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Veiss, Voldemars (Waffen SS)

Date of birth:
November 7th, 1899 (Riga, Latvia)
Date of death:
April 16th, 1944 (Near Nowovskev, Eastern Front)
Buried on:
Brothers' Cemetery Riga
Service number:
SS-Nr.: // NSDAP-Nr.:
Nationality:
Latvian (1941-1945, Reichskommissariat Osland)

Biography

SS-Standartenführer Voldemars Veiss died of his wounds after a shell struck his position on 16 April 1944.

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Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
SS-Standartenführer (Colonel)
Unit:
Führer, 2. Lettische SS-Freiwilligen-Brigade
Awarded on:
February 9th, 1944
Veiss's Knight's Cross recommendation reads as follows...

“SS-Standartenführer Veiss, commander of Kampfgruppe Veiss, has repulsed enemy attacks around Nekoschowo in an series of doggedly conducted defensive actions and relieved the garrison of Podporesje. By launching an audacious thrust from the Tatino railroad station in a southerly direction along the railroad line he was able to strike the broken-through enemy and inflict crippling damage on them. Following days of forest and swamp combat he attacked Dolgowo on his own initiative. He also held Tatino for several days against a numerically superior foe and thereby significantly delayed and weakened the forward advance of an enemy battlegroup that was oriented in the direction of the open left flank of Kampfgruppe ‘General Speth’. His imposing leadership during subsequent friendly and hostile attacks resulted in high losses being inflicted on the enemy.

These battlefield successes by the Latvian Brigade decisively influenced the heavy combat that the XXXVIII. Armee-Korps was involved in. Such feats were made possible by its commander’s outstandingly brave personal conduct, his resolute decisiveness (which overcame all obstacles) and the energy he exuded that spread to every one of his soldiers.

SS-Standartenführer Veiss continues to lead the Brigade, which has given a stellar account of itself in the most recent defensive and offensive combat. The supreme commander has expressed his recognition of this fact both orally via the commanding general as well as personally in writing.

Thus, with the full support and agreement of the XXXVIII. Armee-Korps, I wish to recommend SS-Standartenführer Veiss for the award of the Knight’s Cross to the Iron Cross.”
Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes
Nepriklausomybes Medalis (1928)

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