Back فرقة فافن غرينادير العشرين التابعة لقوات الأمن الخاصة (الاستونية الأولى) Arabic 20. granátnická divize SS (1. estonská) Czech 20. Waffen-Grenadier-Division der SS (estnische Nr. 1) German 20.ª División de Granaderos SS (Estonia n.º 1) Spanish 20. eesti diviis Estonian 20. Waffen-SS:n krenatööridivisioona Finnish 20e division SS (estonienne no 1) French 20. Waffen-Grenadier-Division der SS Italian 第20SS武装擲弾兵師団 Japanese 친위대 제20무장척탄병사단 Korean
| 20th Waffen Grenadier Division of the SS (1st Estonian) | |
|---|---|
&sq=Facebook&lang=en&file=File:20th_SS_Division_Logo.svg){kind=logo} Divisional insignia | |
| Active | 24 January 1944 – 9 May 1945 |
| Country |  Nazi Germany |
| Branch | &sq=Facebook&lang=en&file=File:Flag_of_the_Schutzstaffel.svg){kind=small} Waffen-SS |
| Type | Infantry |
| Size | Division |
| Part of | III SS Panzer Corps |
| Nickname(s) | Estonian Division |
| Colors | Blue, Black & White |
| Engagements | Battle of Narva Battle of Tannenberg Line Tartu Offensive Vistula-Oder Offensive Upper Silesian Offensive |
| Commanders | |
| Notable commanders | Franz Augsberger † |
The 20th Waffen Grenadier Division of the SS (1st Estonian) was a foreign infantry division of the Waffen-SS that served alongside the Wehrmacht during World War II. According to some sources, the division was under Reichsführer-SS Heinrich Himmler's overall command but was not an integral part of the Schutzstaffel (SS).[1][2] It was officially activated on 24 January 1944, and many of its soldiers had been members of the Estonian Legion and/or the 3rd Estonian SS Volunteer Brigade, which had been fighting as part of German forces since August 1942 and October 1943 respectively. Both of the preceding formations drew their personnel from German-occupied Estonia. Shortly after its official activation, widespread conscription within Estonia was announced by the German occupying authorities. The division was formed in Estonia around a cadre comprising the 3rd Estonian SS Volunteer Brigade, and was initially known as the 20th Estonian SS Volunteer Division. By 1944, a total of 60.000 Estonians were fighting in the ranks of the SS and Wehrmacht. [3]
A total of 38,000 men were conscripted in Estonia,[4] while other Estonian units that had been part of the German Army and the Finnish Infantry Regiment 200 were transferred to Estonia. In April 1944, the division had a designated strength of 16,135 men. Between March and September 1944, it had a total of 13,700 men pass through its reserve units, and by August 1944, some 10,427 were killed or missing.[5] The division fought the Red Army on the Eastern Front and surrendered in May 1945.
- ^ Longerich 2012, p. 769.
- ^ Toomas Hiio (2006). "Recruitment to the Estonian SS-Legion". In Toomas Hiio; Peter Kaasik (eds.). Estonia 1940–1945: Reports of the Estonian International Commission for the Investigation of Crimes Against Humanity. Tallinn. p. 590.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link) - ^ The Unknown Eastern Front; the Wehrmacht and Hitler's Foreign SoldiersTRolf-Dieter Müller (2012). "Estonia". p. 168.
{{cite book}}: Missing or empty|title=(help) - ^ Toomas Hiio (2006). "The 1944 Mobilization in Estonia". In Toomas Hiio; Peter Kaasik (eds.). Estonia 1940–1945: Reports of the Estonian International Commission for the Investigation of Crimes Against Humanity. Tallinn. p. 949.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link) - ^ Toomas Hiio (2006). "The 1944 Mobilization in Estonia". In Toomas Hiio; Peter Kaasik (eds.). Estonia 1940–1945: Reports of the Estonian International Commission for the Investigation of Crimes Against Humanity. Tallinn. p. 942.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)