The Comb - Latvian Prisoner Inscribed Before Execution

The Comb found on the body was likely inscribed before the execution was carried out.

Talis the Legenda Leader commented: "it is possible that the comb was inscribed the night before the execution was carried out."

The search unit “Legenda”  discovered the remains of two World War II soldiers. It has been established that one of the fallen was not German but in fact a Latvian.

Analysis of the circumstances suggests that the soldier was sentenced to death by a German Military Court and executed by shooting.

A 9mm bullet was found, and evidence indicates the shot was fired at close range.

Talis the Legenda Leader seen here carrying out the exhumation process.

Photo Legenda Archaeology 2025

Among the personal belongings were:

• A soldier’s mess tin, with an inscription scratched onto the lid.

• A plastic comb, on which the soldier had engraved several important dates and events from his life with a pointed object.

The comb reveals the following:

1. He was interrogated from May to June 1942

2. His home address was listed as Riga, Pushkina Street 16–2.

3. He was imprisoned on August 21, 1943.

4. The final entry reads: 21.VIII.1944 – TRANSFERRED TO THE SALASPILS PRISON.

After doing some research a document relating to his death was found in the German Archives, translation below.

This grave report concerns Pēteris Škeranskis, a Latvian police soldier born on 23 August 1915 in Aknīste, Ilūkste District. He served in the 3rd Company, Latvian Police Battalion 2.

Škeranskis died on 7 December 1944 in Hasenpoth (present-day Aizpute, Latvia). $

He was buried in an individual grave. His next of kin was recorded as his mother, Ieva Škeranskis (née Benerowitsch), residing in the municipality of Zaŭka, Jakobstadt District.

According to the records, on 5 December 1944, he was sentenced to death by a German military court. The execution was carried out by shooting, officially recorded as occurring “while attempting to escape.”

After further research it seems the German War Graves Commission listed him as a possible Unknown soldier in Saldus War Cemetery and he is also listed in Lestene Latvian Cemetery Wall. But now his case is closed, Legenda where able to find him and locate him.

The search for more information will continue, raising questions such as why he was imprisoned in the first place, what led to his interrogation, and what ultimately resulted in his execution.

These are just some of the many questions that could be asked.

If you have more information on this person please email us.

Article by: Jonathan Baynard