Latvian Field Post (N
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LATVIAN FIELD POST (N. Jakimovs 1988 / J. Mors 2009) The earliest information about the establishment of the Field Post is published in the Circular No. 1219, dated August 12, 1919 in which the opening of the Main Field Post Office in Riga is announced. This office was to cooperate with the Main Post Office at Riga Railway Station. The basic task of the army postal services was the handling of official army mail, as well as private military mail to and from the combat troops. In accordance with order No. 2202, dated September 17, 1919 registered mail was discontinued to the armed forces. Such mail already accepted by the civilian post offices, was to be returned by the Field Post offices. All other mail, as private money letters, parcels, letters with a weight of more than 30 gram, wrappers with a weight of more than ½ Russian pounds (200 gram) were to be franked at the prevailing civilian mail rate. At locations where, in addition to the regular civilian Post Office, also an army Field Post Office was located, free of charge parcels or money letters from the active army units were not allowed to be taken by the civilian Post Office. Belonging to the active army ( akt īva arm īja ) were all military units, headquarters, detachments, commands, reserve units and formations as well as different partisan regiments and the Latvian - German home guards ( Landeswehr ). In accordance with the order of September 17, 1919 the following postal regulation and rates were announced: The following types of mail were admitted - a) government letters and parcels, sent on official business b) ordinary letters, postcards and printed matter c) money letters d) parcels with no value Field Post rates stated: Postcards and letters up to 30 grams free of charge - for additional 15 grams, or fraction thereof - 15 kopeks Printed matter (magazines, journals, books and other printed works) free of charge up to a half pound (200 grams) - for additional 100 grams, or fraction thereof - 5 kopeks - maximum weight limited to 5 pounds (2 kg.). Money letters are accepted unsealed and with a declared value of max. 5000 roubles. - weight charge for letters with a declared value up to 100 roubles for each - 15 kopeks 15 grams, or parts thereof - ½ % of the declared value, - insurance charge , for letters with a declared value up to 100 roubles but not less than 15 kopeks - weight charge for letters with a declared value exceeding 100 - 25 kopeks roubles, for each 15 grams, or parts thereof - insurance charge for letters with a declared value exceeding 100 roubles - 1 % of the declared value - charge for each wax seal - 5 kopeks Parcels of up to 12 pounds (4,8 kg) were accepted but for items that cannot be broken up, up to 1 puds (40 pounds / 16 kg) - weight charge for parcels of 1 – 7 pounds (0,4 – 2,8 kg.) - 1,50 roubles - 7 – 12 pounds (2,8 – 4,8 kg.), for every further pound (0,4 kg) - 20 kopeks - 12 – 40 pounds (4,8 – 16 kg.), for every further pound (0,4 kg) - 10 kopeks Note: Weights were expressed in the Russian unit’s pounds (m ārci ņš in Latvian) and puds. 1 Russian pound = 400 grams, 40 Russian pounds = 1 pud = 16 kg. 1 In an official announcement dated November 9, 1919 , is stated that the postal tariffs, as above, are assigned to mail sent to and from military units and only for mail delivered to the army Field Post Offices: “All mail to the Active Army shall be delivered to the Field Post Offices”. Mail delivered at the Post Offices of the Postal Department must be franked at the civilian mail rates. By the order No. 9722 dated May 12, 1920 the activities of the Riga Main Field Post Office were to be terminated and its functions were transferred to the Riga Main Post Office. All correspondence addressed to the active army, separate wrapped under the previous regulations now is to be sent singly to the Riga Main Post Office, and specify the army unit, command, signing in and out of institutional mail. The latest dispatches are to be sent to the Riga Main Post Office in sealed envelopes labelled “secret” also on documents. By 1st of July all other Field Post Offices will be closed, transferring all previous duties to the local civilian post offices. By the order No. 2961 dated October 21, 1920 the post office at Drissa was closed. Accompanying documents for receiving and sending of correspondence was sent to the Daugavpils Post and Telegraph office, but existing military post documents were sent to the following post offices; For I. Field sub-office to Kārsava, for the II. Field sub-office to Vi ļaka, for the III. Field sub-office to R īga, for the IV. Field sub-office to Ludza but for the V. Field sub-office to Rēzekne. Therefore correspondence in regard to tracing mail, which was addressed to Drissa and received or submitted at military post offices, had to be directed to one of above post offices. The Field sub-office postmarks remained and were used at the local post offices at places where sub-offices had their last operations and were used on correspondence as late as in the beginning of 1921. A summary about the movements and operations of the Field sub-offices from their establishment and until May 1, 1920 is announced in a report dated June 21, 1920 from the Chief of Staff of the Main Field Post Office to the Chief of Staff of the Army War Liaison (No. 2679; After the liberation from the bondage great power the State Post offices were able to start their operations at first in August 1919. To provide the Army with postal services already in May 1919 Field Post Sub-offices had been established at the 1 st Detached Brigade and those alone secured the postal services for the then existing whole Army. By the growth of the Army and specially when the Southern Army joined the Northern Army those Field Post Sub- offices as being unofficial organizations were not longer able to serve the whole Army as before. Therefore necessities arise for Field Post Sub-offices which were confirmed in accordance with certain state and instructions by the Commander-in-Chief. From July 22 nd 1919 were Money letters, sealed and open ordinary letters, magazines and other printed matter taken and handed out at the Main Field Post Office as well as at all Field Post Sub-offices which were established later. The Main Field Post Office was established on July 22, 1919 and was operating in Riga all the time except for 3 days, during the attack of Colonel Bermondt, when it was evacuated to Cēsis. The Main Field Post Office served all in Riga, and surrounding, situated army units and establishments and was the centre for distribution and dispatch to corresponding Field and State Post offices. 2 The I. Field Post Sub-office was opened on July 28, 1919 at M ārciema where it served the 1 st Detached Brigade. In the beginning of November it was stationed at Madona to serve the 1st Courland Division. On 5 December the I. Field sub-office was commissioned the 2 nd Livland Division and stationed at Platone but some days later again moved, now to Meitene. After that it was, with the same Headquarters moved to Prieku ļi where the sub-office was opened on 15 December. Two weeks later the sub-office was moved to K ārsava where it was opened at the beginning of February 1920 and was operating there until 19 May. On 21 May was the postmark handed over to the K ārsava Post and Telegraph Office. The II. Field Post Sub-office was opened on August 3, 1919 at Stukma ņi where it served the 1st Courland Division. With this Division the sub-office was moved to Daugavpils where they carried out postal services until the end of January 1920. From 31 January the sub-office was stationed at Kārsava to serve the 2 nd Livland Division and 3 rd Latgale Division. In the beginning of February they were moved to Vi ļaka to serve the 3 rd Latgale Division. Here they were stationed until they closed on 15 May when the postmark was handed over to the Vi ļaka Post Office. The III. Field Post Sub-office was opened at Valmiera on August 15, 1919 to serve the 2nd Livland Division. In the mid of September it was moved to Krustpils to serve units of 1 st Courland Division and the Latvian-German Home Guard. At the end of November the Sub- office was moved to Jelgava to serve the 3 rd Latgale Division Headquarters. After that, with those Headquarters, it was moved to Vecauce (Auce), then again back to Jelgava and at the end of December 1919 they came to Riga. Further the sub-office was stationed at Vec- Gulbene with the same Headquarters. Finally the III. Field Post Sub-office was removed to Drissa to serve units of the 1 st Courland Division. On May 28, 1920 the Field sub-office in Drissa was declared as Drissa Post Office. The IV. Field Post Sub-office was opened on September 23, 1919 close to Valmiera at Rubene to serve the 3 rd Jelgava Infantry Regiment. The Sub-office followed this Regiment at first to to Bebrene manor house (Livland) then to village Vaideliš ķi, village Kalupe, Ruš ūna, Antonopole and at last on February 1, 1920 stationed at Ludza where it started to serve several units of 1 st Courland Division.