Pol.Btl. "Ostland"

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PK
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Pol.Btl. "Ostland"

#1

Post by PK » 20 Dec 2008, 18:07

Hi folks!

Im looking for information on the Estonian-Latvian Pol.Btl. "Ostland" (Pol.Btl. 33) which was in action in the Ukraine 41-42. Everything is interesting!!

All the best and thanks in advance!
PK
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stcamp
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Re: Pol.Btl "Ostland"

#2

Post by stcamp » 20 Dec 2008, 18:20

Hello,

Do you know what other battalions were involved in the antipartisan op?

Police Battalion 33 (Reserve)

Field Post Number: 47797
Commanding Officer(s): Major Dall, Lt. Colonel H. Braschnevitz. 1
This battalion used Baltic Germans extensively to fill its ranks.

Einsatzgruppen/Atrocity Activity
July 14, 1942: The battalion or elements of it provided security along with Ukrainian auxiliaries for a transport of Jews from the Riga ghetto to the rail station using wagons.
Summer 1942: The battalion was in Rowno and Kiev. In Rowno they were on ghetto watch duty.

Regiment/Battalion Locations & Actions
July 1941: The 1st company was in Frankfurt. The rest of the battalion was in Lvov and Rowno. Later the 1st company was transferred to Police Battalion 320 and was stationed in Rowno from 1942 to 1943. It may have ended up becoming Police Company Rowno. 2
October 1941: Sent to Lvov, Poland
August to October 1941: Active as Reserve Police Battalion “Ostland.” Later the battalion was renamed Police Battalion 33 in the summer of 1941 and it was then active in the Baltic area.
July 1942: Arrived in Riga.
February 1943: In Revel, Estonia with Police Battalion 293.
March to July 1944: Police Watch Battalion, Revel, Estonia


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jarek_g
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Re: Pol.Btl "Ostland"

#3

Post by jarek_g » 21 Dec 2008, 12:57

Hi,
Several info about Polizei Bataillon „Ostland”

Formed July1941 in Stansdorf as Polizei Battailon „Ostland”
1./”Ostland” from Latvians and Volksdeutsches - CO was Obstl. Herbert Braschnewitz, to 1940 latvian army’s officer - Herberts Brašņevics ( http://www.lkok.com/query_sql_alpha.asp? ; career in latvian army and photo: http://www.lkok.com/detail.asp?ID=222).
2./”Ostland” - from Estonians - CO was Estonian Hptm. Laaman (lack first name)
3./”Ostland” - from Estonians - CO was Estonian Hptm. Hugo Siim (fiel 15.01.1944 Cherkassy in Bn „Narwa“)
Oktober 1941 renamed - Reserve Polizei Bataillon 33. (FPNr. 47 769)
In 1943 disbanded, Estonian to SS-Btl. „Narwa”

CO: Maj. d. SchP. Dall
Obstl. d. Sch.P. Herbert Braschnewitz
Hptm. d. SchP. August Hammer

Best
Jarek

Arensburger
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Re: Pol.Btl "Ostland"

#4

Post by Arensburger » 10 Jan 2009, 23:02


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Re: Pol.Btl "Ostland"

#5

Post by Arensburger » 11 Jan 2009, 20:05

jarek_g wrote:2./”Ostland” - from Estonians - CO was Estonian Hptm. Laaman (lack first name)
Hauptman LAAMAN, Paul Georg (born 1893)
Military school “Vladimirski” in St. Petersburg.
1916 promoted to first-lieutenant. WWI - Russian 37.-th Siberian Rifle Reserve-regiment.
Estonian Independence War – 28.11.1918-17.12.1918 Commander of 7.-th Company in 1. Infantry Regiment. 7.01.1919 – 9.08.1919 Commander of the narrow-gauge armored train nr.2.
September 1944 – organizer and chief of staff of the “Admiral Pitka's Storm Troops".
22.10.1944 arrested by Soviet NKVD.
15.11.1945 sentenced to death.
In the summer of 1944 Estonian admiral Johan Pitka arranged an assault against Bolshevism. Pitka emphasized that regardless of his age - 72 years, still - he was capable of carrying a gun and would personally join the line of fighters. The staff of German front corps of Narva gave Pitka permission to form a troop operating under his personal command. That troop was brought into being in short order.
On September 21, a day before the red invasion into Tallinn, Pitka made his famous statement petitioning men to join "Admiral Pitka's Storm Troopers." Subsequently, a number of young Estonian men (from different Estonian units in German army) joined him. Pitka's men fought in several battles, the most well-known in Vaidla by the bridge of Soodla, then in Kehra, Rapla, Tallinn, and Nõmme. The most considerable battle, however, was held on Keila.
The last clash followed in Läänemaa where Pitka's footsteps vanished. It is assumed that he was a casualty of this battle.
On September 22nd, the Germans abandoned Tallinn. Estonian soldiers (in German uniform), in particular men from the 2nd Battalion of the “Finnish boys” and members of the Estonian Johan Pitka Battle Group attacked the retreating Germans in order to capture weapons from them (intent was not to kill them) and to be able to continue to engage in resistance. The September 26th issue of the Finnish “Uusi Suomi” newspaper reported that the blue-black-and-white flag of independent Estonia was fluttering above the seat of government at Toompea castle in Tallinn on September 21st and 22nd. Clashes continued in the port of Tallinn until the early morning of September 22nd. The Commander of the German 531st Coastal Artillery Detachment reported clashes with Estonian “terrorists”. 25 Estonians were killed, while 150 were disarmed and taken to Germany. On September 22nd, advance units of the Red Army entered Tallinn, which had been abandoned by the Germans by then. After the departure of the Germans from Tallinn, small groups of Estonian combatants continued to engage the Red Army in combat in Pääsküla and Keila on the Western fringes of Tallinn and elsewhere.
On September 24th, the Germans abandoned Haapsalu, a city on the northwestern coast of the Estonian mainland. Armed clashes also occurred there between Estonian soldiers and a shore patrol unit of the German Navy. Two Estonians (wearing German uniform) taken hostage by the Germans were shot. Two Turkestan Ost-units were left by the Germans at the Rohuküla bridgehead to cover the retreat.
Image
Hauptman Laaman and his company
Last edited by Arensburger on 13 Jan 2009, 20:19, edited 1 time in total.

Arensburger
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Re: Pol.Btl "Ostland"

#6

Post by Arensburger » 11 Jan 2009, 23:17

jarek_g wrote:2./”Ostland” - from Estonians - CO was Estonian Hptm. Laaman (lack first name)
Yes, 2./”Ostland” - from Estonians - CO was Estonian Hptm. Laaman, but later when battalion was in Ukraine, Laaman steps down and 2. company was taken over by Lieutenant Rudolf Steinpick (26.05.1906- 30.11.1943).
Freiwilligen Obersturmführer Rudolf Steinpick, CO of 43/II 5. Kompanie (43. Freiwilligen Regiment, 3. Estnische SS-Freiwilligen Brigade) died 30.11.43. He was also in the car of Freiwilligen-Standartenführer Henn-Ants Kurg (CO of SS- Freiwilligen Regiment 42), which was exploded by landmine (planted by partisans) 24.11.1943 on the road Sebezh-Idritsa by Newel front. Driver died immediately but badly wounded officers died later in hospital - Stenpick 30.11.43 and Kurg 28.12.43.

Arensburger
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Re: Pol.Btl "Ostland"

#7

Post by Arensburger » 13 Jan 2009, 23:14

Image
Das Kiievi-Bataillon. Der estnische Stab des Bataillons [A. Kütt, Major Stunde, dessen Adj. Ltn. Türnpu und Geschäftsmann Rosenthal aus Tartu / Dorpat]

There was also another very important person in this battalion – major Stunde-Sarmiste. He was kind of father of this battalion. That was his idea to organize military unit from Estonian optant military people who come to Germany by Hitler-Stalin agreement. He made campaign between potential manpower and also in adequate German offices. First he got permission to form unit of parachutists with manpower of 150 persons. Soon unit was formed and training was started. In relation to starting war between Germany and Soviet Union training was stopped and unit disbanded. Men were transferred to the military camp of Stansdorf near Berlin. After beginning of war Estonians in Germany got proclamation from former Estonian consulate to join Estonian military unit formed for liberating Estonia from Bolsheviks occupation. 6. of July 1941 in Stansdorf camp were already 400 volunteers ready to start “liberating of homeland”. Commanding officer of this unit in Stansdorf camp was Major Heinrich Stunde. After some days become information, newborn Estonian unit will be subordinated to the SS. Discussions were started between men and officers. Most of the men did not join this unit to be a SS-man. They found out that they were traduced. After many complains unit was transferred to the police training camp near Frankfurt-Oder.
There unit got name batallion „Ostland“ and to the unit was added 200 latvians. But most important, to command this battalion was nominated latvian colonel Braschnevitz. Estonians were strongly against this nomination, because they think this is estonian unit formed for liberation of Estonia and moreover there was twise as much estonians then latvians. And personally was beside yourself major Stunde who felt he was abased. After many discussions and clarifying this battalion got form were one battalion was comprised of two half-battalions. First half-battalion “Latvians” with 1. company and second half-Battalion “Estonians” with 2. - and 3. company. Commander of Latvians col. Braschnevitz was also commander of all battalion. Commander of estonians was continually major Stunde.
Who was this major Stunde?
Heinrich, Karl Stunde born 11.11.1897 in Narva. Study in “Sergejevski” artillery school (not graduated). 1916-1917 service in Russian Imperial Army. Join Estonian Army in 1918 and served there until 1940. In Oct. 1919 finish his study in Estonian military school and got promotion to officer. In Estonian Independence war he served in 2. Abteilung of Heavy Artillery. Was awarded with Estonian Cross of Liberty. After the war he served in Group of Anti-Aircraft artillery, where he was adjutant of the Group and CO of the 2 battery. 1940 immigrated to Germany. After service in bat. “Ostland”, 1942-1945 he was head of the Information Bureau in “Ost” Department of the Ministry of Propaganda.
Somewhere in the middle of the 30.-thies he abrogates his name. German name Heinrich Stunde was changed to Estonian name Henn Sarmiste. Later, living in Germany he was using name Heinrich Stunde again.
24.05.45 arrested by Soviet NKVD in Berlin. 24.02.47 condemn to death by court-martial. 24.04.47 execution in Minsk.
He was working also for British intelligence service as agent "43372"

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jarek_g
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Re: Pol.Btl "Ostland"

#8

Post by jarek_g » 20 Jan 2009, 11:25

Arensburger, many thanks!!!

Alex
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Re: Pol.Btl "Ostland"

#9

Post by Alex » 22 Jan 2009, 19:50

CO 1./Ostland was Hptm von Wiekmann, not Braschnewitz.

Alex

Viktor-SV
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Re: Pol.Btl. "Ostland"

#10

Post by Viktor-SV » 07 Oct 2017, 21:27

Hello.
Does anyone know about the presence of the battalion in Ukraine in 1943 and the struggle against the Ukrainian insurgents.

amygee
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Re: Pol.Btl "Ostland"

#11

Post by amygee » 19 Dec 2023, 05:00

Arensburger, I have a question for you:

How do you know that Henn Sarmiste (Heinrich Stunde) was "working also for British intelligence service as agent "43372""?

Thank you!

steve248
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Re: Pol.Btl. "Ostland"

#12

Post by steve248 » 19 Dec 2023, 12:57

amygee, evidence or source of your post?

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