Dlin Berka Moiseevich (24 September 1904, Vīški, Latvia) - master tailor and cutter

Born 24 September 1904, Vīški (now in the Daugavpils region), Latvia

Berka Dlin was the son of Mozus Dlin (born 1864, Daugavpils region – died 1929, Riga) and Sima Dlin (née Kish) (born 1866, Daugavpils region – died 1941, Riga). He completed four years of Jewish elementary education by 1920 and trained under his father in tailoring.

In 1925 he moved to Riga and, from 1925–27 and 1929–41, worked as a tailor at the workshop of his paternal uncle, David Dlin, at Kaleju 10/12, Riga. He served in the Latvian Army from 1927–29. In 1941 he was evacuated to Saratov, where he worked as a cutter in a special trade artel until conscription into the Red Army in 1942.

He served in the 43rd Latvian Guards Division on the 1st and 3rd Ukrainian Fronts, including at Staraya Russa, and was wounded twice. Demobilised in 1945, he worked as senior cutter for the Baltic Railway administrative trade organisation until 1946. Between 1946 and 1948 he was workshop manager at the “Stalinist Five-Year Plan” industrial combine. From 1948 to 1966 he held various roles—workshop head, shift master and cutter—at ready‑made clothing factories No. 2 and No. 1 in Riga. He retired in 1966.

Dlin was awarded two Medals “For Battle Merit”, and campaign medals commemorating 25, 30 and 50 years of victory over Germany.

His first marriage was to Liubov (née Magarik) Dlin (born 1908, Riga – died circa 1941, Saratov); they had one son, Mozus Dlin (born 1938, Riga). In 1946 he married Tsile Dlin (née Podoksina/Padoksik) (born 1905, Riga – died 1985, Israel). Of his family, only Berk and his brother Solomon (born 1896, Daugavpils region – died 1973, Saratov) survived; his mother, brother Philipp (1901–1941), and sisters Pasha (1894–1941) and Sara (1898–1941) perished in the Holocaust in Riga.

Berka Dlin received permission to emigrate to Israel in 1979 on invitation from his wife’s sister, Rakhil Parnas (née Podoksina/Padoksik, Solomyak; born 1911, Riga).

Family

First wife: Liubov Dlin (née Magarik; 1908–c. 1941)

Son: Mozus Dlin (born 1938, Riga)

Second wife: Tsile Dlin (née Podoksina/Padoksik; 1905–1985, Israel)
Father: Mozus Dlin (1864–1929, Riga)
Mother: Sima Dlin (née Kish; 1866–1941, Riga)
Brother: Solomon Dlin (1896–1973, Saratov)
Brother: Philipp Dlin (1901–1941, Riga)
Sisters: Pasha (1894–1941, Riga); Sara (1898–1941, Riga)

Sister-in-law: Rakhil Parnas (née Podoksina/Padoksik, Solomyak; born 1911, Riga)