Vācietis.

This is coolbert:

Within context of the most recent blog entry.

"How Latvians defended communism in Russia"

From the rbth.com/ HISTORY Internet web site and the article by BORIS EGOROV.

HEROES OF THE RUSSIAN REVOLUTION/CIVIL WAR THAT MILITARY CONTINENT MOST DEDICATED TO THE COMMUNIST CAUSE.

Red Latvian Riflemen. Politically reliable beyond any measure.

"Excellent soldiers and brutal enforcers, Latvian troops did much to shore up Bolshevik power in Russia. Their reward, however, was not quite what they had in mind…"

"They were the most reliable and effective military force in the Bolshevik ranks. The Red Latvian Riflemen not only helped preserve Soviet power in the Russian Civil War, but even saved Lenin himself on more than one occasion."

MISSION TO GUARD THE KREMLIN AND THE  SUPREME LEADESHIP OF THE COMMUNIST RULING CLIQUE. LENIN AND OTHERS AT THE VERY TOP NOT TRUSTING THEIR ORDINARY RUN-OF-THE-MILL GREAT RUSSIAN TROOP.

Indeed! The first commander of the Red Army [RKKA] a Latvian who had previously been a professional soldier of the Imperial Russian Army. Jukums Vācietis.

"Jukums Vācietis . . . Ioakim Ioakimovich Vatsetis . . . was a Latvian Soviet military commander. He was a rare example of a notable Soviet leader who was not a member of the Communist Party (or of any other political party), until his own demise during the Great Terror."

[it is worthy to note that their also existed a White Latvian Riflemen contingent. Opposed to the communist regime desirous of a free and independent Latvia.]

Fate of the Red Latvian Riflemen eventually very grim. Most liquidated during the Soviet Great Terror of the late 1930's. A reward I would imagine the devoted Latvians hardly even thought would occur.

coolbert.