20th Waffen Grenadier Division of the SS (1st Estonian)
The 20th Waffen Grenadier Division of the SS (1st Estonian) was a foreign infantry division of the Waffen-SS that served alongside but was never formally part of the Wehrmacht during World War II. According to some sources, the division was under Reichsführer-SS Heinrich Himmler's overall command but was not an integral part of the Schutzstaffel (SS). It was officially activated on 24 January 1944, and many of its soldiers had been members of the Estonian Legion and/or the 3rd Estonian SS Volunteer Brigade, which had been fighting as part of German forces since August 1942 and October 1943 respectively. Both of the preceding formations drew their personnel from German-occupied Estonia. Shortly after its official activation, widespread conscription within Estonia was announced by the German occupying authorities. The division was formed in Estonia around a cadre comprising the 3rd Estonian SS Volunteer Brigade, and was initially known as the 20th Estonian SS Volunteer Division.
| 20th Waffen Grenadier Division of the SS (1st Estonian) | |
|---|---|
Divisional insignia | |
| Active | 24 January 1944 – 9 May 1945 |
| Country | Nazi Germany |
| Branch | Waffen-SS |
| Type | Infantry |
| Size | Division |
| Part of | III SS Panzer Corps |
| Nickname(s) | Estonian Division |
| Colors | Blue, Black & White |
| Engagements | Battle of Narva Battle of Tannenberg Line Tartu Offensive Vistula-Oder Offensive Upper Silesian Offensive |
| Commanders | |
| Notable commanders | Franz Augsberger † |
A total of 38,000 men were conscripted in Estonia, while other Estonian units that had been part of the German Army and the Finnish Infantry Regiment 200 were transferred to Estonia. In April 1944, the division had a designated strength of 16,135 men. Between March and September 1944, it had a total of 13,700 men pass through its reserve units, and by August 1944, some 10,427 were killed or missing. The division fought the Red Army on the Eastern Front and surrendered in May 1945.