Frīdrihs Briedis

Frīdrihs Briedis (June 23, 1888 – August 28, 1918) was a Latvian colonel and leader of the Latvian Riflemen. He received all classes of the Order of Lāčplēsis posthumously. He led the Latvian Riflemen, an ethnically Latvian regiment of the Russian army, during World War I. He resolved to oppose communism in Moscow after the Russian revolution, but was kidnapped and executed by the state.

In 1906, he was admitted to the Vladimir War School in St. Petersburg. Briedis graduated from the war school with the rank of Podporuchik and afterwards served in the 99th Ivangorod infantry unit, which was deployed in Daugavpils, due to his excellent tactical expertise. In 1912, he was promoted to the rank of Poruchik and named Commander of the company. He served in World War I, initially in East Prussia, where he successfully commanded reconnaissance expeditions and gained multiple gallantry and achievement honors.

When the Latvian Riflemen battalions were formed in 1915, he was given leadership of the 1st Daugavgrva unit. He and his soldiers fought in engagements around the Misa River and ekava. Briedis was seriously wounded in the jaw in March 1916, but he recovered and went on to command a battalion during the Christmas Battles. He fought at Trepurvs during the Christmas Battles, where he was wounded for the second time. In 1918, he became involved in an anti-Bolshevik conspiracy in Moscow. He was seized by the Cheka on July 23, 1918, and killed by firing squad in Moscow on August 27, 1918. He was awarded the Order of Ellipsis in all classes for his gallantry in the Christmas Battles and involvement in nearly all rifleman engagements on the Riga front. There is also a street named after him in Riga. That's all about the fifth most important historical figures in Latvia in this list!