Waffen Obersturmbannführer der SS August KIVI

[Phil Don]

Hi

I'm searching info on this estonian officer.

August KIVI
Born: 15/10/1891
DoD: 21/09/1974 in Canada.

John MOORE in his list name him August KIWI but in estonian site his name is KIVI.
Exemple
http://www.albertasource.ca/Abestonians ... /kivi.html

He led a battalion in the 10th Omakaitse Territorial Regiment in 1941.
What is the kampfgruppe he led in september 1944 as I don't have his name in the 20 Waf.Gren.Div. der SS. ?

Regards

Phil D.

[Arensburger]

COMMANDERS AND STRENGTH OF THE OMAKAITSE TERRITORIAL
REGIMENTS AND BATTALIONS ON 15 MAY 1943 (Sich.-Div. 207, Kriegsgliederungen des estn. Selbstschutzes, 18.06.1943, Ia Az. 55 Nr. 961/43 geh., BA MA RH 26-207/ 22b.)
TARTU COUNTY TERRITORIAL REGIMENT (LIEUTENANT COLONEL HUGO JAANSON),8th Battalion in Mustvee (Lieutenant Colonel August Kivi)
http://www.historycommission.ee/temp/pd ... 05-806.pdf
1944 col. August Kivi was commander of the „Tartumaa Omakaitse Lahingurügement” (Self-defense combat regiment of Tartu county)
Regiment was comprised of two battalions – „Võru Maleva Lahingpataljon” com. Major Leisk ( combat battalion of the Võru county self-defense – contains 5 companies) and „Tartu Maleva Lahingpataljon” com. Ltn. Paul Onno (combat battalion of Tartu self-defense)
Regiment was subordinated to the Sich. Div. 207 and was active in the costal defense of Lake Peipus by the region of Mustvee.
Regiment saw the battle at 17. of sept. 1944. This day units of the red army cross the Emajõgi river and brake into the defense of the bat. Major Leisk. After 3 days of battle, regiment of August Kivi was encircled into the swamps and forests by the corner of the north coast of Emajõgi river and the west coast of the Lake Peipus. 20. of September 1944 col. Kivi gave the order to absorb trough the Russian lines by the smallest groups and with this order „Selfdefense combat regiment of Tartu county” was disbanded.

[Phil Don]

Thank you.

I was ignoring that the Omakaitse regiments were still existing in september 1944. I was thinking they were only at the beginning of the german presence. So the Kampfgruppe Kivi in september 1944 (from John MOORE) was surely with the August KIVI's regiment. So I suppose he only join the estonian SS legion after or did he wear SS rank when he led his Omakaitse regiment. Do you have info on this ?

Regards

Phil D.

[Arensburger]

Yes, “Omakaitse” fought in the defensive battles of Estonia in Sept. 1944.
Of course, foregoing Territorial regiments in 1943 were another story. 1944 all higher value soldiers were transferred to the 20. SS Division or Estonian Grentzshuts Regiments. Sept. 1944 Omakaitse consist of the men who were not good enough for the army service, but they were full of willingness to fight for they homeland and protect their own homes. Tease men were not old enough, not young enough, not had a good health and so one.
Omakaitse send to defend Estonian south front 4 quickly formed Combat Regiments and one single battalion.
They were badly equipped, badly armed and had no previous training as the combat unit. Armament was old and very different types. Transport – mostly horses were members own, also some trucks. Uniforms were mostly men own (old Estonian) or whatever they got. Certainly, they were not good fighters (and certainly not SS units), but they had possibility to give their contribution to the most important thing – protecting the own people and home.
Leon Degrelle, in his book, making a ironical picture in your mind about Estonian self-defense men on the Tartu front. He describing them as farmers with the hunting shotguns, who starts to run when first Russian tank comes. Somehow he is right, but not absolutely. Object of the Degrelle´s hunger was Lääne-Harju Omakaitse Lahingurügement Com. captain Saidra (Self-defense combat regiment of the West Estonia and Harju County) They were on the defensive positions on the north coast of the Emajõgi river from the lake of Võrtsjärv in the west and bridge of Jänese in the east. 23. of August 1944 red army made a surprise attack to the positions of the West-Estonian Self-defense combat battalion. At this time positions were on the south side of the river. Battalion start a quick retreat across the river, but they did not manage to blow up bridge of Kärevere. Russians took the bridge and immediately one Russian armored brigade went over to the north coast of the river and made a large bridgehead. This was extremely bad news for the Germans and to clear up this sad situation was sent 5.SS-Freiwilligen-Panzer-Brigade "Wallonien". On these battles Degrelle lost most of his men.
All Estonian Self-defense combat-units were destroyed or disbanded in Estonian territory. Only exception was Tartumaa Omakaitse V Lahingpataljon com. Major Kitsapea (V single self-defense combat battalion of Tartu County) That was the only Self-defense units who manage to retreat (partly) by land to Danzig as operating military unit. There battalion was officially disbanded by Germans 2. of Oct. 1944 and men were sent to the Neuhammer (20. SS Division)
Of cause they were just small part of the battalion. V Single Self-defense combat-battalion comprise of 1300 men and women. Mostly they were active as costal defense of Lake Peipus from Varnja to Koosa but from 17. of September they were involved in the retreating battles.
This battalion was armed with different type of rifles, but also they had 12 Vickers machineguns, 8 Lewis LMG-s and 8 Russian dekterjov LMGs.

Now about August Kivi. He did not wear SS uniform on the territory of the Estonia.
But later in Germany all Estonian soldiers were collected into the 20. SS division. Most of the men from Omakaitse units were sitting in the “SS-Ausbildungs-und Ersatz Regiment 20” until to the end of the war.

[Phil Don]

Well. Great thank for theses infos on the fight of theses (most of the time) unknow units.

Phil D.

[Arensburger]

Thank you.

I was ignoring that the Omakaitse regiments were still existing in september 1944. I was thinking they were only at the beginning of the german presence. So the Kampfgruppe Kivi in september 1944 (from John MOORE) was surely with the August KIVI's regiment.
Regards
Phil D.

Estonian Omakaitse (Self defense) was an armed organization but definitely not a fighting frontline military unit.
As a breaking point in this quondam situation become in 12-th of August 1944. Then decision was made, about sending Estonian “Omakaitse” units to fight on the frontline against regular forces of the Red Army.
Source about this is a Warfare Diary of German 18. Army (Kriegstagebuch der 18.Armee) http://www.militaar.net/phpBB2/viewtopi ... 0&start=15

10:45 a clock Aug. 12-th 1944 Chief of Staff of 18.-th Army making a telephone call to General von Ginkel and giving an order to collect all men of Estonian “Omakaitse” in the area of responsibility of 18.-th Army and keep them in readiness by battalion headquarters.
Omakaitse of Võru [Werro] will be subordinated to the XXVIII. Army Corps.

12:15 a clock Order of the CO of 18.-th Army General of Artillery Herbert Loch was given:
1.) Der estn. Selbstschutz im Bereich der 18.Armee ist sofort aufzurufen.
2.) Selbstschutz-Rgt.Werro ist zu versammeln und wird XXVIII.A.K. unterstellt.
Alle übrigen Selbstschutz-Einheiten treten in den Standorten der Btls.-Stäbe zusammen; Versammlung der Rgter. ist vorzubereiten.
3.) Es kommt darauf an, daß die estn. Selbstschutz-Einheiten ihre Versammlungsräume sichern und jedes Aufleben von Bandentätigkeit in der Entwicklung verhindern.
Im Kampfgebiet befindliche Teile des Selbstschutzes sind zur Bekämpfung durchgesickerter Feindteile einzusetzen.

This was essentially a marching order to the frontline for Estonian “Omakaitse”.

16:40 a clock a telephone call from major Bornschlegel from rear area and he reporting about Self-defense-Regiment of Tartu is ready to give 600 men for immediate apply.

[Phil Don]

Thanks Arensburger for theses particular informations.
Do you have perhaps a pic of August KIVI ?

Regards

Phil D.

[Arensburger]

Thanks Arensburger for theses particular informations.
Do you have perhaps a pic of August KIVI ?
Regards
Phil D.

You can find one small picture here: http://www.albertasource.ca/Abestonians ... /kivi.html

[Phil Don]

Many thanks for the adress.

Phil D.

[Balsi]

I found him leading the "Regiment Kivi" as part of the Küstenverteidigungsabschnitt Peipus with message from 30.08.1944. There he is named Alexander Kivi

source: T314-162 S. 500

[Balsi]

here I collected the staffing of Regiment Kivi: http://www.balsi.de/Weltkrieg/Einheiten ... vi-Rgt.htm

[jarek_g]

Hi Guys,
Many Infos about estonian officers under link: http://prosopos.esm.ee/index.aspx?type=1 . Especially about ltn. col. Kivi http://prosopos.esm.ee/index.aspx?type= ... spx?type=1
best Jarek