Ostubaf Ain Mere

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PK
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Ostubaf Ain Mere

#1

Post by PK » 16 Nov 2005, 21:58

Hello,

Looking for a detailed bio for Obersturmbannführer Ain Mere - Kdr I./Waffen-Gren.Rgt 46. Especialy about his time in SD Estland and his time in the Estonian Army.

Thanks in advance and best regards / PK

Mikedc
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#2

Post by Mikedc » 16 Nov 2005, 23:46

Hello PK,

This is what I've on this person.

Ain-Ervin Mere.
Born on 22-2-1903.
Waffen-Sturmbannführer der SS.
In 1942 he became commander from the Estonian Sipo-department and he was responsable for the murder
on more then 1.000 civilians.
From 22-10-1943 till ??-10-1943 he was commander from I. Bataillon with 43. SS-Freiwilligen-Regiment
from 3. Estnische SS-Freiwilligen-Brigade.
From ??-1944 till Augustus 1944 he was commander from I. Bataillon with Waffen-Grenadier-Regiment der SS 46
(estnische Nr. 2)from 20. Waffen-Grenadier-Division der SS(estnische Nr. 1).
After that he got transfered to the Generalinspector’s office
And he got promoted to Waffen-Obersturmbannführer der SS.
Died on 5-4-1969.


Greetings,
Mike


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nublu
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#3

Post by nublu » 17 Nov 2005, 11:40

Hi, PK!

What I can add on Mere.

During Estonian Independence war he was fighting as volunteer on armored trains. He was 16 years old only. Later finished studies in Estonian military school and also Flying school (as observer, not as pilot). Don't know all his units where he did serve, but on 1939 he was in the rank of Major chief of the Sub-Department B of 5th (organisational) Department in General Staff. On 1939 he went to lecture into Estonian Military Academy.

On 1940 he was not retired from the Army, was accepted in Soviet 22nd Rifle Corps (can't tell exact position now), and started the war in it. He left the unit near Porhov in summer of 1941.

Back in Estonia joined Estonian police (organised by Germans) and soon became commander of Estonian SiPo and SD.

About service in Estonian Brigade and Estonian Division you can read from Mikedc post.

After war was living in UK, Leicester. Died there in 1969.

Courtmartial on him (and some other former Estonian SiPo officials) was held in Estonia on 1961. UK refused to hand him over to Russians (because were not sure on fair trial), and he was sentenced to death without participation in process. But there are several documents (among them death warrants) still left in archieves what he have signed as Commander of Estonian SiPo and SD.

But even more interesting documents have came out after Estonian became independent again. In KGB documents from 50ies has been written that he was NKVD agent on years 40-41 with codename Müller (Мюллер). Ha was giving some valuable information on this period on some spy group. Later there have been some more unsuccesfull atempts from the side of KGB to restore those relations. And in those 1950ies documents they were still planning to approach Mere, about whom they knew that he is "living somewhere abroad".

rgrds

Toomas
Last edited by nublu on 07 Feb 2006, 15:21, edited 1 time in total.

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nublu
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#4

Post by nublu » 03 Feb 2006, 12:25

hm, some corrections to my previous post.

Ain-Ervin Mere was a pilot in Estonian Army. He finished Flying School on 1925, and as pilot. And seems that he wasn't bad one. As on 1930 he won first flying competition what was organised in Estonian Air Force.

My mistake was from the fact, that he changed his name on late 30ies from Martson to Mere. There was such a period in Estonia where it was popular to take "estonian" family names insteed of German or Russian origin names...

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Michael Miller
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#5

Post by Michael Miller » 03 Feb 2006, 16:00

Great information on a little-known but very interesting personality, Toomas- many thanks for sharing it!

Best wishes,
~ Mike

Mikedc
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#6

Post by Mikedc » 09 Feb 2006, 00:54

I totally agree with the man who has the same Christian name as I do.

Indeed very great and nice info Toomas.
Thanks for sharing it with us.

Greetings,
Mike

Marc Rikmenspoel
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#7

Post by Marc Rikmenspoel » 09 Feb 2006, 10:28

As an aside, apparently many well-known Estonian personalities of the WW2 era only took ethnic-Estonian names shortly before the war, as Toomas mentions. The first example to come to mind is the famous Harald Riipalu, who until around 1937 was known as Harald Reibach.

Arensburger
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#8

Post by Arensburger » 01 Nov 2006, 18:45

Image
Major Mere mit Legionären bei der Durchreise auf dem Bahnhof von Tartu / Dorpat

Image
Kol. Ltn. Mere und Ltn. V. Ruus

Image
Kol. ltn. Mere

Peter
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#9

Post by Peter » 02 Nov 2006, 09:48

WONDERFUL photos, thanks Arensburger

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Fennicus
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#10

Post by Fennicus » 02 Nov 2006, 14:48

Very interesting photos! Regarding the last picture, can anyone explain the cap badge (central theme from Estonian Freedom Cross) and the absence of collar patches etc.?

Regards
Fennicus

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nublu
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#11

Post by nublu » 02 Nov 2006, 16:43

Hi!

Thnx for posting photos, Arensburger! Somehow I forgot to do it here :oops:

The last one is from DP camp in Germany, and uniform is mixture from pre-war Estonian uniform, German SS uniform, and with self made cap badge.

This cap badge is most probably made from 20th Division collar patch. What itself was the central theme from Estonian Cross of Freedom :wink:

And (as I have visited Estonian State Archieve recently, and among other things also looked on A-E Mere's service record) updated info on his service in Estonian Army. 8-)

Ain Ervin Mere borned on February 22nd 1903. He joined voluntarely Tallinn Schoolboys Battalion on December 16th 1918 when he wasn't even 16. From March 6th 1919 he went from this Battalion to frontline duty - to 3rd Wide-track Armored Train where he was placed in 1st MG command. On April 8th he was wounded during action near Kosheljaha-Irboska - grenade exploded not far from train, and he got shrapnell to his head and back. You still can see marks of wounds on those WW2 photos, posted by Arensburger.

He was in Tallinn 2. Military Hospital until July 4th 1919, after it he was again listed in Tallinn Schoolboys Battallion. On October 1st 1919 he was released from service, as too young for mobilisation.

On July 1920 he started to study on Army Technical courses, which soon was renamed to Army Technical School. He finished studies in this school on July 27th 1923, was promoted to sub-Lieutenant, and was sent to serve War Ministry Mechanical Works as chief of car repair shop. On March 15th 1924 there were major changes in Mechanical Works - it was renamed to state owned factory "Arsenal", and A-E Mere working-place was renamed there as production technician.

But already on April 1st 1924 Mere went to serve to Aviation Regiment, he was placed to Sea Flying Squadron as observer, and was sent to aviation school to learn to fly. From December 10th 1924 he was reposted to Land Airplanes Division workshop and he got the post of chief of the workshops. Same time he was still studing in Flying School.

He finished studies in Flying School on July 17th 1925, and got his pilot wings on July 20th 1925. His marks were "Excellent" for theoretical part, and "Good" for practical flying. On the autumn of 1925 he and 3 more pilots were ordered to start to learn on pilot's instructors courses under british pilot Emery. He finished those courses on the spring of 1926 with overall mark "Good". He started to work as instructor in Estonian Flying School. on November 28th 1926 he was promoted to Lieutenant.

On summer of 1928 were invited from Royal Air Force 3 more instructors to teach Estonian Flying School instructors to teach flying according to RAF methods. Mere studied in group of Flight Lieutenant O E Worseley, and finished his studies in November 1928. After it he continued as instructor in Flying School. He was also teaching engine and materials sciences there. On March 1st 1929 he was promoted as Group Leader in Flying School.

On July 1st 1930 Aviation Regiment was liquidated, and all it's parts became independent units. Also those unit's were reformed quite dramatically. But A E Mere remained as Group Leader for Group No 1 in Flying School. On September 4th there were first aviation competitions in Estonian Air Force between different units and pilots. Mere was representing Flying School on those competitions, and won them. On February 24th 1931 he was promoted to Captain.

From March 12th-17th 1931 Mere was participating on quite risky operation of saving Estonian fishermen (actually they hunters for such strange animals like "hülged", don't know how to translate them :wink: ) from ice. There were 4 pilots involved in those operations where they had to land with their landplanes on drifting ice fields to collect fishermen. They collected during those flights all 43 drifting fishermen, and 12 flying hours in windy weather with very poor visibility.

From May 28th until June 25 1931 he participated in competitions to enter to Higher Military School. He was succesful, and passed the competitions. During the summer he was on familarization training in different units (Car and Tank Regiment, Artillery camp, 1st Infantry Regiment, 1st Armored Train Regiment, Cavalry Regiment, Communications Battallion and Pioneer Battallion). On October 1st 1931 he started studies in Higher Military School. He finished studies there on Aprill 4th 1934. After it he came back to Flying School and he was promoted to temporary chief of flying training department.

Already on May 15th 1934 he was posted to General Staff of Armed Forces where he was placed in 5th Department. From July 1st 1934 he was named as chief of sub-department B in 5th Department. On February 24th 1938 he was promoted to Major. And he kept the place until March 1st 1939.

From this date he started to teach in Military School. First as temporary lecturer, from December 12th 1939 as full-time lecturer.

On 1940 he was left to serve in Soviet-organised 22nd Territorial Rifle Corps. But about that you can already read from posts above :wink:

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