Newsreel of the Estonian and Latvian Waffen-SS in Action
This unit had its origins in the Estonian SS Legion which was first formed on the 28th of August, 1942.
Wikipedia:
Division - Battles at Narva
In January 1944, the 20. Estnische SS-Freiwilligen-Division began formation. The majority of the troops were drawn from the 3. Estnische SS-Freiwilligen Brigade, however elements from Ost Battalions Nr. 658, also known as Pups of Rebane (="Fox") and Nr. 659, the 287.Polizei-Füsilier-Bataillon and the returned Estonian volunteers of the Finnish army unit Infantry Regiment 200 were also absorbed into the division.
On 8 February 1944, the division was attached to SS-Gruppenführer Felix Steiner's III SS (Germanic) Panzer Corps, currently defending the heavily pressured Narva bridgehead. The division was to replace the remnants of the 9. and 10.Luftwaffe-Feld-Divisions, which were struggling to hold the line against a Soviet bridgehead near Siivertsi. Upon arriving at the front on 20 February, the Estonians were immediately ordered to eradicate the threatening Siivertsi Soviet bridgehead. In nine days of heavy fighting, the division had pushed the Soviets back across the river, and restored the line. The division remained stationed in the Ssivertsi sector, being engaged in heavy combat. In May, the division was pulled back and reformed as the 20. Waffen-Grenadier-Division der SS (estnische Nr.1), and the returned Narwa battalion was absorbed into the division as the reconnaissance abteilung. By that time active conscription of Estonian men into the German armed forces was well under way, in violation of the international law of war. By spring 1944, approximately 32 000 men were drafted into the German forces, with the 20. Waffen-Grenadier-Division der SS (estnische Nr.1) consisting of some 15 000 men.
When Steiner ordered a withdrawal to the Tannenbergstellung on July 25, the division was deployed on the Kinderheim-höhe, the first line of defence for the new position. Over the next month, the division was engaged in heavy defensive battles on the Kinderheim and Grenadier-höhe. In mid-August, the division's 45th Estland and 46th regiments were formed into Kampfgruppe Vent and sent south to help defend the Emajogi river line, seeing heavy fighting.
When Hitler authorised a full withdrawal from Estonia in mid September, all men who wished to stay to defend their homes were released from service. Many chose this offer, fighting the Soviets alongside other Estonians and then withdrawing into the forests to become the Forest Brothers. Severely weakened by this, the division was withdrawn to Neuhammer to be refitted.
Vistula-Oder Offensive - Final battles
Eventually, the reformed division numbered roughly 11,000 Estonians and 2,500 Germans. It was returned to the line in late February, just in time for the Soviet Vistula-Oder Offensive. This offensive forced the German forces back behind the Oder and Neisse rivers. The division was pushed back to the Neisse, taking heavy casualties. The division was then trapped with the XI. Armeekorps in the Oberglogau - Falkenberg - Friedberg area. On 17 March, the division launched a major escape attempt, but despite making headway, the attempt failed. On 19 March, the division tried again, this time succeeding but leaving all heavy weapons and equipment behind in the pocket.
In April 1945, the shattered remnants of the division were moved south to the area around Goldberg. After the final Soviet offensive, the division attempted to break out in the west, in order to surrender to the western Allies. After marching over the Reichenberg and Annaberg mountains, the division was encircled by Russian forces and capitulated on May 8. Some of the Estonians who had reached the western allies were handed back to the Soviets. The survivors could, at best, expect a lengthy stay in the Gulags.
In contrast, some veterans of the Estonian Legion served as guards under American leadership at the Nuremberg Nazi war crimes trials.
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The Baltic Schutzmannschaft found themselves in a unique situation, they saw the Germans as liberators from Bolshevism. Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania were occupied by the Soviet Union for slightly over a year and had experienced the brutality of the Soviets hence a passionate zeal against Bolshevism.
The fighting in and around Narva, Estonia was also known as the "Battle of the European SS" since it involved a great number of foreign members in the Waffen-SS.
Channel: People & Blogs
Uploaded: December 19, 2006 at 2:23 pm
Author: Berisha
Length: 03:17
Rating: 4.41
Views: 152254
Tags: 2. Baltic Eastern Eesti Estland Front II Lettland Osttruppen Reich Second Soviet SS Third Waffen War Weltkrieg World WW2
Video Comments
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vanjkas (September 2, 2008 at 10:59 am)
Can't resist.
Emo..."vanjkas, is just another stupid idiot. Thats all folks :) lets get to our daily works :D"
The Russians are Eloquent as well as Powerful.
How can they lose?
R.
Emosekunde (August 31, 2008 at 1:46 pm)
vanjkas, is just another stupid idiot. Thats all folks :) lets get to our daily works :D
vanjkas (August 27, 2008 at 11:55 pm)
They didn't go. That wraps it up.
Goodnight.
R.
dimapez (August 26, 2008 at 10:38 pm)
26th August 2008, Russia have recognised independence of two Georgian provinces, even though it's against international agreements, and it's quite sure that Medvedev is just searching for excuses to get russian troops to Georgian soil.
vanjkas (August 26, 2008 at 12:54 pm)
26th August 2008. Let's see how it goes.
The Mighty Russians have blockaded the Georgian port of Poti. The Americans mean to land humanitarian supplies there.
Only two outcomes: The Russian blockade works, or it doesn't. If the American ships turn back, the Russians rule, no question. If they don't, Russian blockades are bullshit and they can go back to Muscovy.
Let's see.
R.
vanjkas (August 26, 2008 at 9:12 am)
Emo.. wrote in tongues.
Your Latvian is about as good as your English. I would guess your Russian is perfect.
Politicians and their populations can be quite different, that's true.
But it's worth noting that with Russians, every citizen swells with pride when a Chechen village, say, gets obliterated.
R.
Emosekunde (August 24, 2008 at 12:58 pm)
vanjkas, you are such a looser. Nesaprotu, kur tāds idiots var piedzimt. noteikti esi izdirsts nevis piedzemdēts.
you just living in miths about russian what are told by your parents or friends, but have you checked out some normally russians? russians are friendly. do not mix simple russians with politicians. politicians in all countries are big crap.
vanjkas (August 22, 2008 at 4:35 pm)
rambo753 said"soviet era and Stalin are dead."
The Russians just can't get to any other era.
Russia is run by the Soviet era KGB Monkey Putin.
"...but we are in 2008."
The West is. Russia is still among the Czars and Empire Glories from centuries ago.
R.
rambo753 (August 22, 2008 at 9:51 am)
false.
times have changed.
now Russia has vital interest to have a good relationship with Europe. and we do with them.
and there is no sign of military aggressiveness by Russians towards us.
the only provocations come from NATO.
this is a fact
all the rest is propaganda.
soviet era and Stalin are dead. you are latvian, i can understand you are still impressed and shocked. but we are in 2008.
vanjkas (August 22, 2008 at 9:44 am)
rambo753 presented a standard Russian argument:...European countries hosting US important military installations ...would automatically become target..".
Russia's neighbours are automatically targets by being Russia's neighbours. That's all it takes. And we all know it.
The only thing that Russians understand is Force. They understand rockets pointed at them. That's why they're jumping up and down.
R. |
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