Krišjānis Berķis (April 26, 1884 in Īslīce parish, Bauska municipality, Courland, modern Latvia – July 29, 1942 in Perm, Russia) was a Latvian general. Rising to prominence as an officer of the Latvian Riflemen in World War I, he was promoted to the rank of general during the Latvian War of Independence, and served on the Army General Staff after the war. After the Soviet occupation of Baltic states he was deported to Siberia and died in a Gulag labor camp. Biography Krišjānis Berķis was born on April 26, 1884 in the farmer's homestead Bērzkrogs, Īslīce parish, Courland. He graduated from local parish school and Bauska city school. After graduation he decided to become a soldier and entered Vilnius military school. He graduated in 1906 in the rank of podporuchik. He then served in 2nd. Finnish rifleman regiment in Helsinki. During his service in Grand Duchy of Finland he married Finnish girl Hilma Lehtonen (1887-1961). In 1909 he was promoted to poruchik and in 1913 to stabskapitan. First World War In 1914 Berķis as an officer in Finnish corps of Russian Army was deployed to front in East Prussia. He served as a company commander, later as battalion commander. He participated in battles near the Masurian lakes. In January 1915 the Finnish Corps was deployed to south eastern front in the Carpathians. Berķis was promoted to captain and participated in many battles, including Brusilov's offensive in 1916. In 1917 he was promoted to lieutenant colonel and after many requests was finally transferred to Latvian Rifleman units. He became battalion commander in 6th. Tukums Latvian rifleman regiment but from October he commanded the whole regiment. With his regiment he participated in Battle of Jugla securing to main Russian units safe withdrawal from Riga. In November 1917 he refused to join Red Army and was dissmised from his post. He went to Finland to be with his family. Latvian War of independence When Finnish civil war started in 1918 Berķis with his family went to Smolensk, Russia. Later however he passed through Latvia and Estonia to return to Finland. In autumn 1918 Berķis learned from newspapers about the proclamation of the Latvian republic and forming of its first military units. In March 1919 he managed to get to Tallinn where he met delegates of the Latvian government. Soon after he met with colonel Jorģis Zemitāns and on 21 March he enlisted in