Jorgis Zemitans
Encyclopedia
Jorģis Zemitāns was an army officer and commander of the Latvian Northern Brigade during the Latvian War of Independence.
Zemitāns joined the army of the Russian Empire
in 1892 and completed his military education at the Vilnius Military Academy in 1897. During World War I
he was taken as Prisoner of War
at a battle in Eastern Prussia in February 1915 and was released from captivity December 1918. On 7 December 1918 he joined the Latvian Army and was involved in organising the armed forces. Beginning 10 January 1919 he was promoted to Latvian military charge d'affaires
in Estonia
and began organising the formation of Latvian defence units in Tallinn
, Pärnu
and Tartu
. On 2 February he was promoted to organiser and commander in chief of the Latvian Northern Brigade. He led the brigade in the fight for liberation in Northern Vidzeme
during the Battle of Wenden, an operation conducted by General Ernst Põdder
of the 3rd Estonian Division. 15 July he became commander of the Vidzeme division and the eastern front. 17 July he failed to organise the defence of Riga and Daugava and was dismissed from duty and replaced by Mārtiņš Peniķis. On 12 October his official title became officer of the reserve. From January 1920 Zemitāns worked at the Latvian Military Court until 1 April 1922 when he retired.
Jorģis Zemitāns was awarded with the Latvian Military Order of Lāčplēsis
, Estonian Cross of Liberty and the Russian Order of St. Vladimir
.
Zemitāns joined the army of 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 1892 and completed his military education at the Vilnius Military Academy in 1897. During 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...
he was taken as Prisoner of War
Prisoner of war
A prisoner of war or enemy prisoner of war is a person, whether civilian or combatant, who is held in custody by an enemy power during or immediately after an armed conflict...
at a battle in Eastern Prussia in February 1915 and was released from captivity December 1918. On 7 December 1918 he joined the Latvian Army and was involved in organising the armed forces. Beginning 10 January 1919 he was promoted to Latvian military charge d'affaires
Chargé d'affaires
In diplomacy, chargé d’affaires , often shortened to simply chargé, is the title of two classes of diplomatic agents who head a diplomatic mission, either on a temporary basis or when no more senior diplomat has been accredited.-Chargés d’affaires:Chargés d’affaires , who were...
in Estonia
Estonia
Estonia , officially the Republic of Estonia , is a state in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by the Gulf of Finland, to the west by the Baltic Sea, to the south by Latvia , and to the east by Lake Peipsi and the Russian Federation . Across the Baltic Sea lies...
and began organising the formation of Latvian defence units in Tallinn
Tallinn
Tallinn is the capital and largest city of Estonia. It occupies an area of with a population of 414,940. It is situated on the northern coast of the country, on the banks of the Gulf of Finland, south of Helsinki, east of Stockholm and west of Saint Petersburg. Tallinn's Old Town is in the list...
, Pärnu
Pärnu
Pärnu is a city in southwestern Estonia on the coast of Pärnu Bay, an inlet of the Gulf of Riga in the Baltic Sea. It is a popular summer vacation resort with many hotels, restaurants, and large beaches. The Pärnu River flows through the city and drains into the Gulf of Riga...
and Tartu
Tartu
Tartu is the second largest city of Estonia. In contrast to Estonia's political and financial capital Tallinn, Tartu is often considered the intellectual and cultural hub, especially since it is home to Estonia's oldest and most renowned university. Situated 186 km southeast of Tallinn, the...
. On 2 February he was promoted to organiser and commander in chief of the Latvian Northern Brigade. He led the brigade in the fight for liberation in Northern Vidzeme
Vidzeme
Vidzeme is one of the historical and cultural regions of Latvia. Literally meaning "the Middle Land" it is situated in north-central Latvia north of the Daugava River...
during the Battle of Wenden, an operation conducted by General Ernst Põdder
Ernst Põdder
Ernst Põdder VR I/1 was a famous Estonian military commander in the Estonian War of Independence....
of the 3rd Estonian Division. 15 July he became commander of the Vidzeme division and the eastern front. 17 July he failed to organise the defence of Riga and Daugava and was dismissed from duty and replaced by Mārtiņš Peniķis. On 12 October his official title became officer of the reserve. From January 1920 Zemitāns worked at the Latvian Military Court until 1 April 1922 when he retired.
Jorģis Zemitāns was awarded with 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...
, Estonian Cross of Liberty and the Russian Order of St. Vladimir
Order of St. Vladimir
The Cross of Saint Vladimir was an Imperial Russian Order established in 1782 by Empress Catherine II in memory of the deeds of Saint Vladimir, the Grand Prince and the Baptizer of the Kievan Rus....
.
See also
- Latvian War of Independence
- Freikorps in the BalticFreikorps in the BalticAfter 1918, the term Freikorps was used for the paramilitary organizations that sprang up around the German Empire, including in the Baltic states as soldiers returned in defeat from World War I...
- West Russian Volunteer ArmyWest Russian Volunteer ArmyThe West Russian Volunteer Army or Bermontians was an army in the Baltic provinces of the former Russian Empire during the Russian Civil War of 1918-1920....