Hi there,
My grandfather was Arvids Martins Akerfelds (b.1927) who married my grandmother, Rasma Lilija Vinakmens (b.1937) after they immigrated to Canada from Latvia in the early 1950’s.
Arvids’ parents were Janis Akerfelds(b.1898) and Anna Ziverts(b.1907) from Nikrace, Kuldigas Rajons, and that is where Arvids was born. I am told Janis’ parents are named Jekabs Akerfelds and Eva Saduris, and Anna’s parents were called Indriks Ziverts and Julia Dzerve.
Rasma’s parents were Karlis Vinakmenis(b.1913) and Berta Helene Ozolins(b.1914) from Tukums, Tukuma Rajons. I am told Karlis’ parents were called Vilis Vinakmens and Emilija Raisenbergs, but I know nothing of Berta’s parentage.
Arvids and Karlis both served in the Latvian Army, and after fleeing Latvia, the West German and American Armies.
I know that Arvids stayed in a displaced persons camp called Esslingen, in Karlsruhe, Germany, I have his Latvian and German passports and driver’s licenses. His family was sponsored to the USA(Colorado) but he stayed behind in Germany longer in order to switch his sponsorship to Canada to be with Rasma and her parents. He traveled to Canada aboard a Lufthansa plane, called D-ALID…
I know that Rasma, Karlis and Berta stayed in displaced persons camps in Germany and for a short time in Belgium, before boarding the SS Zuiderkruis (Rotterdam-Halifax, Canada).
I am searching for my Latvian roots, as far back as I can find, if anyone has any information that may be useful to my cause, I appreciate it very much!
