Jānis Puriņš
Jānis Puriņš | |
|---|---|
| Born | 25 April 1889 Mārsnēni Parish, Governorate of Livonia, Russian Empire |
| Died | 1944 (aged 54–55) Likely in Riga, Latvian Soviet Socialist Republic, Soviet Union |
| Allegiance | Russian Empire Latvia Nazi Germany |
| Branch | Imperial Russian Army Latvian National Armed Forces Wehrmacht |
| Years of service | 1910 – 1918 1919 – 1940 1941 – 1944 |
| Rank | Colonel |
| Battles / wars | |
| Awards | Order of Lāčplēsis (1920) Virtuti Militari Order of Vytautas the Great |
Jānis Puriņš was a Latvian Rifleman and later colonel (since 1925), commander of the 1st Kurzeme Division of the Latvian Army and commander of the Eastern Front during the Latgale liberation operation during the Latvian War of Independence. He received the Knight's rank of the Order of Lāčplēsis.