FOREIGN VOLUNTEERS IN THE GERMAN ARMED FORCES 1939-45

The Estonians were very eager to get rid of the Soviet invader. The 20th Waffen-Grenadier-Division der SS began as the "Estnische Legion," one of the first Waffen-SS eastern volunteer units, formed in August 1942. The troops were later transferred to the 5th SS-Panzer Division Wiking and quickly earned a reputation for bravery fighting against Soviet troops. The unit continued to attract additional Estonian volunteers - transfers from German Army units, SS-Freiwilligen Brigade 3 (a recently-formed Waffen-SS unit), a German cadre (from the 1. SS Infantry Brigade?), police auxiliaries former Estonian Army troops and even civilians persuaded to join by the Nazi administrator of Estonia. By January 1944 the Brigade was spun off to become its own volunteer division - just when the Soviet troops were hammering at the gates of their homeland.

The 20th SS division an excellent combat reputation, renowned for its tenacious defense at the battle of Narva. Thrown out of their country and beaten back into east Prussia, the few division survivors who surrendered in May 1945 faced Stalin's vengeful wrath in the form of the gulag or the firing squad.