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- John (Janis) Apsit born February 21, 1921 in Vaidava Cesis. In 1933 he was a meme of Latvian Scout and Guide Central Organization. Information about his studies, place of residence during years 1936-1941 and his military service in the German army is not found.
In 1920-1922 the family of Janis Apsit, son of Kekab, lived in the Khutor (farm), "Jaunliepas", Vaidava suburb, Cesis District. From 1933 the family lived in the the town of Cessi, on Rigas Str. 55, from 1938 on Rigas Str.63. Flat 2.
In the list of population deported from Cesis ( no information where) during the German-Nazi occupation drawn up in 1945 on the basis of the information from the witnesses ( the names of the witnesses , as well as the information itself are missing). The names of Janis Apsitis, son of Janis born 16, May 1922 who lived in Cesis Rigas Str 63 -flat 2 are mentioned.
John Apsite-
Both my father John (Janis) Apsite and mother Ingrid Embriks were born in Latvia, 12.02.2021 and 13.01.1932 respectfully in Latvia.
John Apsite was the eldest of the two boys , Jojn and Arvids. Their mother Kristina (born Spielbergs) and Father Janis Apsite lived in the country on a self-sufficient farm. There is little information on the grandparents apart both lived on farms.
John reminisces of a happy childhood where he was involved with boy scouts up until the age of 20 years. He was quite athletic at school and enjoyed basketball., volleyball shot put and javelin.
John left home at 17 years of age to move to Riga (the Capital) to attend technical school and commenced training in Engineering. He lived with a friend in a furnished room and life revolved around study and part time work. He did not finish this due to WW2 when Germany first occupied Latvia after declaring war on Germany on 23.06.1941.
John worked in the Latvian Governments electrical factory and in 1984 was sent to Berlin to work in telecommunications in the air force. My father was initially in the Latvian Legions and then recruited into the German Army/ German Latvian legions.
In 1944 on the 12 th August John Apsite was transferred to the polish corridor in the 15 Division. This is where he did his basic training and had some experience on the front line as the Russians were moving in.
John was then moved to various camps within Germany and was often left with minimal food i.e. 3 biscuits per day with occasional feast after basketball matches in the camps and the poles would steal geese and other farm products for after the match.
My father was eventually moved to a camp in Melle, in Germany in 1948 where he met Ingrid Embrits his future wife.
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1921 - 2004 (83 years)
