This week I thought about an interesting fact that led me to read the conscription rules of the Latvian Legion. Specifically, of two twin brothers, only one was drafted into the Legion, while the other was later conscripted into the Red Army. How could this happen when both were the same age and, according to the rules, young men were conscripted as soon as they turned 18?
The mentioned twin brothers were born in 1926 and turned 18 in August 1944 - a time when mobilization into the Latvian Legion had reached its peak. But how did it happen that only one of the twins ended up in the Legion?
The mobilization into the Latvian Legion, organized by the German occupation authorities, proceeded gradually and with increasing strictness. Initially, in the spring of 1943, men born between 1919 and 1925 were conscripted. In this first phase, the conscripts still had some freedom of choice - they could choose between service in the SS Legion, Wehrmacht, or civilian labor service.
However, as the situation at the front deteriorated, the rules became increasingly strict. In autumn 1943, additional checks and conscription followed, this time without options - only into the Legion. Penalties for evading service became harsher - from the initial six months imprisonment to even the death penalty.
1944 brought total mobilization. All men were examined, from those born in 1910 up to teenagers. Those born between 1924 and 1926, including our story's protagonists, were fully conscripted. Even 16-17 year old youths were drafted as air force auxiliaries.
However, there were exceptions. Several professional groups whose work was vital to maintaining civilian life were exempted from service:
Railway workers, whose work was critical for maintaining the transport system
Telegraph workers, who ensured communication systems operation
Police officers, who maintained public order
Public service employees who performed administrative functions
Workers in the armaments industry (only with special SS-Ersatzinspektion Ostland orders)
Food industry workers (only with special SS-Ersatzinspektion Ostland orders)
Peat production enterprise workers
Additionally, in 1943, specialists from several craft industries were also exempted from conscription (applicable to those born between 1912-1918):
Army wagon manufacturers
Winter clothing tailors
Leather clothing and harness makers
Construction specialists
Blacksmiths (for horseshoeing)
Auto repair masters
Health conditions could also be grounds for exemption. In our story, one of the brothers had fallen ill with pleurisy (inflammation of the lungs' membrane), which at the time seemed like salvation from conscription. However, fate proved cruel - he was mobilized into the Red Army in November and fell in battle in the spring of 1945.
Sources:
Newspaper "Kurzemes vārds" (September 8, 1944)
Newspaper "Daugavas Vēstnesis" (July 31, 1943)
Wikipedia
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