Battles on the Aa

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Major military operations on the
Eastern Front (1914-1918)

The battles on the Aa (Russian Митавская операция - Mitauer Operation , Lat. Ziemassvētku kaujas - Christmas battles ) were military conflicts that took place during the First World War from January 5 to 11, 1917 (according to the Julian calendar December 23 to 29, 1916 ) took place between the German Reich and Russia . The offensive that took place during the Russian Christmas party was carried out by the Russian army in the area north of Mitau (today Jelgava , Latvia) by the 12th Army under General Radko Dimitriew (with approx. 40,000 men). The Russians faced the German 8th Army (with approx. 25,000 men) under the command of General der Artillerie Friedrich von Scholtz . The battle took place in the area of ​​the Tirel marshes south of the Babīte lake and the VI. Siberian rifle corps formed the main force of the 12th Army. It was not a success worth mentioning for any of the conflicting parties.

Sketch for the scene of the Christmas fights on the Aa

background

German fortifications in the Tirel marshes

The German advance on the Kurländische Aa had come to a halt in October 1915 just before Riga . Immediately afterwards, the German troops began to erect a 30-kilometer-long fortification wall that separated the two armies. After the failed campaign in Romania in 1916 ( Battle of the Argesch ), the commander of the Russian 12th Army was ordered to operate on the front in Riga. In addition to conquering Mitau, one of the goals was to relieve the pressure on the western front and to bind German forces. Due to a drop in temperature it was now possible to cross the frozen rain bogs .

battle

The Russians split their attacking forces into three groups on January 5, 1917 (December 23, 1916) before attacking. The main wave came from 48 battalions and 208 cannons. The attack took the Germans by surprise, in the area of ​​the attacked German General Command 60 (Lieutenant General von Pappritz ) there were only 19 battalions of the 6th Landwehr Brigade opposite. Latvian riflemen , fighting on the side of the Russians, quickly broke through the first German lines. The Russians had not used artillery support so the Germans had not been warned. After the second German line had also been overcome, the Russian commander had no strength to secure supplies, as the 17th Siberian Regiment mutinied. This mutiny also joined several other units of the II. And VI. Siberian Army Corps . While the Russian offensive stalled, the Germans were able to call in reinforcements from Mitau. The German counter-offensive, which was carried out at −35 ° C, was held up by the Latvian riflemen for 48 hours.

On January 7, the Russians tried to take paved sand dunes in the Tirel Marshes . The 3rd and 7th Latvian Rifle Regiments together with the 53rd Siberian Regiment succeeded in encircling the Germans. The 2nd Latvian Rifle Brigade finally managed to capture the German fortifications. The Russian army had thus succeeded in conquering an important fortress and tearing a seven-kilometer gap in the German fortifications. The Russian commander, who did not expect victory, did not take the opportunity to break through this gap.

The Germans fought back with fresh troops from Mitau at the end of January 1917. The 8th Army, supported by heavy artillery fire, attacked across the board. The forces included the 1st Reserve Division and the 2nd Infantry Division . The Russians were only able to withstand this attack for three days, and the Latvians suffered considerable losses when they came under German machine gun fire in the open field. The Germans regained 80% of their positions. A temperature drop to −38 ° C prevented further warfare on both sides.

consequences

The Russian losses amounted to about 13,000 men (including 8,000 Latvian riflemen). Nothing is known about the German losses.

The solution issued by the Russian government to retake Courland had failed because of reality. The Latvian soldiers had defended a good reputation, but suffered heavy losses. General dissatisfaction with the army leadership and the tsarist regime increased, which is seen as a major factor in the political radicalization of the Latvians and their subsequent support for the Bolsheviks. The Siberian mutineers were either executed or exiled.

Today there is a branch of the Latvian War Museum in Tirelismoor , which is dedicated to these battles. Old and restored bunkers and fortifications can be viewed there.

literature

  • Igors Vārpa: Latviešu karavīrs zem Krievijas impērijas, Padomju Krievijas and PSRS karogiem. Latviešu strēlnieki triju vēstures laikmetu griežos . (Nordik, Riga 2006), ISBN 9984-792-11-0 . Pp. 147-210.

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