First Battle of Ķekava

The First Battle of Kekava occurred in March 1916 in Kekava, Latvia, along the Eastern Front during World War I.

1st Battle of Kekava
Part of the Eastern Front of World War I
Officers of the 1st Daugavgrīva Latvian Rifle Battalion after the battle
Date 21 March 1916 Location Kekava, Latvia Result Inconclusive
Belligerents
Russian Empire	Germany
Commanders and leaders
Radko Dimitriev	Oskar von Hutier
Units involved
13th Siberian Rifle Division Latvian Riflemen	35th Infantry Reserve Regiment
Casualties and losses
704 casualties	63 killed 87 injured

Background

Following Russian retreats, Russian forces ended up outside of Kekava and decided to begin an attack alongside the Lake Naroch offensive.

Forces

The 13th Siberian Rifle Division of the 12th Army of the Imperial Russian Army fought against the 35th Infantry Reserve Regiment of the Imperial German Army and were joined by Latvian Riflemen battalions.

Battle

The attack at Ķekava began on March 21, 1916, in meadows flooded by the tides. After an artillery shelling of the enemy's forts, Latvian riflemen and soldiers of the 51st Siberian Rifle Regiment advanced towards the German fortified positions. Despite initial success of the first two Latvian rifle battalions, it was not possible to maintain the front brake for a long time. The Germans, attracting additional reserves, launched a counterattack in the evening to regain lost positions. the German forces then them back to their starting positions.

Aftermath

Following the battle, another battle, the second Battle of Ķekava took place in July in the same region.