On 11 November, President Edgars Rinkēvičs commemorates the role of Līna Čanka-Freidenfelde (1893–1981), a corporal in the 3rd Kurzeme Latvian Riflemen’s Regiment and recipient of the Order of Lāčplēsis, in the struggle for Latvia’s independence.
Born in Kurzeme, Līna Čanka was the first of three women to receive the Order of Lāčplēsis (3rd Class), the highest Latvia’s military award. She was the most junior non-commissioned officer in the 3rd Kurzeme Latvian Riflemen’s Regiment and took part in all its battles, including the fighting on the Island of Death in 1916, later the Christmas Battles and at Ložmetējkalns. She distinguished herself through her courage and perseverance, even when under continuous enemy fire and after being wounded.
Līna Čanka was awarded the Order of Lāčplēsis for her actions in the fighting near Sloka on 22 October 1915 and for reconnaissance missions on the Island of Death in 1916.
Līna Čanka volunteered to join the Latvian Riflemen’s unit in 1915. In order to circumvent the requirement that only men could enlist as riflemen, she persuaded a young man to register in her place and present the documents of her deceased brother. This is how Līna Čanka came to acquire her assumed name – Jānis Čanka.
Despite having her hair cut short, her deception was discovered immediately, and there were attempts to remove her name from the riflemen’s register. However, she succeeded in persuading the Organising Committee of the Latvian Riflemen’s Battalions to allow her to serve as a soldier.
In 1919, Līna Čanka joined the Latvian Army and served in the 5th Cēsis Infantry Regiment. She was discharged from the Latvian Army in May 1920.
Līna Čanka was born on 5 November 1893 at “Mežzīles” in Renda Parish and studied agriculture. She married Ernests Freidenfelds, a soldier in the Latvian Army. In 1927, she was awarded the Order of the Three Stars. Līna Čanka died on 9 June 1981 and is buried beside her husband in the family burial plot at Mežzīles Cemetery in Renda Parish.
On 5 November 2026, the President of Latvia paid tribute to Līna Čanka by laying flowers at her grave in Mežzīles Cemetery.
For your information:
President Edgars Rinkēvičs initiated the tradition of highlighting and commemorating, on Lāčplēsis Day, the historical role, self-sacrifice and contribution to Latvia’s history of recipients of the Order of Lāčplēsis.
2025 – recipient of the Order of Lāčplēsis Roberts Lācis
2024 – recipient of the Order of Lāčplēsis Valija Valērija Jansons-Veščuna
2023 – recipient of the Order of Lāčplēsis Elza Žiglevica
The Order of Lāčplēsis was the first and highest state decoration of Latvia. It was awarded between 1920 and 1928.
