Latvian Riflemen

Latvian Riflemen
Latviešu strēlnieki
Латышские стрелки
1916 uniform of the Latvian Riflemen
ActiveJuly 1915 – 1920
Country Russian Empire
(1915–1917)
 Soviet Russia
(1918–1920)
Russian Republic White Movement
(1918–1920)
BranchImperial Russian Army
Red Army
White Army
TypeInfantry
Size~ 40,000
Part ofRussian 12th Army
Engagements
Commanders
Notable
commanders
Augusts Ernests Misiņš [lv]
Andrejs Auzāns
Jānis Francis
Frīdrihs Briedis
Jukums Vācietis
Mārtiņš Peniķis
Roberts Dambītis

The Latvian Riflemen (Latvian: Latviešu strēlnieki; Russian: Латышские стрелки, romanizedLatyshskie strelki) were originally a military formation of the Imperial Russian Army assembled starting 1915 in Latvia in order to defend Baltic governorates against the German Empire in World War I. Initially, the battalions were formed by volunteers, and from 1916 by conscription among the Latvian population. A total of about 40,000 troops were drafted into the Latvian Riflemen Division. They were used as an elite force in the Imperial and Red armies.