Estn. SS-Freiw-Pz.Gren.Btl. "Narwa"

Discussions on the foreigners (volunteers as well as conscripts) fighting in the German Wehrmacht, those collaborating with the Axis and other period Far Right organizations. Hosted by George Lepre.
Griffin brigade
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Re: Est. SS-Freiw-Pz.Gren.Btl. "Narwa"

#46

Post by Griffin brigade » 29 Aug 2014, 15:33

Konstantin have you made ant recent trips to this Battlefield ?

Peeter
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Re: Est. SS-Freiw-Pz.Gren.Btl. "Narwa"

#47

Post by Peeter » 31 Aug 2014, 21:30

Obviously he couldnt do it. There is a war going on in that area again. I sent Konstantin a message a while ago asking how is he. Shortly, no fun. He lives in Kramatorsk, which was under control of prorussian terrorists, taken over by Ukrainian forces by now. I really hope that everything is OK with Konstantin and his family.


Konstantin
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Re: Est. SS-Freiw-Pz.Gren.Btl. "Narwa"

#48

Post by Konstantin » 31 Aug 2014, 22:22

Griffin brigade wrote:Konstantin have you made ant recent trips to this Battlefield ?
Hello Griffin brigade,

I am ashamed that I left this topic. Planned to explore further the battle sites of Estonian soldiers. Even had the idea to apply for Estonian colleagues with a proposal to put a memorial on the banks of the River Donets near Andreevka. On which to write the names of all who died in this place in 1943. But do not come true. Became interested in a project to create a monument to the fortification of the Second World War in Kramatorsk. It took all the time and effort. But I will come back to the topic of the battalion "Narva". I believe in it.
Peeter wrote:Obviously he couldnt do it. There is a war going on in that area again. I sent Konstantin a message a while ago asking how is he. Shortly, no fun. He lives in Kramatorsk, which was under control of prorussian terrorists, taken over by Ukrainian forces by now. I really hope that everything is OK with Konstantin and his family.
I am very grateful to everyone who was worried and concerned about me. Especially grateful to Peeter. Surprisingly, I first wrote colleagues who are from me many thousands of kilometers. I am very excited about it, thank you all. Now go to the Donets is very problematic, though the area and released the Ukrainian army. Deal with that after the war. Now crossed the border of Ukraine Russian regular troops. Are coming sweat, blood and tears, but we will win. We are on their land.
I left Kramators'k in May, during the occupation of the city by terrorists. I had a number of problems and some controversy. And it was serious and not funny. We left - myself, my wife and our dog. Now I live and work in Pereyaslav-Khmelnytsky, it is not far from Kiev. Now I write an article about the collapse of the Donets-front in September 1943, the retreat of the 1st Panzer Army from the Donets to the Dnieper, on the defensive line "Turtle", about the battle for Kramators'k. Now this article is translated into English. And after that, I will publish it here on this forum. Interpretation in another topic http://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic. ... 5#p1887185

Best regards
Konstantin

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WaffenGrenadier
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Re: Est. SS-Freiw-Pz.Gren.Btl. "Narwa"

#49

Post by WaffenGrenadier » 02 Sep 2014, 00:15

Hello Konstantin!

We have sent you in January 2013 a little present from Estonia from Eesti Leegioni Sõprade Klubi and still have no reply did you got it or no!? So good to see that you still alive. Hope all will get on the track in Ukraine soon and war will end with the freedom of your country.

Regards from Estonia!

Konstantin
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Re: Est. SS-Freiw-Pz.Gren.Btl. "Narwa"

#50

Post by Konstantin » 03 Sep 2014, 18:01

WaffenGrenadier wrote:Hello Konstantin!

We have sent you in January 2013 a little present from Estonia from Eesti Leegioni Sõprade Klubi and still have no reply did you got it or no!? So good to see that you still alive. Hope all will get on the track in Ukraine soon and war will end with the freedom of your country.

Regards from Estonia!
Hello WaffenGrenadier!

I am very grateful to the club and personally to you for this wonderful gift. Unfortunately, due to circumstances beyond my control, has been lost your email address. By this, I was not able to inform you in a timely manner.
However, I must say that because of this gift I'm having a lot of trouble. But, thank God, it's all over. And thank you for such wishes and hopes for the best. I look forward to further interesting cooperation.

Best regards
Konstantin

Griffin brigade
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Re: Est. SS-Freiw-Pz.Gren.Btl. "Narwa"

#51

Post by Griffin brigade » 07 Sep 2014, 15:00

Excellent news that you and your family are safe and well !!

Very worrying times at the moment for your country hopefully all will be resolved soon !

Konstantin
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Re: Est. SS-Freiw-Pz.Gren.Btl. "Narwa"

#52

Post by Konstantin » 23 Aug 2015, 19:27

Trying to have the knowledge, the information available to present in this form. First of all, it was interesting to me. But the second part is not finished for a long time on the shelf. And all because that whatever respect I did not belong to the Estonian soldiers that still bothers to take on faith the number of tanks destroyed by Andreevka. A study of the documents available to me the 1st Panzer Army, the 40th Panzer Corps, "neighbors" of Estonians, 46th Infantry Division - at this stage, does not confirm the amount claimed. And the trouble with docks SS division "Viking". Unnecessary knowledge multiply sorrow ...


Constantine Abramenko. Sunset squinted through the rear sight poplar. Part I


April 7, 1943, our train arrived at the railway station Bliznyuki. When the battalion left the training camp in Debice, there could still see the remains of dirty snow, and here in Ukraine - almost summer. We were housed in the villages, which were randomly scattered along the railway line: 1st company - in Mirolyubovka; 2nd company - in Korostovka; 3rd company - in Anno-Rudaevo; My 4th company and battalion headquarters - in Rudaevo.

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From the first day began tactical exercises and live firing, night forced marches with full kit. We have become accustomed to it. Daily combat training with a short break for sleep is produced, what distinguishes the SS - resistance. In the vicinity of these villages, apparently, in 1941 it was fierce battles - many destroyed Russian tanks and guns, trenches and ditches. Which was successfully used by us as a target for the firings. It was also imported a large number of empty metal barrels of kerosene - it was an excellent target for shooting at moving targets with machine guns and anti-tank guns. To do this, start up the slopes of the barrel, which is so rich in this area - they rattled eerily ... These were difficult days (so it seemed to us then) - in the attack, in defense, in attack and in defense - tons of earth with shovels ... Clothing Shoes and quickly fell into disrepair, and many were bandaged bandages and smeared with iodine ... We thought we were hoping that now we are ready for battle, that soon will break, but our battalion commander shrurmbanfuhrer SS Georg Eberhardt thought otherwise ...

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Actually, what I was thinking our Sturmbannfuhrer, God only knew. It was a silent man, even-tempered, never raised his voice in the lower ranks. I remember in the beginning, when we first met with the staff, he "Drop" one of our guys. He spoke with the obligatory "Herr Major," and Sturmbannfuhrer made a comment that it is "master" in the Waffen SS is not accepted, especially at the front. The guys from the platoon management told us that several times came from the field officers of the gendarmerie commander and asked to allocate people to comb beams in search of guerrillas. And every time our Sturmbannfuhrer refused, citing the fact that the unit entrusted to him are not the police and infantry, and he has no right to disrupt schedules of combat training. We now even funny to remember, even if this circumstance upset - in fact, for the most part, we were still a boy, and even those exhausting months of combat training do not erode completely out of our heads the heroes of westerns. And what's our battalion commander, in fact, we learned much later, under enemy fire.

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Yet once we had to catch the guerrillas. And it was so - Unterscharführer SS Shtayntsel of Germans returned from a short holiday, either from Bochum, whether from Bremen. So, on the first night he came "on small need" and was shot. We were alerted, shouting "Partisans !!!" jumped out of homes and fired indiscriminately into the darkness. Platoon leaders immediately put things in order, dispersed the people and set up machine-gun and organized persecution. People chase - it was not clear ... Groups combed the area along the village and came back with nothing. No guerrillas were found. But one of the patrols, in the dark and with fright, the young man shot and killed a local resident that somewhere way through the village. Did this boy attitude to the partisans - is unlikely. We were sorry about the accident? Rather, there is - only that killed our comrade.
All of this, but still unpleasant story for the second company (drowned while swimming soldiers) gave commanders every reason to assume that discipline in the battalion is not high, relaxed staff. And here means one thing - to increase the load. Where more? !! We started with tons of sweat under the scorching sun of Ukraine - long forced marches, tactical exercises with full armament and trenches, the trenches, the trenches ...
The only entertainment (if you can call it entertainment) was observed as a stack of old ammunition detonated a direct hit. The fact that the fields were lying then a lot of old shells and mines, children collected them and used as a target. The company returned to the village for 3-4 hours in the morning, but the rest then ... First of all, cleaning weapons, maintenance and refueling equipment, bringing the appearance in order. When I read the memoirs of some of his friends, it never ceases to amaze - Ukrainian romantic contemplation darkness of the night, the croaking of frogs in a pond, letters distant and inaccessible to girls ... I slept like a log, without dreams, the brain only counting those precious hours, minutes, seconds ... Then we seemed superfluous, such load, activities - overwhelming. Often remembered Debice - almost resort. Much later, when confronted face to face with the Russian and after experiencing in the "pot" of the 44th, under the Cherkassy, ​​I realized - the skills, then laid in April-May at Bliznyuk, helped us to survive this nightmare.

Perhaps you might be interested how it all began? For me it all started with the town of Debica in Poland. Where I come from Tallinn in early October, 1942, joining the Estonian SS legion.

Konstantin
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Re: Estn. SS-Freiw-Pz.Gren.Btl. "Narwa"

#53

Post by Konstantin » 24 Aug 2015, 09:14

Many thanks to all my friends from Estonia, who provided me with invaluable material, articles and memories of veterans who helped with the translation from the Estonian language. Thanks to your invaluable help, I was able to familiarize Ukrainians with the history of Estonian volunteers from the battalion "Narva". About which they knew nothing, though these soldiers and fought in our area. History repeats itself as tragedy - Now Ukrainian volunteer battalions and Ukrainian army to deter aggression and offensive. How could I think about this when he wrote these lines ...

Konstantin
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Re: Estn. SS-Freiw-Pz.Gren.Btl. "Narwa"

#54

Post by Konstantin » 12 Sep 2015, 11:17

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Not even in the very Debice, and the so-called "camp in the swamp." Before the war, we are told, it was a training camp of the Polish cavalry. The area seemed quite dull and monotonous - nondescript middle of moorland were scattered barracks. Nevertheless, it was a real military camp: the barracks, the house officers, staff, soldiers' club, warehouses, garages, storage facilities, etc. For each company had three wooden barracks. Our soldiers' barracks consisted of bedrooms, classrooms, residential areas and office. Each bedroom were three bunk beds, cupboards, chairs, a large table and a small iron stove for heating. What can I say, pretty well.

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On the first day storekeeper gave us a lot of horror as all kinds of junk: each spoon, knife, fork, napkins, sheets, pillowcases and blankets. And even a nightgown, a long, funny, a German-style, so I have not had either before or after. Every day we receive more and more new things: steel helmet, backpack, 3 sets of underwear, three brown shirts, 2 pairs of wool socks, black tie, scarves, belt, dress uniform, everyday form of boots, an overcoat, a cartridge bag, bag of bread, a jar, a small tent with wooden and metal sticks, mask, spade, bayonet, gun - and many more that now can not remember. The sergeant showed how it should be placed in a cabinet, we faithfully followed his example, but when they returned to the first run of the evening, they found all the things on the floor: to spread out in closets again! ... Again! ... Quite incidentally were given special bags with shaving accessories, buttons, thread, needles, shoe nails and cloth for cleaning the weapons - the absence of even a single button or a hook, nail a candle entailed severe punishment. Our sergeant, for example, sent us over the faults at the bar. We, refined effeminate young men, it seemed unfair and wild, but we broke in the best traditions of the Prussian barracks. I must say that at the initial stage, some are not kept and returned to Estonia. But there was not much - more of this drill, we were afraid to look in the eyes of relatives and friends of cowards and deserters.

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The day began with physical exercises and dousing with cold water. Guys with hamlets were cunning and foresight - the breakfast they satisfy hunger sandwich with cheese and sausage, prudently hid from dinner. Less thrifty, including myself, were content with only coffee and a few puffs of a cigarette. Of the three cigarettes, which were put on the day, and then secretly - forbidden to smoke before lunch. Before you start the course, non-commissioned officers check carefully cleaning and appearance. And if that is not so - all office will be answerable because of one - on the bar! You could say that life went like clockwork - according to a precise schedule of the army.

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The most anticipated event of course was the lunch - we do not just constantly hungry, we were hungry like wolves! Affects employment in the field, and unusually meager rations - lentils, beef ... But on the other hand - it was all very well cooked and plenty of vegetables. After the ritual phrase «Guten Appetit!» Bowlers all the contents were destroyed in a matter of minutes. And to tell the truth, non-commissioned officers not allowed to sit around the tables.

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Not once I have established friendly relations with colleagues. Forming division is a time when the composition is constantly changing - new people every day. And besides, I'm not a volunteer, "the first wave" - the first team of volunteers arrived in Debice in September 42 th. These were our Estonian guys from training camp in Pskov (113), then a group of Germans from the Baltic Police Battalion arrived from Kiev. It is, basically, were the Germans, who left Estonia in connection with the Soviet occupation in 1940. As I said, I was in "Tallinn" group. From Tallinn we went by rail track 6 October 1942 and on the road was 4 days. On the way some guys lagged behind the train ran on stations for boiling water and left behind, it took several days until they caught up with us. But that is typical - no one was gone without a trace, no one deserted. Then every week another 70-80 people arrived replenishment.

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As we settled as drilled at first - I have already told. I consider it necessary to add that every room in the barracks - this department. Three departments were training platoon in one barrack housed two platoons. This I mean that in addition to junior officers, each barrack had 1-2 officer-instructor. My first instructor was Lieutenant Paul Maitla and Lieutenant Elmar Selma. But the most interesting has begun with the arrival of a group of German instructors from the SS Regiment "Germany".

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Konstantin
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Re: Estn. SS-Freiw-Pz.Gren.Btl. "Narwa"

#55

Post by Konstantin » 12 Sep 2015, 12:19

Instructor our hut was appointed SS Untersturmführer Herbert Kolshe. In general, he was a good man, though strictly adhered to the curriculum, but could not talk to the soldiers moral support. But sometimes it transformed the officer that he had been found - only God knows (I later met such). I could make a night "masquerade" - to force the soldiers run around the barracks. Or order to collect cones: it is necessary to collect a thousand cones and put them near the barracks in groups of 100 pieces. But he did not know the Estonians - the guys learned to hide lumps under the moss in the forest, to use them the next time. We harbored a grudge in his heart at the officer, but instantly forgiven in the first battle - he was not hiding behind our backs, first went to the bullets and tried to protect personnel. And already a battalion adjutant, was killed before our eyes, destroying magnetic mine T-34 battle at Andreyevka.

In October 1942, as commander of the 1st Regiment of the Estonian SS legion was appointed Obersturmbahnfuehrer SS Franz Augsberger.

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Obersturmbahnfuehrer SS Franz Augsberger

A little later came the SS Hauptsturmführer Georg Eberhardt, who was appointed commander of our 1st Battalion. In accordance with the order of December 10, 1942 became our battalion comprises 3 companies of grenadiers and one (my company, 4), a company of heavy weapons. In December, a large group of Estonians was aimed at training junior officers of the SS. But a lot of our guys, ordinary rank and file and rotenfyurer, went to all sorts of special courses commander antitank guns in Gilversam, wireless operators in Poznan, and even some in the SS officers' school in Bad Tölz. It was very timely, since after Christmas the battalion began to receive anti-tank guns, howitzers, cannons, anti-aircraft machine guns, mortars of various systems, heavy and light machine guns. So it took a lot of trained specialists, even those 97 German junior officers and specialists, which further were transferred from the SS Regiment "Germany" does not solve all problems. I must say that we were taught to use only personal weapons - rifles "Mauser", sub-machine guns and pistols.

Commanders of course understood that the soldier also need entertainment, you can not keep people in constant tension, it is necessary from time to time "to drop off steam". The choice was great - cinema, pub, library and theater. We, Estonians, of course preferred beer. Beer, for civil, was not of the highest quality, but for a soldier - is quite good. We are going there a lot of people, after 2-3 cups began to sing Estonian songs. By the way, the doctor of the battalion, Dr. Werner Laumann, jokingly called Estonians "singers of freedom". It's very simple - the word "freedom" is quite common in the Estonian song. The most favorite are "Sauna tara" and "Mats - a good man". German instructors taught us their songs - "Erica", "Lili Marleen", "Westerland"... Several times the Germans began to scoff at the Estonian song. Then he began to resent that the Polish waitresses always served Estonian guys first. Often such scandals, of course, ended in a massacre. One of the most winding and very physically strong fighters was Mihkel Roo, also known as "Warbah Sass." And the others are not far behind, always piled together on the offenders. I, by the way, was from a fishing family, during the summer holidays with his father constantly out in the sea. A weak and timid in the sea, as a rule, do not linger. And regular exercise classes and melee combat to yield results.

Christmas Eve we met in right in the camp, in the pub. The mood was upbeat at all - the commander of antitank guns Ilmar Ainsaar specifically was sent to Estonia for gifts. We were all happy to receive gifts from the distant homeland. On January 20, the battalion has poured 46 countrymen who arrived from Kiev.

Around the same time, the profit and the first trucks. The order was in the SS divisions on this issue is very hard - every soldier had to undergo training and pass a driving test and a device of the vehicle. It must be said that the first training session of the auto-started in December on an old trophy Studebaker straight paths for training camp. When it began to receive brand-new Opel and motorcycles in large quantities (battalion took a lot of vehicles), accelerated classes, have been held for more intense graphics: alone, column, cross country, night marches, the device and repair gasoline and diesel engines.

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But this is probably just the drivers concerned, the soldiers of other specialties were trained under the reduced program. Especially getting the drivers of our company heavy weapons - maneuvers hitch implements, masking machines, etc. The beer we often discussed his officers. In contrast to German soldiers (they have it in the blood), the Estonians could not get rid of the habit of having an opinion. So, I remember that most of the guys spoke very well about the mechanics Battalionof SS Obersturmführer Martin Lautern. He punish negligent, but those who knew and loved the technique of motors, respected and encouraged. Himself before the war a mechanical engineer, the officer well versed in the art and did not hesitate to personally engage in repairs.

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Not without its oddities: automotive instructor courses, a junior officer at the check-in Debice absented himself a snack, and the students decided to take a ride on their own and eventually smashed the car. The punishment was harsh and collective: the whole battalion was the next night alerted. Many thought it was a drill routine to the construction and did not wear socks, boots only. After an hour forced march over rough terrain, these guys had no legs and one big blister. When we returned to the camp in the morning, the battalion stood on the parade ground and the unfortunate driver was ordered to be destroyed. And only then we realized the reason for the night of torment. With perpetrators removed the straps and sent to 7 days under arrest. All of us were sent to bed, exercises on this day were canceled, and the victims were sent to the hospital to treat his feet. The battalion commander Eberhardt and Dr. Laumann before that person went through all the barracks and forced everyone, without exception, show the legs. Hauptsturmführer SS Eberhardt was not angry, he was rather annoyed, it seemed to him that we are much better prepared. But in actual fact it turned out - boyish, sloppiness. And, frankly, we were not mad at him, we really respected their commander, even though he knew such a short time.

It may seem strange that in my story all the officers some very nice people and excellent soldiers. It is not - or rather, not exactly. There was a sufficient number of commanders who seem to be as the officers on the spot, but as people - frankly crap. This applies to both Germans and my fellow Estonians. Here are just outright cowards something I do not remember as well - were all kinds ... And those who today would not shake hands. Or rather, I can now be applied. Because whatever it was, but they all died in the 1943 - who under Andreevka, who at Klenovaya... talk about them, remember - there is no desire. Well - I can not, and is bad - it is not necessary for the dead ...

Konstantin
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Re: Estn. SS-Freiw-Pz.Gren.Btl. "Narwa"

#56

Post by Konstantin » 12 Sep 2015, 12:57

February 11, 1943 with training courses of junior officers back our guys - 51 newly Unterscharführer SS. As soon as we rejoice in the meeting as preparations began to take the oath. A couple of days everything revolves like a squirrel in a wheel, led the camp itself and in order. That so many years have passed, and I can not forget this rainy day - February 13, 1943 We froze in rows - the sounds of the orchestra at the flagpole flew a flag with a swastika. But on the ranks of excitement ran, surprised whisper - but where is the Estonian flag? This confusion was noted by organizers procedures - after a long pause, raised and our Estonian flag. The text of the oath for the prescription of years forgotten, something like this: "I swear in the name of God unconditionally obey the leader of the German Army Adolf Hitler in the fight against Bolshevism and as a brave soldier I am always ready to give his life ..." With parting words made by the commander of the regiment and battalion commanders . Complete this action solemn passage of the columns, the orchestra played the old German soldier's song "I had a friend." All felt that the ending of our stay in the rear close - soon to the front. No one doubted that this would be the Eastern Front. February 19 battalion intelligence finally received the expected 25 fighters, most of them were Germans from the front-line experience. The following day, 75 of our comrades were sent to Germany in Lauenburg. We joked about this, called them "rear rat" not knowing if in some "meat grinder" then they will fall. None of them, I subsequently met, either at the front or after the war in the United States...

A few weeks ago there was a tragedy at Stalingrad, German officers were suppressed, is felt throughout. However, quickly took himself in hand - everyday worries, combat training does not leave time for many experiences. Even less sadness that we, ordinary Estonian soldiers - it was a tragedy of our ally, not more. The boys that we then understood - yes absolutely nothing. A month later, March 23, 1943 our 1st battalion was removed from the shelf and began preparations for the transfer to Ukraine. Further combat training was to continue right there in the front line.

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April 4, 1943, our battalion was shipped to the train station Kohanovka. "I'll be glad to see you in Estonia" - said goodbye to the regimental commander Franz Augsberger, and Estonian. A year later, some of us actually met him in Estonia, but most of the guys left in the Ukrainian steppes forever.

He talked about our days in the Debice, with only one purpose, to make it clear - in Ukraine, we arrived not inexperienced youths, and more or less trained soldiers. But it is "more or less" just did not like our commanders. And they are making every effort to diversify training. According to this, under the Bliznyuki us "pepper" - Attack of the "barrage", that for the artillery, then for the mortar ... To be honest, almost every one of us then let loose in the pants ... dull and monotonous at first glance, the German method of combat training (repetition of the same operations, 10, 20, ..., 100) brought our actions to automatism - charge, discharge, etc. But there was another, very intelligent, cultured in the Waffen SS - the interchangeability. I, on the military specialty was charging the anti-tank weapon, but could work and gunner. Yes, and with the responsibilities of the commander of guns would have coped. Our anti-tank artillery platoon commander utershturmfyurer SS Ralph Fiskar even taught us how to carry out small and medium repair tools in the field. Oh, he is very well versed in them, knew all the systems, including anti-aircraft and all kinds of trophies. And demanded the same from us. These skills are likely, and saved my life during the break out of the encirclement at Cherkassy. Russian T-34 did not destroy our column completely just because we managed not to get lost in that confusion and of 88 mm. anti-aircraft guns of their senses. After 12 hits the other turned away...

At the end of April 1943 our comrades returned from Holland where they were trained in the specialty "gunner guns."

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Furthermore 50 mm guns we had and excellent captured Russian 76mm anti-tank guns. They got us on the Finns from the battalion "Nordost" who went home to his homeland. Actually, the Finns us a lot of things went - weapons technology, tradition ... We took their place on the shelf, "Westland" 5th SS Division "Viking", and it was necessary to comply, not to drop the brand - they are very self great show in battles , they are very respected by Germans and Dutch ... and we tried.

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Finnish volunteers. Battalion SS "Nordost". Konstantinovka. 1943

Konstantin
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Re: Estn. SS-Freiw-Pz.Gren.Btl. "Narwa"

#57

Post by Konstantin » 12 Sep 2015, 14:16

Most of the vehicles were left in Debice with here only brought weapons workshops, tractors and field kitchens. As I mentioned, all the missing equipment (and cars too) gave us Finns. Nevertheless, a group of drivers was sent to Germany for brand new trucks with diesel engines.

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I remember this Finnish technique was then a funny story the guys from the 3rd company. On the petrol tank of a motorcycle «Zündapp» was written by a woman's name - Lotta. The company commander Obersturmführer SS Fritz von Beckmann did not like it, but he did not submit the form - many knew Obersturmfuehrer girlfriend also named Lotta. That's a long time messenger and drove "to girlfriend commander" of the Ukrainian steppe. In mid-May 1943 have started a grandiose teachings - the command of SS division "Viking" wants to give a final assessment of the combat training of the battalion "Narva". Over the course of the exercise watched personally by the commander of the 5th SS Panzer Grenadier Division of the SS Brigadeführer Herbert Gille, "Gille father," as it was called in the division.

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The commander of the 5th Panzer Grenadier Division of the SS "Viking" SS Gruppenfuhrer Herbert Gille

As we were later told our commanders, he was extremely pleased with what he saw. Of course, our battalion commander was a double pleasure. I remember his words before the line: "Under my team were the best European soldiers, but like the Estonians, I have not seen before." What to hide, we were pleasant word commander, the more that everyone understands - they deserved. And everyone felt that mature serious events that will route to the north, possibly in Kharkov. And finally, the command was given to prepare for the march. Do not go where everyone assumed...

May 20, 1943, a column of SS battalion "Narva" the beginning of the march in the direction of the station Slavyansk, and then further - to the village of Yasnaya Gorka. By the evening of the same day we were there. So many years have passed, and I still remember this very nice and tidy village. Yasnaya Gorka was located on a high hill, the streets are wide and very well planned - parallel and perpendicular. There was a feeling that it was engaged an architect with experience in planning large cities. If before the company was placed in different villages, but now we were all together - each company occupied an entire street.

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st. Ryleeva, Yasnogorka

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st. Volkhovskaya, Yasnogorka

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st. Petrovsky, Yasnogorka

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st. L. Ukrainka, Yasnogorka

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st. Nykolaevska, Yasnogorka

The battalion commander did not give us time to lose and the improvement of everyday life. Combat training began immediately the next morning. This is despite the fact that we were doing all night service equipment after the march, and almost did not sleep. Our 4th Company rehearsed reflection tank attack directly "on wheels". At a signal from the company commander, "Warning! Tanks!" Halted the column, we rolled out guns and take up defensive positions. Then we equipped and camouflaged positions. Classes are held on the hills and heights to the west of the Yasnaya Gorka, an area where little use for this purpose - the hills are cut by deep ravines. These ravines local peasants call very funny - "balka". But this is, in general, is all laughter and ended - started the season of summer rains. And the season to combat thick and sticky mud weight that our wits aptly called "steppe asphalt." Oh, and we have exhausted this "steppe asphalt" ... Most of our trucks simply could not move at all - had to stop, bayonets and Sapper shovel to tear off the clay, pluck it out of the wings cars. A little later, our commanders were convinced that in such moments is wiser to stop and wait until the rain stops. And indeed, after half an hour the road was dry and quite passable. No wonder, in summer 1943 the heat was incredible - from 35 to 40 degrees Celsius. Sweat was pouring out of our helmets streams and we wanted only one thing - to get back to the village. Returns as we had got, always with songs.

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Kramatorskaya, 1943

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Kramatorskaya, 1943

But there were bright moments in our gray everyday life of soldiers. In the rare days of rest we were taken by trucks in the Slavyansk. There's a movie theater twisted what is boring German tape and newsreels. But that all changed when we were allowed to attend the Variety Theatre in Kramatorskaya.
Oh, what were the presentation! Just imagine - a hall jam-packed with soldiers, buzzing like a beehive ... and suddenly the lights go out. Immediately silence ... And in that silence, in the spotlight - elegant, with a fine figure, barely dressed Miss begins to sing ... It is a powerful experience that I felt at that moment. There was a feeling that all of this - the front, the death, the damned "step-asphalt" - somewhere far away ... And I'm at home, my father resins boat, and my mother prepares a favorite home casserole of herring ... And what happened when the curtain fell and ignites - we applauded so that was surprising as the roof does not fall. And within a few days, but this was the topic of conversation during a break. After the presentation we will, as usual, sent to the soldier's beer. The only drawback was that it was located near the military commandant's office. The whole point is that the soldiers' chorus singing songs after mug or two of beer, often ended in brawls. The bone of contention, as a rule, is the stability of German hostility to the Romanian soldiers from the nearby parts of the aircraft. The fight ended with the advent of the patrol and placement especially violent in the commandant's office. Sometimes we just wandered around the city, then walk back to their village. I must say that Kramatorskaya struck our imagination - no one expected here in the Ukrainian steppe, to see such a modern, almost European city. With beautiful multi-story buildings, with a theater, a large factory.

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Kramatorskaya, 1943

That local people have openly feared. Although commanders strictly forbidden us to take away anything from the peasants. Any looting necessarily investigated and the perpetrators punished very severely. Up until being demoted by the court and SS converted into part of the penalty. And it was not a manifestation of humanism, but with the conventional maintaining military discipline. A theft, looting considered a flagrant violation of her, glaring. From that step up to full expansion of military units.
But who of us is not afraid, because this elderly peasant. The fact that the battalion quartermaster somewhere bummed a lot of liquor. And we have very successfully adapted themselves to change it for products. Peasant traded until recently, there was no case that was not the final word on them. Very often, in the evening, the hostess houses in which we lived, sang with us. We even tried to teach them our own, Estonian songs. And in general, in this village, we feel comfortable and safe - in the vicinity were not guerrillas. Anyway, we did not hear about it.

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Kramatorskaya, 1943

I remembered one case, which, unfortunately, is connected with our fellow countryman, Estonians. Grenadier 3rd Company, Alexander Varvas stole a chicken from a farm. Not even stole, and simply took away. Hostess monastery was not afraid, and went and complained to the headquarters of most Sturmbannfuhrer. The battalion commander ordered an identification, we were about an hour on the parade ground, but the farmer did not identify the offender. But after a few days the whole truth is out - a vengeful Varvas (generally, shit man, although countryman) put this woman a bucket on his head and began to chase her farmstead. The investigation was short, fair punishment - was transferred to the field gendarmerie, after removing the straps and rebuffed arm-band "Narva". What happened to him was further unknown to me, but to the battalion, he never returned. After the war, the comrades told me that he met later in the Estonian SS division. Then, in Poland, which he killed the woman was sent to a penal battalion, where he died soon. Actually, it's been a Varvasa a dark criminal past. He and the Estonian SS legion entered only to avoid punishment for some crime. Fortunately, such people were few in the battalion.

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Kramatorskaya, 1943

In late May, we had to order that every soldier who fought on the Eastern Front from 1941 to 1942, can take a 20-day vacation. Under this order fell and those who served in the Estonian police battalion and security regiment. Thus, more than 150 comrades loss on leave Estonia. Still about 80 Estonians were transferred to other units of the division "Viking" - reconnaissance battalion, antiaircraft battalion, an artillery regiment. The rest remained at Yasnaya Gorka and continued combat training.

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Kramatorskaya, 1943

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Kramatorskaya, 1943

As of June 1, 1943, the Estonian Volunteer Panzer Grenadier SS battalion "Narva" had the following structure - 3 battalion Grenadier companies and one heavy weapons company. Grenadier company (200-220 people) consisted of 3 platoons, platoon 3 compartments. Each division was armed with two hand guns. Moreover, every company had a platoon of heavy weapons - 3 separate heavy machine guns and 1 part of 80.2 mm. mortars.

Grenadier company had the following technique:
• 12 trucks for departments +2 truck for mortars
• 1 Volkswagen company commander
• 1 all-terrain vehicle KF2-15
• 1 truck for maintenance equipment
• 2 to 3 motorcycles with sidecars for connected
• 1 field kitchen
• 2 trucks for food
• 2 trucks for ammunition
• 1 truck for the company commander of the property (clothing, shoes, etc.)
• 1 truck with gas-generator engine

4th Company heavy weapons:
• 3 76.2mm anti-tank guns captured
• 3 50.0 mm anti-tank guns
• 6 infantry weapons
• 8 80.2 mm heavy mortars
• 2 anti-aircraft gun

At the headquarters of the battalion based platoon (telephone, radio, messengers), reconnaissance platoon, an engineering platoon and sanitary point.
On a national basis in the battalion had the following picture:
The Germans - 15 officers, 56 non-commissioned officers, 126 ordinary;
Estonians - 7 officers, 68 noncommissioned officers, 701 ordinary;
Overall - 22 officers, 124 non-commissioned officers, 827 ordinary;
Total - 973 of payroll.

Battalion Commander positions were distributed as follows:

1st company: company commander SS-Hauptsturmführer Jaan Raudsoo, platoon commanders SS Untersturmführer Herbert Nugis and SS Untersturmführer William Gelzlayhter;
2nd company: company commander SS Obersturmführer Herbert Burgdorf; platoon commanders SS Untersturmführer Hans Goetze, SS Untersturmführer Hando Ruus, SS Hauptscharfuhrer Walter Grubbe;
3rd company: company commander SS Obersturmführer Fritz von Beckmann; platoon commanders SS Untersturmführer Herbert Fiala and SS Hauptscharfuhrer Walter Bleydtayer;
4th Company (heavy weapons): the company commander SS Obersturmführer Carl Zilberlaytner, platoon commanders SS Untersturmführer Ralph Fiskar (anti-tank guns), SS Untersturmführer Alfred Ensman (mortars), SS Untersturmführer Eduard Kirschbaum (infantry guns).
Headquarters: SS Untersturmführer Bernhard Langhorst, financier Battalion SS Untersturmführer Hyutfeld, leading master of arms battalion SS Shturmsharführer Alphonse Klyuba, quartermaster battalion SS Shturmsharführer Heinrich Folkerts, mechanical battalion SS Obersturmfuhrer Lautern Martin, master of ammunition and uniforms SS Shturmsharführer Ewald Voytalla.
The battalion commander, SS Sturmbannführer Georg Eberhardt, battalion adjutant SS Untersturmführer Herbert Kolshe

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Xavier
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Re: Estn. SS-Freiw-Pz.Gren.Btl. "Narwa"

#58

Post by Xavier » 17 Sep 2015, 02:47

thanks for posting Konstantin.. Really, thanks..!

Konstantin
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Re: Estn. SS-Freiw-Pz.Gren.Btl. "Narwa"

#59

Post by Konstantin » 29 Jul 2022, 16:31

Good evening! It's been 7 years since the last post. I never managed to return home. But I'm still alive. Izyum and Andreevka are far away again. But this is not sad. They are again occupied by the enemy. The raisins are completely destroyed. We are at war again. Estonia helps us a lot. For this, I bow to all Estonians. A low bow and a big thank you to all European countries and people - Poland, England, Lithuania, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, and everyone I did not mention. I am 53 years old. And I have to fight. And hope that after the victory I will be able to visit those parts.

Dear colleagues, who else continues to deal with this topic? What new interesting information is there?

JetRider
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Posts: 9
Joined: 10 Jan 2023, 12:11
Location: Ukraine

Re: Estn. SS-Freiw-Pz.Gren.Btl. "Narwa"

#60

Post by JetRider » 10 Jan 2023, 22:18

Hello! Please tell me if anyone has any information about the actions of the Narva battalion from August 10, 1943 to September 5, 1943 during the battles near Kadnitsa (Gadnitsa). Also interested in the lists of losses of this battalion during this period.

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