Jānis Balodis

Who was Jānis Balodis?

Jānis Balodis was an army general and politician who was a principal figure in the foundation and government of independent Latvia. Prior to independence, he served in the Imperial Russian Army until his capture by the Germans in 1917.

Balodis was commander-in-chief of the army during the Latvian war of independence. He later served as minister of war from 1931 until the Soviet occupation of Latvia in 1940. He was subsequently arrested by the Soviet authorities and deported to Siberia, and was only allowed to return to Latvia in 1956.

Balodis is a recipient of the Latvian military Order of Lāčplēsis, 2nd and 3rd class.