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.

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[gauss25]

That's why the US declared after the war:

The Baltic Waffen SS Units (Baltic Legions) are to be considered as separate and distinct in purpose, ideology, activities, and qualifications for membership from the German SS, and therefore the Commission holds them not to be a movement hostile to the Government of the United States.

[gauss25]

people need to understand that SS meant many distinct things. Waffen-SS were basically military units, mostly comprised of foreigners - as Hitler would not allow non-Germans into the regular Heer. So no, Waffen-SS ≠ SS Einsatzgruppen, SS Sonderkommandos, concentration camp guards etc. Completely different.

[Wllmap]

Also some ppl might be interested to know they had Russian concentration camps. My family was sent but were able to escape to Austria.

[Wllmap]

My grandparents were Latvian. If no one knew the Russians walked into Latvia in 1939. The Russians executed alot of the Latvian families, heads of state etc. Children adults it didn't matter. My grandfather reinholds veckalnins was there. They didn't mention about the Russian concentration camps or the states they took over like Latvia Estonia and Lithuania. If they didn't end up fighting for the Germans they couldn't fight the Russians. In the end they are now again sovereign states. These men

[OLDBOYSCHOOLFUCK80]

@OLDBOYSCHOOLFUCK80 LISTEN MUDDA I CANT KILL YOU ON YOUTUBE ANIMAL

[3412554]

Well first of all SS were highly trained divisions of wermacht, they could run airplane, tank, artillery units and etc. They were professionals. All respect to you guys.

And the second Latvian SS were considered to be the best of all foreign forces in WWII.

RESPECT!

[P1B1U1H1]

@gauss25 The Latvian SS was not criminal because they were drafted into service. The real loyalties of these unfortunate men was proven at war's end: Latvian SS guarded Nazis at the Nuremberg trials. That must have been quite humiliating to the dirtbags.

[P1B1U1H1]

@OLDBOYSCHOOLFUCK80 Never said "maximum 90 animals". If you enjoy sex with that many non-humans at a single time, all the more power to you. I've never had sex with anything but a female human being.

[OLDBOYSCHOOLFUCK80]

@MrPolishxD No us united SS

[OLDBOYSCHOOLFUCK80]

@P1B1U1H1 Involving you say.maximum 90 animals I know theres names really only 3 are alive.But fuck you i dont give a names .Fuck You and take care!

[OLDBOYSCHOOLFUCK80]

We ll fight back Preusen und Graudenz , Kolberg - Gneisenau would be glorias.Im from America, my father ist German like i stand for

[MrPolishxD]

Are Latvians and Estonians really close Nations?

LONG LIVE Latvia&Estonia. I'm reading Baltic books now, really interesting.