Oskars Perro

Oskars Perro
Born	September 26, 1918 Mazsalaca,Russian Empire
Died	May 2, 2003(2003-05-03)(aged 84) Canada
Allegiance	1941-1945Nazi Germany
Years of service	1941–1945
Rank	Waffen-Obersturmführer,Latvian Legion
Awards	Iron Cross 2nd & 1st class

Oskars Perro(September 26, 1918 – May 2, 2003) wasLatviansoldier and writer. He was the first Latvian to be awarded theIron Crossin theSecond World War.

Biography

Oskars Perro was born inMazsalaca,Latviaon 26 September 1918. He studiedmedicineatLatvian University.

In 1941 his family suffered in theSoviet mass deportations.WhenSoviet-German Warbroke out in June 1941, Perro volunteered in theGerman army.

In December 1941, firstLatvian unitswas sent to the Eastern Front. In January 1942, Perro with a small group of Latvian soldiers was trapped nearDemyansk pocket,atKholm.He was wounded twice, but managed to survive until the pocket was liberated in May 1942. For his valour in these battles he was awarded with Iron Cross 2nd Class, thus becoming first Latvian in the Second World War to receive it. After that he was treated in military hospitals inKaunasandMunich.

After treatment he returned toRigaand was assigned as lecturer in training ofNCOs.In spring 1943 he was put in a military hospital in Riga for further treatment. When theLatvian Legionwas established, he was assigned to its staff and became the Legion'scommunications officeron Latvian radio. In April 1944 Perro returned to the Eastern Front. By the order of general inspector of Latvian LegionRūdolfs Bangerskis,he was assigned as communications officer to GermanVI SS Corps.Both Latvian waffen SS divisions in that time was inVelikayariver positions and was part of VI SS corps. Commander of VI army corpsKarl Pfeffer-Wildenbruchappointed Perro as his personal aide. After heavy battles in summer 1944 when Latvian Legion retreated to Latvia, Perro was commanded to19th Waffen SS (2nd Latvian) division.There he was assigned as staff officer and later served in 19thFusilier battalionunder command of Waffen-Sturmbannführer Ernests Laumanis.

In theCourland pockethe was personal aide ofBruno Streckenbach,commander of 19th Waffen SS division. In spring 1945 he commanded company in Waffen-Grenadier Regiment der SS 43 in the same division. In Courland pocket he was awarded with the Iron Cross 1st Class.

On 27 April he was wounded for a fifth time and on 8 May, evacuated toGermanyon the last ship fromVentspils.On 12 May, the ship reachedKieland Perro enteredAlliedcaptivity. He finished the war with the rank ofWaffen-Obersturmführer.

Life after war

After treatment and captivity he returned to his studies; first in Germany, but from 1948 inCanada.He was active member of Latvian exile organizations and of Latvian student fraternityFraternitas Cursica.He published five autobiographical books about the war. In 1997Mike Wallaceof60 Minutesattempted to interview him about his role in the war.

Oskars Perro died 2 May 2003 in Canada.

Bibliography

In Latvian:

• Holmas cietoksnis(1982)
• Vēstures veidotāji(1985)
• Neuzvarēto traģēdija(1987)
• Karavīksnes lokā(1988)
• Dvēseļu cietokšņi(1997)

In English:

• Fortress Cholm(1992)