January 15, 1915 - Born, in Novosibirsk, of Latvian parents.
1920 - the Ziedainis family returns to Latvia, settling in Jaunjelgava.
Completes basic schooling and business school studies in Jaunjelgava.
1933 - enrolls in the University of Latvia, Faculty of Nature Studies.
1937 - After completing his obligatory military service, he enrolls in Military College (officer training).
Sept.1 1939 - Graduates from Military College, and is assigned to the Latgales artillery regiment, based in Krustpils.
1940 - graduates from Riga flight school (observer) and transfers to the Aviation Regiment. Rank: Lieutenant
1941 (German occupation) - volunteers for military duty and serves with the Zemgales 16th Police Battalion.
1943 - serves on the Leningrad front. Later his unit is absorbed into the Latvian Legion.
1945 - promoted to the rank of 1st. Lieutenant, He is the commander of the 42nd Company of the 19th division. His unit
is among those encircled in Kurzeme.
Wounded on a number of occasions, he earns the Iron Cross (1st Class) and, later, the German Gold Cross.
May 1945 - Ziedainis, instead of surrendering to the Soviets, obtains false documents in the name of Mikelis Petersons and sets out
to create a new identity under Soviet occupation. He lived near Dundaga and then in Ventspils and was actively involved in
partizan activity in Kurzeme. [Note: elsewhere, his alternate identity is given as "Augusts Petersons"]
Sept.9, 1945 - the Northern Kurzeme Partizan Group is formed, and Ziedainis is selected as their first leader.
October 5, 1945 - he is discovered by the Soviet Secret Police and arrested in Ventspils.
July 13, 1946 - Miervaldis Ziedainis is sentenced to death by a Soviet Tribunal and is subsequently shot.
Sources
- Berzins, Alfreds-Janis (ed) Latviesu Karavirs Otra Pasaules Kara Laika - Vol.XI pg. 134-139.
- Bruvelis, Edvins Latvijas Aviacijas Vesture
- Kalvans, Aleksandrs (ed) Uz Ezinas Galvu Liku Vol.II
