After German occupation forces arrived in Aknīste around the 25th of June, they created defence groups (Schutzmänner) mainly composed of Latvians. The Aknīste group was commanded by Latvian War of Independence veteran J. Valdmanis who had fought against bolshevik forces as a partisan during the war.
Upon German occupation forces' arrival in Aknīste around June 25th, they established defensive groups (Schutzmänner) primarily consisting of Latvians. The Aknīste group was led by J. Valdmanis, a veteran of the Latvian War of Independence who had fought as a partisan against Bolshevik forces during the war.