20.Waffen grenadierdivision der SS (Estn) during july 1944.

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MD650
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20.Waffen grenadierdivision der SS (Estn) during july 1944.

#1

Post by MD650 » 09 Jun 2003, 16:22

I´m looking for some information about the 20.Waffen grenadierdivision der SS (Estn) during late July 1944.
Partically I´m interested about those units which participated in the battles around the Blue Mountains (Kinderheimhöhe)

Thanks in advance.

:)
Last edited by MD650 on 09 Oct 2005, 10:49, edited 1 time in total.

Reigo
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#2

Post by Reigo » 11 Jun 2003, 17:56

Hi,

unfortunately there is no in-depth research done about the division by the historians. So the following description is mostly based on memoirs and can contain mistakes.

The division Before the start of the Soviet offensive on 24th July.

45th Regiment – Ostubaf Harald Riipalu
1st Battalion – Hstuf Paul Maitla
2nd Battalion – Hstuf Ludvig Kiisk
3rd Battalion was still in the process of forming

46th Regiment – Standartenführer Juhan Tuuling
1st Battalion – Hstuf Heino Rannik
2nd Battalion – Stubaf Friedrich Kurg
3rd Battalion – Ostuf Arseni Korp. The battalion was based on the 660th Ost Battalion.

47th Regiment – Ostubaf Paul Vent
1st Battalion – Stubaf Georg Sooden. The battalion was based on the 659th Ostbattalion.
2nd Battalion – Hstubaf Alfons Rebane. The battalion was based on the 658th Ostbattalion
3rd Battalion – Hstuf Eduard Hints. Formed from mobilized men and was at this moment just arriving to the front.

Füsilier-Battalion – Hstuf Wallner. He was on 25th July wounded and replaced by Ostuf Oskar Ruut. The latter was killed on 3rd August and then Hstuf Hando Ruus took over. The battalion was based on the “Narva” battalion (Division “Wiking”), but was reinforced with mobilized men.

Artillery regiment – Ostubaf Aleksandr Sobolev.


On 24th July (look at the map below) the Soviet offensive started in the sector of 11th Infantry Division, Füs-Btl 20 and 45th Regiment. The attacks were repulsed with the help of tanks. Both sides suffered heavy losses. Ostubaf Riipalu got Knight’s Cross for this battle.

On 25th July the Soviets crossed the river Narva in the sector of 46th Regiment. The 2nd and 3rd Battalions suffered very heavy losses (especially the 3rd which is almost wiped out). The 1st Battalion was in reserve and suffered less. The 2nd Btl / 47th Rgt repulsed all attacks from the left flank.

The German forces now retreated to the Tannenberg line. The 20th Division was pulled behind the line for reorganisation. The 2nd Btl / 47 th Rgt though was placed on the very left flank of the front (by the sea). Also the companies of the 3rd Btl / 47th were divided between the hills. The first Soviet attacks started at the evening of 26th July. On 27th July they took the Orphanage hill. The 1st Btl / 47th Rgt was sent to the front and counterattacked (a battalion from “Danmark” also participated) but suffered heavy losses (about 2/3 dead and wounded) and achieved little. On the same day also Füs-Btl 20 was sent to the battle and counterattacked in the area of Hundinurga, failed and suffered serious losses. In the morning of 28th July the 1st Btl /47th Rgt attempted again to take the Orphanage hill, but was repulsed. Also the battalion’s commander Stubaf Sooden was killed, he was replaced by Hstuf Peet Lehola. On 29th July the Soviets took the Grenadier hill. The 1st Btl / 45th Rgt was sent to the battle and with the Füs-Btl 20 captured the hill back. Hstuf Maitla got Knight’s Cross for this. On the same day also some companies from the 46th Rgt were sent to the front. During the next days the Soviets failed to take the Grenadier hill. On 1st August the 2nd Btl /45th Rgt relieved the 1st Btl /45th Rgt. On 2nd August the Soviets broke through in the sector of 170th and 225th Infantry Divisions in the area of Metsküla-Putki. For counterattack KG Riipalu was formed, which included also 1st Btl / 45th Rgt, and 20th SS-Division’s StuG unit. Also reformed 46th Rgt was sent to the area. The Soviet advance there was eventually stopped. The Soviet offensive on the Tannenberg line was finally cancelled on 10th August.

Just as a sidenote: the official Soviet casualties number for the Narva offensive operation (2nd Shock Army, 8th Army, 13th Aviation Army) is 23 287, including 4 685 dead and missing. But this data covers only the period 24th July – 30th July. On 2nd August, for example, fresh 110th and 124th Rifle Corps were brought to the 2nd Shock Army’s front. They relieved the 109th and 122nd Rifle Corps and attacked until 10th August using the support of 2 913 artillery pieces. Their success was minimal and was always eliminated with German counterattacks. Like a Soviet history-book says: “Slowly such balance of forces developed that the following attacks would have been pointless.” I guess 30 000 – 40 000 for total Soviet losses is quite plausible.

Regards,
Attachments
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Situation on 24th July
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MD650
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#3

Post by MD650 » 11 Jun 2003, 19:28

Many thanks Reigo.

That was exactly what I was looking for.

Regards


MD650

:)

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MD650
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#4

Post by MD650 » 19 Jun 2003, 10:27

Reigo!

Do You have any sources about the 20. SS-division?

:)

Reigo
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#5

Post by Reigo » 19 Jun 2003, 14:06

What do you mean exactly? I have some books (mostly memoirs), but they are all in Estonian.

Regards,

PK
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Estnische

#6

Post by PK » 19 Jun 2003, 16:55

MD650: If you are looking for pictures on Estonian W-SS volunteers, buy the bok Europäische Freiwillige. It also contains lots of pictures from the Narwa Bridgehead.

/PK

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#7

Post by MD650 » 19 Jun 2003, 17:59

Reigo wrote:What do you mean exactly? I have some books (mostly memoirs), but they are all in Estonian.

Regards,
What are the names of the books?

Regards

:)

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MD650
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Re: Estnische

#8

Post by MD650 » 19 Jun 2003, 18:01

PK wrote:MD650: If you are looking for pictures on Estonian W-SS volunteers, buy the bok Europäische Freiwillige. It also contains lots of pictures from the Narwa Bridgehead.

/PK
Thanks for the help!

:)

Reigo
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#9

Post by Reigo » 20 Jun 2003, 18:49

Here's a list of books I have on the topic:

Memoirs or collections of memoirs which contain also information about the 20th Division:
"Eesti mehed sõjatules." Saku, 2001.
"Eesti vabadusvõitlejad Teises maailmasõjas." Tallinn, 1995.
Iltal, Georg "Kohustus kutsub. Eesti leegioni suurtükiväelasena II maailmasõjas." Tallinn, 1997.
Jürissaar, Valdur "Kahe rinde vahel. Kolonel Rebasega idavõitlustes." Tartu, 1997.
Lepik, Ülo "Lagunevas riigis." Tartu, 1997.
Madissoo, Voldemar "Nii nagu see oli. 2. osa. Ohvitseri märkmikust." Tartu, 2002.
Mitt, Hugo "Tormine koolivaheaeg." Tallinn, 1997.
Rent, Harri "Ma jäin ellu." Tallinn, 1997.
Riipalu, Harald "Kui võideldi kodupinna eest." London, 1951.
Roolaine, Kalju "Skaudipoisina elu miiniväljadel." Valga, 1999.
"Teed ja saatused." Tartu, 2001.
Tulp, Harry "Retk läbi punase udu." Tartu, 2001.
Ventsel, Allan "Ka sõdurid nutavad." Tartu, 1998.

Biographies:
Hein, Reino "Hando Ruus. Kunstnik ja legendaarse "Narva" pataljoni ohvitser." Tartu, 2002.
Pinn, Voldemar "Rüütliristi-kandja Harald Nugiseks. Neid oli neli." Haapsalu 1995.
Pinn, Voldemar "Kolonel Alfons Rebane. Raamat mehest, kes sai Rüütliristi tammelehtedega sõja viimasel päeval." Pärnu, ?.
Pinn, Voldemar "Rüütliristi-kandja major Paul Maitla. Sinimägede sangar. Raamat mehest, kes mõrvati rahu esimesel päeval." Pärnu, ?.
Pinn, Voldemar "Rüütliristi-kandja kolonelleitnant Harald Riipalu. Auvere sangar. Raamat mehest, kelle sõjatee ulatus Stalingradi alla." Pärnu, 1999.

Other literature:
Uustalu, Eevald ja Moora, Rein "Soomepoisid." Tallinn, 1992.
"Eesti 1944. Tundmatu autori silme läbi." Tallinn, 1993.
Gailit, Karl "Eesti sõdur sõjatules." Tallinn, 1995.
Laar, Mart "Isamaa ilu hoieldes." Stockholm, 1997.
Michaelis, Rolf "Eestlased Waffen-SS-is." Tallinn, 2001.
Soldatov, Sergei "Sinimägede taustal." Tallinn, 2001.
Tieke, Wilhelm "Truuduse tragöödia. III (germ.) SS-soomuskorpuse võitlused ja hukkumine." Tartu, 1999.
"Minu au on truudus. Pataljon "Narva" ajalugu." Tartu, 1995. (Contains also memoirs.)
"Terasest tugevamad. Pataljon "Narva" ajalugu II." Tartu, 1997. (Contains also memoirs.)
"Visadus võitis. Pataljon "Narva" ajalugu III." Tartu, 1999. (Contains also memoirs.)

Then I have a photocopy of a small book by Leo Tammiksaar which is about the structure of the division, but I have lost the front page so I can’t give the exact title.

Regards,

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#10

Post by Mikedc » 06 Sep 2005, 01:25

Hello guys,

Just want to add some names.

These men all fought with 46th Regiment:
Ostuf. Karl Pärnoja: 9th company
Hstuf. Voldemar Pärlin: Staff
Ustuf. Boris Zeisig: IIa
Ustuf. Alfred Laos: Staff
Ustuf. Dr. Ilmar Sulg: IVb
Ostuf. Bittger: Staff
Ustuf. Gunnar Hallang: Staff
Ustuf. Leo Lembaru: 9th company
Ustuf. Tarmo Undla: 10th company
Ustuf. Väino Lahi: 11th company
Ustuf. Endel Maad: 12th company
Ustuf. Elvo Kilgas: 13th(IG)company
Ustuf. Kaljo-Arvo Lehela: 13th(IG)company
Ostuf. Eerik Haabjärv: 14th company
Ostuf. Karl Sibul: 15th(Po.)company
Ostuf. Elmar Otsing: 15th(Pi.)company
Ustuf. M. Pärn


Greetings,
Mike

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#11

Post by Mikedc » 06 Sep 2005, 14:07

I don't know if the following info is relevant or not but as far as I can tell they also fought in 1944 with
20. Waffen-Grenadier-Division der SS.

SS-Ausbildungs- und Ersatz-Regiment 20:
Stubaf. Georg Ahlemann(CO)
Heinz Trepkau(adjudant)
Ustuf. Viktor Lepik(Staff)
Hstuf. Elmar Lipping(tactical teacher/Staff)
Hstuf. Ludvig Triik(II. Battalion)
Hstuf. Erich Palk(II. Battalion)
Ostuf. Manfred Haldma-Schilling(adjudant II. Battalion, also member 6. Kp from II. Battalion)
Ustuf. Mähle(II. Battalion)
Ustuf. Leo Juhani(5. Kp. from II. Battalion)
Ostuf. Leonhard Praks(5. Kp. from II. Battalion)
Ustuf. Aleks Ker(6. Kp. from II. Battalion)
Ostuf. Udo Virkus(7. Kp. from II. Battalion)
Ostuf. Valdur Jürissaar(8. Kp. from II. Battalion)


Greetings,
Mike

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#12

Post by Mikedc » 08 Oct 2005, 13:58

About SS-Waffen-Füsilier-Bataillon I've found the following:

Commanders:
SS-Hstuf Hans Wallner(wounded 25-7-1944)
SS-Ostuf Hans Jäger
Waffen-Ostuf Hando Ruus(KIA 31-3-1945)

1. Kompanie:
Waffen-Ustuf Dimitri Amon
Waffen-Ustuf Heino Reigo
2. Kompanie:
Waffen-Ostuf Ernst Kabrits(KIA 27-7-1944)
3. Kompanie:
Waffen-Ostuf Valdur Visnapuu(KIA 27-7-1944)
Waffen-Untersturmführer Robert Helde
4. Kompanie:
Waffen-Hstuf Oskar Ruut(KIA 3-8-1944)
Waffen-Ustuf Evald Müür

Greetings,
Mike

Peeter
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Ruus

#13

Post by Peeter » 11 Oct 2005, 16:34

Ostuf Hando Ruus was taken prison by red army in september 1944 and shot in prison

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#14

Post by Drew Maynard » 11 Oct 2005, 16:52

For English Speakers, there's a book called 'Estonian Freedom Fighters of the Second World War' which deals with air force units, youth units, and the 20th in detail. I had a copy, gave it to a friend, but it can be found at:

http://www.grenadierbooks.com/si/002103.html

Book description from site:

"Author: Jurs, August

Title: Estonian Freedomfighters in World War Two

Binding: Soft Cover
Book Condition: Very Good
Publisher: The Voitleja Relief Foundation Book Committee

Book Number: 002103

322 pages, with photographs and maps. Cover is slightly creased. History of the Estonian resistance against the Red Army during World War II. Includes a brief history of the partisans and Home Guards, police units, eastern battalions, border guard regiments, the Estonian Brigade, the Estonian Legion and special units.

Keywords: Estonia World War II Red Army Nazi Germany Resistance

Price = 74.99 USD"

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#15

Post by Marc Rikmenspoel » 11 Oct 2005, 19:03

Tom Petteys at the Aberdeen Bookstore still has some copies at far less than that. And I believe he still has some copies of the English version of Mart Laar's War in the Woods, about Estonian anti-Soviet partisans from 1944-1956.

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