/specialCollection/nwcda2/27/LAUNAGS, FREDS VOL. 1/LAUNAGS, FREDS VOL. 1_0015.pdf

about 35 years old. A farmer's son from the vicinity of Rujenas. He
served in a Sapper company in the Latvian Army. In 1938 he entered
the Latvian University Agricultural faculty in Riga. In the second
World War he was a Lt. commanding a Latvian Legion pioneer unit (specialty:
mining and de-mining). After the capitulation, he and some of his most
trusted war chmpanions entered the woods and stayed in the vicinity of
Yurkalnes with the intention of escaping to Sweden. In the woods, he
survived several heavy encounters with the Russians. After his wife
escaped from MVD imprisonment in the beginning of October 1945, he
assumed the leadership of the refugee smuggling action, which turned
out successfully when he landed 16 persons by boat in Gotland, Sweden,
in October 31, 1945. In Sweden, he had tried many ways to organize some
supporting action to Latvia. After an unfortunate boat accident in
Chtistmas 1946, he was arrested by the Swedish Government Police. He
was freed after about 3 months, but without the right to stay in Sweden.
In the summer of 1947, he emigrated to England, where he worked at first
as a seaman, then as a farm-hand, then various odd jobs in London. Since
the early part of 1549, was in the Britishe secret service. In 1950, he
learned the trade of dental technician and opened a shop in London. In
July 1951, he and his wife azd 2 sons emigrated to Hamada (address in
No. 145). He is a good organizer, and has talents as an actor (had
attended actors' courses in Riga).
147. Eriks\'%ROBEZGRUNTNIEKS
About 35 years old. The son of a well-to-do Riga family (his father was
some sort of high Governatat official). He finished the Dzena school in
Riga. Then was in the Latvian War College as a Lieutenant. On the
Kurzemes front, he commanded an antiaaircraft artillery unit with the
rank of let Lieutenant. After the capitulation he tried to escape to
Sweden fro4 Ventspils but was unsuccessful. Together with his sister's
husband,2Y:Vfelemen, he hid in the woods near Ugale, where in the
begnn&bxgRi 1545, they were found by a PPS group which they
joined. In August 5, 1945, on his own request, he was placed in the A.F.
group whose assignment was to transfer to Sweden. He arrived in Sweden
October 31, 1945. He participated as an assistant to Lt. E. Skotes in
the unfortunate boat action to Latvias in Christmsa 1946. After being
imprisoned for about 3 months, he was released but without the tight to mem
remain in Sweden. In the summer of 1547, he emipated to England where he
worked as a seaman. In 1949, he married Astrid/ . His sister,
MIA, and his mother, were teassixtmmt ridt Iee from Germany
in the fall of 1945. According to Valdemar l e information they were liv-
ing in poor circumstances after which Alma had aarrie4.ZALCMANIS. In 1948,
she was studying dentittrk and working as a dentist's assistant in Riga.
E. Robezgruntnieks' brother (don't recall his name) was living in the
U.S. Zone of Germany after the capitulation. He learned the dental
technician trade and emigrated to the U1.8. with his wife (maybe Canada)
148. Narlia Straume (called Atamans in the woods)
A let lieutenant in the Latvian Army. About 38 years old. During the
German occupation, he worked in the Valmieras police. In the fall of
1944, was sent to Germany with the 15 Division. In April 1945, he returned
from there to Kurzeme with the Rusmana combat group and was stationed in