (Tukums) and Lilija Teodora Siltāja (Smiltene)
  • Worker Emiljāns Znatovs (Å auliai) and Jevdokija Belodzele (ViÅ¡Ä·i)
  • Senior bookkeeper Jānis Voldemārs Ozoliņš (Cesvaine) and Milda Alenikova (Dikļi)
  • Table-maker Grigorijs Timofejevs (RÄ«ga) and Marsa Titova (RÄ«ga)
  • Clerk Pauls Otto Ivansons (Koknese) and Natālija Leonija Fridenberga (RÄ«ga)
  • Industrialist PÄ“teris Bulla-Bullis (Salgale) and Marta Spuļge (Umurga)

June 10, 1925 (Latvijas VÄ“stnesis [Latvian Herald], June 11, 1925)

  • Engineer Johanes Antons Pestmals (RÅ«jiena) and Karita Ellen Reinwald (RÄ«ga)
  • Fitter Vladimirs Bočenko (Siljāņi) and Milda Auguste Lepnis (RÄ«ga)
  • Merchant Jānis Bogdanovs (Pskov) and Marija Rut-GÅ«tmane (Krasnoyarsk)
  • Aleksandrs Sleikste (Kulneva) and KristÄ«ne Tauriņa (Straupe)
  • Mission worker Wilhelms Reinholds Vieglais (BiÄ·eri) and Veronika Zelma Rooks (RÄ«ga)
  • Student Alfreds Voldemārs SÄ“ls (RÄ«ga) and Anna Jestisejeva (RÄ«ga)
  • Student Jāzeps MarkuÅ¡Ä“vičs (JÄ“kabpils) and Anna Reiburga (Tukums)
  • Architect Aleksandrs Augusts Birznieks (RÄ«ga) and Alma AlÄ«de Saltupe (Lisuma)
  • Painter Reinholds Kārlis Kaspersons (Kosa) and ElvÄ«ra Olivija ZaÄ·Ä«te (RÄ«ga)
  • Technician PÄ“teris Matvejs (Branti) and AlvÄ«na VÄ«tola (Banuži)
  • Worker Māŗtiņš Vimba (RÄ«ga) and Ella PaulÄ«ne Aronsone (Hargla)
  • Worker Voldemārs Kreilis (Kauguri) and Marta Puriņa (RÄ«ga)
  • Student Jānis Karols (Lazdona) and Marija Priedkalne (Vitebsk)
  • Surveyor PÄ“teris Kļaviņš (Lazdona) and Alma Antonija RudzÄ«te (Lazdona)

June 11, 1925 (Latvijas VÄ“stnesis [Latvian Herald], June 12, 1925)

  • Worker Jānis LoviÄ·is (GodokiÅ¡Ä·i) and Bronislava Girucka (RÄ«ga)
  • Soapmaker Ludwigs Aleksandrs Ungurs (RÄ«ga) and Ida Olga Graude (Odessa)
  • Shoemaker Georgs Johans Tottčas (RÄ«ga) and Marija Jonne (RÄ«ga)
  • Carpenter ArvÄ«ds JÄ“kabs Podings-Podiņš (RÄ«ga) and Jusefa Ribikovska-Ribekovska (MoÅ¡aiÄ·i)
  • Wood-sorter Augusts Zvikulis (RÄ«ga) and Alida Friderika Letenvicka (Milgrāvis)
  • Clerk Kārlis Kalekaurs (Opekalns) and EmÄ«lija DÅ«ms maiden name Voičkovska (LaÅ¡i)
  • Worker PÄ“teris Roberts BlÅ«mbergs (CÄ“sis) and Leontine Salome Vaite (RÄ«ga)
  • Painter Fridrichs Wilhelms Kučers (Tirza) and Marija Vernere (Jaunpiebalga)
  • Shoemaker Harijs Kandlers (Grobiņa) and Ella Kamele (Smiltene)
  • Worker Eduards Ikans (Krāslava) and Marga Leviņa (Nikolaevsk)

June 12, 1925 (Latvijas VÄ“stnesis [Latvian Herald], June 13, 1925)

  • Glassblower Aleksandrs Ernsts Kaufelds (Rende) and Irena Mitlonoka (RÄ«ga)
  • Craftsman Abrams Bers Kagans (CÄ“sis) and Haja Mellere (RÄ«ga)
  • Worker PÄ“teris Roberts BlÅ«mbergs (CÄ“sis) and Leontine Salome Vaite (KursÄ«Å¡i) (looks to be the same couple as June 11, but a different birthplace for the bride)
  • Painter Kārlis Herberts Celmiņš (RÄ«ga) and Anna Hermine Gottarde (RÄ«ga)
  • Officer Johans KrÅ«miņš (DaugavgrÄ«va) and Alma Matilde KrÅ«miņa (Buļļi)
  • Teacher PÄ“teris Ramanis (BÄ“rzone) and JÅ«lija KatrÄ«ne Lantenbacha (Jelgava)
  • Book manufacturer Aleksandrs Pokornijs (Smolensk) and SkaidrÄ«te Grigora (CÄ“sis)
  • Leather-sorter Rudolfs Karlins (RÄ«ga) and Sterna VainÅ¡teine (RÄ«ga)
  • Clerk Augusts Alfreds Alksnis (LÄ“durga) and Zelma Lizete Arende (Laudona)
  • Machinist Pauls Gustavs Beijers (Germany) and Anna ÄŒerka (Germany)
  • Worker Fridrichs Mārtiņš Ozoliņš (Olaine) and Emma HelÄ“ne Stobre (RÄ«ga)
  • Sailor Wilhelms Augusts Zāraks (RÄ«ga) and Veronika SÄ«le (Lieljumprava)
  • Bookkeeper Andrejs Ä€dams Linde (RÄ«ga) and Viktorija Lintkeviča (Lithuania)
  • Clerk Kārlis Wilhelms Bubeits (RÄ«ga) and Olga Krumovica (origin unspecified)

June 15, 1925 (Latvijas VÄ“stnesis [Latvian Herald], June 16, 1925)

  • Merchant Bruno Osvalds Jansons (RÄ«ga) and Marija Dagmāra Emke (RÄ«ga)
  • Jānis Pudans (Rubeņi) and Marija Klaucāne (Rubeņi)
  • Locksmith Oskars Reinholds Grasmanis (RÄ«ga) and Anna Vikstreme (Aizupe)
  • Free artist Kārlis Alberts Freidenfelds (Saldus) and Anna Dagmāra Wittenberga (ValtaiÄ·i)
  • Scribe Adolfs Ogriņš (RÄ«ga) and EmÄ«lija PuiÅ¡ele (Jelgava)
  • Merchant Markus Gesens (Moscow) and Lija Liviņa (Ventspils)
  • Locksmith JÄ“kabs Ludwigs AÅ¡Ä·evičs (RÄ«ga) and Marija Anna Nobreiča (RÄ«ga)
  • Sailor Paulis Francis Engelmanis (Steliene) and Anete KÄ«sis (Jelgava)
  • Worker Benedikts ÄŒerkovskis (RÄ«ga) and Berta DarguÅ¡a (Kaunas)
  • Teacher Arturs Zints (Sesava) and JÅ«lija Olga KavuÅ¡a (Kalnmuiža)
  • Mechanic Julius Aleksandrs Feldbergs (Vāne) and Agate Viktorija Martinsone (RÄ«ga)
  • Shoemaker Heinrichs Ä€dams Sauers (Warsaw) and Irma Kraukle (RÄ«ga)

June 16, 1925 (Latvijas VÄ“stnesis [Latvian Herald], June 18, 1925)

  • Butcher Vladimirs Rubans (Borovska) and Anna ÄŒiÅ¡evska (Borne)
  • Merchant Leopolds Osins (Daugavpils) and Elza Saks (Lithuania)
  • Worker Josifs Kirilovičs (Posina) and Marija Careva (RÄ«ga)
  • Merchant Bernhards Gliksmanis (RÄ«ga) and CecÄ«lija Pitele (Daugavpils)
  • Merchant Indrikis Minkers (Krustpils) and CecÄ«lija LÄ«bmane (Saint Petersburg)
  • Technician Aksels Voldemārs Zariņš (Gaujiena) and Lilija Konstance Rupeks (Liepāja)
  • Upholsterer Jerachmils Alpers (Daugavpils) and Minna Osmane (Vitebsk)
  • Railway worker Jāzeps Utins (Dagda) and EmÄ«lija Melduča (Brunava)
  • Worker Eduards Lencs (LÄ“durga) and Emma Elizabete Auns (Valka)
  • Doctor Lonis Kopenhagens (Tukums) and Mirjana Rapoporte (RÄ«ga)
  • Clerk Eduards Kārkliņš (RÄ«ga) and Anna Milda Skarpinska (BukaiÅ¡i)
  • Mechanic Gotfrids ZālÄ«tis (Minsk) and Vera Millere (RÄ«ga)
  • Merchant Ernsts Alfons Å Ä«rs (RÄ«ga) and Vera Valentina GailÄ«te (Rauna)
  • Worker Alfons Paļniks (RuÅ¡akova) and Helena LaukÅ¡a (Skaista)
  • Worker Jānis Voldemārs BrÅ«velis (Liepupe) and OtÄ«lija Rozālija Baunis (Krimulda)
  • Lawyer’s assistant Teodors DobrÅ¡inskis (RÄ«ga) and Nadežda Bojaruna (Kurzeme)
  • Gardener Kārlis Teodors KoÅ¡e (Bieriņi) and Alma KarlÄ«ne GrÄ«nvalde (BÄ“rzmuiža)

June 18, 1925 (Latvijas VÄ“stnesis [Latvian Herald], June 19, 1925)

  • Conductor Juljans Kusoizs (Vilnius) and Vladislava Sirgune (Kaunas)
  • Mason Arnolds Eduards Å teins (Kandava) and Marta Elkone (Mazsalaca)
  • Clerk Ernsts Paulis Freibergs (Lieljumprava) and JÅ«le Lāce-MiÅ¡ka (Talsi)
  • Tailor Mārtiņš ALberts Steinbergs (Smārde) and Katrina Ä’rika Jansone (Mežotne)
  • KriÅ¡s Tanbers (Vecauce) and Anna Lindberga (Vecauce)
  • Dāvids Lazdiņš (Jaunpagasts) and Marija ZaÄ·ina (origin unspecified)
  • Stanislavs Dillans (Vecgulbene) and Livtja BraÅ¡e-BrakÅ¡e (KuldÄ«ga)
  • Jānis Bergmanis (Vecgulbene) and Agnese Keier-Reke (RÄ«ga)

June 19, 1925 (Latvijas VÄ“stnesis [Latvian Herald], June 20, 1925)

  • Caretaker Ignats ÄŒernavskis (Latgale) and Anna Krieviņa (Vilnius)
  • Lieutenant Andrejs Briedis (Vāne) and ElvÄ«ra KarlÄ«na Skurbe (RÄ«ga)
  • Conductor Mikolas LÄ“lis (JaniÅ¡Ä·i) and Josifata Marcinkeviča (RÄ«ga)
  • Conductor Heinrichs Johans GÅ«tmanis (RÄ«ga) and PaulÄ«ne Voronoviča (Kaunas)
  • Mariner IndriÄ·is Poga (Kalnciems) and LavÄ«ze Alma Kreicberga (Muižciems)
  • Officer Antons Liepiņš (AlÅ«ksne) and Aurelija Valentina BraÅ¡ge-Brāse (RÄ«ga)
  • Shipping agent Aleksandrs Bogdans (Daugavpils) and Marija Bogdanoviča (Daugavpils)
  • Merchant Rudolfs Titovs (RÄ«ga) and Berta Markova (Saint Petersburg)
  • Smith Felicijans Francikus MiÅ¡kis (Liepāja) and Marija Ä€boliņa (Ropaži)
  • Table-maker Teodors Kazaks (Posina) and Marija Stačovska (Maļinova)
  • Worker Paulis Jermaks (RÄ«ga) and Anna Orkis-Urkis (Lithuania)

Did this post help you find your ancestors? Do let me know!

Remembering June 14, 1941

June 14, 1941 was the day when thousands of Latvians, Estonians and Lithuanians were deported to Siberia by the occupying Soviet forces. You can see posts I’ve made in other years here, here and here.

I’ll be honest. I struggle with what to say on days like this. Part of me asks “How can something like this happen?” but atrocities like it continue to happen around the world on a daily basis, so it shouldn’t shock me the way it does. Human beings have a frightening capacity and drive for destroying other human beings. Thousands of years of human development, be it in science or ethics or technology, all seem to lead only to finding better ways to destroy one another. I’ve never understood it.

Then I ask a different question – “Why do things like this continue to happen?” I don’t think it is ignorance. We’re bombarded with images of atrocities on a daily basis, be they events that are currently taking place or be they historical events. You’d have to go out of your way to not know what pain and suffering there is in the world.

Perhaps that’s the problem. We see so much of it that we become desensitized to it. Removed from it. We feel helpless, and believe we can’t make a difference because the scale of suffering is so huge.

But you can make a difference. Maybe not to everyone who is suffering. But you can make a difference to one person, or one family. During the Second World War, thousands of people gave shelter to those who were being hunted by one army or another. Protected them from arrest, deportation, or worse. Risked their own lives to save others. Would the people they saved say that their protectors were unable to stop the suffering, because they only helped one person? No. They would say that that person made all the difference in the world.

I believe the same can be done today. Everyone can help one person who is suffering. Everyone can remember one person who suffered under tyranny, but who did not survive. And bit by bit, the world will become a better place.

Who are you going to remember today? And who are you going to help?