Background
Nikolajs Galdiņš was born on the 9 October 1902 in Riga, Latvia.
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Nicholas Galdins
Edit ProfileEducation
By 1924 he has graduated from the War Academy and was assigned to the 4th Valmiera Infantry Regiment.
Career
He was awarded the Knight"s Cross of the Iron Cross, which was awarded to recognize extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership by Nazi Germany during After World War I he volunteered to join the Latvian Army in July 1919. He later served on the General Staff as a Captain until 1938, when he was a Military instructor at the 2nd Riga High School. During the Latvian Army was abolished in 1940, Galdins for a short time served as an officer in the 195th Rifle Regiment, 181st Division.
After the German attack on the Soviet Union (Operation Barbarossa), he volunteered in October 1942, to join the Waffen Steamship in the Administration department.
In the summer of 1943, Galdins was appointed the Adjutant 42nd Waffen Grenadier Regiment, 19th Waffen Grenadier Division of the Steamship (2nd Latvian), commanded by Voldemārs Veiss and served on the Leningrad front. In October 1943, he was given command of the III. Battalion, 42nd Waffen Grenadier Regiment and took over command of the Regiment in January 1944.
In October 1944, he was awarded the German Cross in Gold and the Knight"s Cross in January 1945 for his bravery and leadership of his Regiment during the fighting in the Kurland Pocket. After the German surrender in May 1945, he was a captive of the Soviet Union and executed by firing squad in Leningrad on the 5 October 1945.
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Born
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Died
October 5, 1945 (aged 42) -
Nationality
Latvia