Eduards Kalniņš
Encyclopedia
Eduards Kalniņš was a Latvian general. He participated in the Russo-Japanese War
, World War I
and in the Latvian War of Independence. He was Minister of Defence of Latvia in 1926 and 1928 and was recipient of the Latvian military Order of Lāčplēsis
, 2nd and 3rd class, and the Estonian Cross of Liberty.
(Russian Empire
), in a farmer
's family. Graduated Plātere Elementary School and Riga City Catherine
School.
In 1894 Kalniņš joined St. Peterburg's
Artillery Academy and graduated from it in 1900. After graduation he was sent to the Kaunas
artillery stronghold. At the Michail Artillery Academy he passed an examen for the podporuchik rank. After that he served at the Novogeorgievsk stronghold
. In 1904 he was sent to the Far East
(Kwantung
stronghold). He participated in the Russo-Japanese War
and served at the Port Arthur stronghold. During service Kalniņš was shell-shocked and several times wounded, he was captured by the enemy. In 1906 he returned from captivity and was sent to Sveaborg stronghold
(near Helsinki
), where he served until 1918.
On January 17, 1919, he voluntary joined the Latvian Army. In February he was appointed as the North Latvian Brigade
's artillery unit commander. He participated in battles against the Baltische Landeswehr
units near Cēsis and Jugla. On July 15, 1919 Kalniņš was appointed to commander of Army's department of artillery and Army's Commander's-in-Chief headquarter's commander deputy. Promoted to colonel. From July 18, 1919 to October 18, 1919 was transferred to post of commander of main army's artillery department.
Participated in a lot of important officials journeys. Was one of those, who signed Latvian–Soviet Peace Treaty. in 1925 was promoted to general
. In 1926 and 1928 was Ministers of Defence of Latvia. From 1928 to 1935 was an inspector of artillery. He has participated in foreign maneuvers. In 1935 Kalniņš retired from the army.
In 1944, before occupation, he went to Sweden. In 1954 Kalniņš went to USA, California, Hollywood, where on June 28, 1965 he died.
Russo-Japanese War
The Russo-Japanese War was "the first great war of the 20th century." It grew out of rival imperial ambitions of the Russian Empire and Japanese Empire over Manchuria and Korea...
, World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
and in the Latvian War of Independence. He was Minister of Defence of Latvia in 1926 and 1928 and was recipient of the Latvian military Order of Lāčplēsis
Order of Lacplesis
The Order of Lāčplēsis, the first and the highest Latvian military award, was established in 1919 on the initiative of the Commander of Latvian Army, during the Latvian War of Independence, Jānis Balodis. The Lāčplēsis Order is awarded in the first, second and third class. Initially, a holder of...
, 2nd and 3rd class, and the Estonian Cross of Liberty.
Biography
Born in Plātere parishOgre municipality
Ogre municipality is a municipality in Vidzeme, Latvia. The municipality was formed in 2002 by merging Ogre town and Ogresgals parish. In 2009 it absorbed Krape parish, Ķeipene parish, Laubere parish, Madliena parish, Mazozoli parish, Meņģele parish, Suntaži parish and Taurupe parish the...
(Russian Empire
Russian Empire
The Russian Empire was a state that existed from 1721 until the Russian Revolution of 1917. It was the successor to the Tsardom of Russia and the predecessor of the Soviet Union...
), in a farmer
Farmer
A farmer is a person engaged in agriculture, who raises living organisms for food or raw materials, generally including livestock husbandry and growing crops, such as produce and grain...
's family. Graduated Plātere Elementary School and Riga City Catherine
Catherine II of Russia
Catherine II, also known as Catherine the Great , Empress of Russia, was born in Stettin, Pomerania, Prussia on as Sophie Friederike Auguste von Anhalt-Zerbst-Dornburg...
School.
In 1894 Kalniņš joined St. Peterburg's
Saint Petersburg
Saint Petersburg is a city and a federal subject of Russia located on the Neva River at the head of the Gulf of Finland on the Baltic Sea...
Artillery Academy and graduated from it in 1900. After graduation he was sent to the Kaunas
Kaunas
Kaunas is the second-largest city in Lithuania and has historically been a leading centre of Lithuanian economic, academic, and cultural life. Kaunas was the biggest city and the center of a powiat in Trakai Voivodeship of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania since 1413. During Russian Empire occupation...
artillery stronghold. At the Michail Artillery Academy he passed an examen for the podporuchik rank. After that he served at the Novogeorgievsk stronghold
Modlin Fortress
Modlin Fortress is one of the biggest 19th century fortresses in Poland. It is located the town of Nowy Dwór Mazowiecki in district Modlin on the Narew river, some 50 kilometres north of Warsaw...
. In 1904 he was sent to the Far East
Far East
The Far East is an English term mostly describing East Asia and Southeast Asia, with South Asia sometimes also included for economic and cultural reasons.The term came into use in European geopolitical discourse in the 19th century,...
(Kwantung
Kwantung Leased Territory
The Kwantung Leased Territory was a territory in the southern part of the Liaodong Peninsula in Inner Manchuria that existed from 1898 to 1945. It was one of the numerous territorial concessions that the Empire of China was compelled to award to foreign countries at the end of the 19th century...
stronghold). He participated in the Russo-Japanese War
Russo-Japanese War
The Russo-Japanese War was "the first great war of the 20th century." It grew out of rival imperial ambitions of the Russian Empire and Japanese Empire over Manchuria and Korea...
and served at the Port Arthur stronghold. During service Kalniņš was shell-shocked and several times wounded, he was captured by the enemy. In 1906 he returned from captivity and was sent to Sveaborg stronghold
Krepost Sveaborg
The Krepost Sveaborg was an Imperial Russian land and sea fortress constructed around Helsinki during First World War. The purpose of the fortress was to provide a secure naval base for the Russian Baltic fleet and to protect Helsinki and block routes to Saint Petersburg from a possible German...
(near Helsinki
Helsinki
Helsinki is the capital and largest city in Finland. It is in the region of Uusimaa, located in southern Finland, on the shore of the Gulf of Finland, an arm of the Baltic Sea. The population of the city of Helsinki is , making it by far the most populous municipality in Finland. Helsinki is...
), where he served until 1918.
On January 17, 1919, he voluntary joined the Latvian Army. In February he was appointed as the North Latvian Brigade
Brigade
A brigade is a major tactical military formation that is typically composed of two to five battalions, plus supporting elements depending on the era and nationality of a given army and could be perceived as an enlarged/reinforced regiment...
's artillery unit commander. He participated in battles against the Baltische Landeswehr
Baltische Landeswehr
Baltische Landeswehr was the name of the unified armed forces of the Couronian and Livonian nobility from 7 December 1918 to 3 July 1919.- Command structure :...
units near Cēsis and Jugla. On July 15, 1919 Kalniņš was appointed to commander of Army's department of artillery and Army's Commander's-in-Chief headquarter's commander deputy. Promoted to colonel. From July 18, 1919 to October 18, 1919 was transferred to post of commander of main army's artillery department.
Participated in a lot of important officials journeys. Was one of those, who signed Latvian–Soviet Peace Treaty. in 1925 was promoted to general
General
A general officer is an officer of high military rank, usually in the army, and in some nations, the air force. The term is widely used by many nations of the world, and when a country uses a different term, there is an equivalent title given....
. In 1926 and 1928 was Ministers of Defence of Latvia. From 1928 to 1935 was an inspector of artillery. He has participated in foreign maneuvers. In 1935 Kalniņš retired from the army.
In 1944, before occupation, he went to Sweden. In 1954 Kalniņš went to USA, California, Hollywood, where on June 28, 1965 he died.