Estonian Auxiliary Police
Encyclopedia
Estonian Auxiliary Police were Estonia
n units that fought in World War II
under command of Germany
. Estonia
n regular units allied with Nazi Germany
began to be established on 25 August 1941, when under the order of Generalfeldmarschall
Wilhelm Ritter von Leeb
, commander of the Army Group North
, the Baltic
citizens were permitted to be recruited to the Wehrmacht
service and grouped into the Special units
and volunteer battalion
s to fight against partisans
In this context, Colonel General
Georg von Küchler
, commander of the 18th Army (Germany), formed six Estonian volunteer guard units (Estnische Sicherungsgruppe, Eesti julgestusgrupp; numbered 181-186) on the basis of the Omakaitse
squads (with its members contracted for one year).
Since September 1941, the Oberkommando der Wehrmacht
has started to establish the Estonian Auxiliary Police Battalions ("Schuma") in addition to the aforementioned units to perform the guard duties and to fight against partisans in the rear of the Army Group North. During the war, 26 "Schuma" battalions were formed in Estonia
in all numbered from 29th to the 45th, the 50th and from the 286th to 293rd. Unlike the similar units deployed in Reichskommissariat Ukraine
and White Ruthenia, and controlled by the Germans the Estonian Police battalions were made up of national staff and included only one German monitoring officer. Moreover, as a sign of special trust, the Wehrmacht ranking system was introduced in the Estonian Police Battalions. As of October 1, 1942, the Estonian Police
forces comprised 10 400 men in all with 591 Germans attached thereto.
, also fighting against Soviet partisans
.
The 36th Estonian Police Battalion took part of Battle of Stalingrad
. On the way to Stalingrad a railroad train of battalion fall under Soviet mortar fire in the railway station Surovikino in the morning of November 22, 1942 at 08.30. Some actions come about already by north outskirt of Surovikino. Battalion was quickly unloaded and it took the defense positions at 09.30. After attack actions at 15.00 the battalion went over to defense on the line Nizny Osinovski, Lukitsevski, Starikovski, Zirkov. At the evening commander major Julius Renter fell out and lieutenant
Harald Riipalu
took over the commanding of battalion. 42 men of the battalion were awarded with Iron Cross
after the battle, among them also Harald Riipalu, who later became Knight's Cross holder.
The 37th and 40th battalions were fighting against the partisans in the Pskov Oblast
, as was the 38th battalion in the Luga-Pskov
-Gdov
region. The 288th battalion was engaged in the suppression of the Ronson’s Partisan Republic.
Police Battalions 29th, 31st and 32nd fought in the Battle for Narva Bridgehead.
On August 29, 1944 Police Battalions 37 and 38 participated in the Battle of Emajõgi. As their largest operation, supported by III.Battalion, Estonian Waffen Grenadier Regiment 45, they destroyed the Kärevere bridgehead of two Soviet divisions west from Tartu and recaptured the Tallinn highway bridge over the Emajõgi by 30 August. The operation shifted the entire front back to the southern bank of the Emajõgi. This encouraged the II Army Corps to launch an operation attempting to recapture Tartu on 4 September.
On September 19, 1944 Police Battalion 287 had a clash in Klooga concentration camp
with members of the German Sonderkommando, who tried to execute prisoners in the camp.
Estonia
Estonia , officially the Republic of Estonia , is a state in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by the Gulf of Finland, to the west by the Baltic Sea, to the south by Latvia , and to the east by Lake Peipsi and the Russian Federation . Across the Baltic Sea lies...
n units that fought in World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
under command of Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
. Estonia
Estonia
Estonia , officially the Republic of Estonia , is a state in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by the Gulf of Finland, to the west by the Baltic Sea, to the south by Latvia , and to the east by Lake Peipsi and the Russian Federation . Across the Baltic Sea lies...
n regular units allied with Nazi Germany
Nazi Germany
Nazi Germany , also known as the Third Reich , but officially called German Reich from 1933 to 1943 and Greater German Reich from 26 June 1943 onward, is the name commonly used to refer to the state of Germany from 1933 to 1945, when it was a totalitarian dictatorship ruled by...
began to be established on 25 August 1941, when under the order of Generalfeldmarschall
Generalfeldmarschall
Field Marshal or Generalfeldmarschall in German, was a rank in the armies of several German states and the Holy Roman Empire; in the Austrian Empire, the rank Feldmarschall was used...
Wilhelm Ritter von Leeb
Wilhelm Ritter von Leeb
Wilhelm Josef Franz Ritter von Leeb was a German Field Marshal during World War II. - Youth :...
, commander of the Army Group North
Army Group North
Army Group North was a German strategic echelon formation commanding a grouping of Field Armies subordinated to the OKH during World War II. The army group coordinated the operations of attached separate army corps, reserve formations, rear services and logistics.- Formation :The Army Group North...
, the Baltic
Baltic states
The term Baltic states refers to the Baltic territories which gained independence from the Russian Empire in the wake of World War I: primarily the contiguous trio of Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania ; Finland also fell within the scope of the term after initially gaining independence in the 1920s.The...
citizens were permitted to be recruited to the Wehrmacht
Wehrmacht
The Wehrmacht – from , to defend and , the might/power) were the unified armed forces of Nazi Germany from 1935 to 1945. It consisted of the Heer , the Kriegsmarine and the Luftwaffe .-Origin and use of the term:...
service and grouped into the Special units
Special forces
Special forces, or special operations forces are terms used to describe elite military tactical teams trained to perform high-risk dangerous missions that conventional units cannot perform...
and volunteer battalion
Battalion
A battalion is a military unit of around 300–1,200 soldiers usually consisting of between two and seven companies and typically commanded by either a Lieutenant Colonel or a Colonel...
s to fight against partisans
Anti-partisan operations in World War II
Anti-partisan operations were operations against the various resistance movements during World War II by the Axis powers...
In this context, Colonel General
Colonel General
Colonel General is a senior rank of General. North Korea and Russia are two countries which have used the rank extensively throughout their histories...
Georg von Küchler
Georg von Küchler
Georg Karl Friedrich Wilhelm von Küchler was a German Field Marshal during the Second World War. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves...
, commander of the 18th Army (Germany), formed six Estonian volunteer guard units (Estnische Sicherungsgruppe, Eesti julgestusgrupp; numbered 181-186) on the basis of the Omakaitse
Omakaitse
The Omakaitse was a militia organisation in Estonia. It was founded in 1917 following the Russian Revolution. On the eve of the Occupation of Estonia by the German Empire the Omakaitse units took over major towns in the country allowing the Salvation Committee of the Estonian Provincial Assembly...
squads (with its members contracted for one year).
Since September 1941, the Oberkommando der Wehrmacht
Oberkommando der Wehrmacht
The Oberkommando der Wehrmacht was part of the command structure of the armed forces of Nazi Germany during World War II.- Genesis :...
has started to establish the Estonian Auxiliary Police Battalions ("Schuma") in addition to the aforementioned units to perform the guard duties and to fight against partisans in the rear of the Army Group North. During the war, 26 "Schuma" battalions were formed in Estonia
Estonia
Estonia , officially the Republic of Estonia , is a state in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by the Gulf of Finland, to the west by the Baltic Sea, to the south by Latvia , and to the east by Lake Peipsi and the Russian Federation . Across the Baltic Sea lies...
in all numbered from 29th to the 45th, the 50th and from the 286th to 293rd. Unlike the similar units deployed in Reichskommissariat Ukraine
Reichskommissariat Ukraine
Reichskommissariat Ukraine , literally "Reich Commissariat of Ukraine", was the civilian occupation regime of much of German-occupied Ukraine during World War II. Between September 1941 and March 1944, the Reichskommissariat was administered by Reichskommissar Erich Koch as a colony...
and White Ruthenia, and controlled by the Germans the Estonian Police battalions were made up of national staff and included only one German monitoring officer. Moreover, as a sign of special trust, the Wehrmacht ranking system was introduced in the Estonian Police Battalions. As of October 1, 1942, the Estonian Police
Estonian Police
The Estonian Police are the law enforcement agency of Estonia.- Structure :They are under the supervision of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, which supervises five central agencies – the Police Board, the Security Police Board, the Police and Border Guard Board and the Rescue Board...
forces comprised 10 400 men in all with 591 Germans attached thereto.
Battles
The police battalions were mostly engaged in the Eastern FrontEastern Front (World War II)
The Eastern Front of World War II was a theatre of World War II between the European Axis powers and co-belligerent Finland against the Soviet Union, Poland, and some other Allies which encompassed Northern, Southern and Eastern Europe from 22 June 1941 to 9 May 1945...
, also fighting against Soviet partisans
Soviet partisans
The Soviet partisans were members of a resistance movement which fought a guerrilla war against the Axis occupation of the Soviet Union during World War II....
.
The 36th Estonian Police Battalion took part of Battle of Stalingrad
Battle of Stalingrad
The Battle of Stalingrad was a major battle of World War II in which Nazi Germany and its allies fought the Soviet Union for control of the city of Stalingrad in southwestern Russia. The battle took place between 23 August 1942 and 2 February 1943...
. On the way to Stalingrad a railroad train of battalion fall under Soviet mortar fire in the railway station Surovikino in the morning of November 22, 1942 at 08.30. Some actions come about already by north outskirt of Surovikino. Battalion was quickly unloaded and it took the defense positions at 09.30. After attack actions at 15.00 the battalion went over to defense on the line Nizny Osinovski, Lukitsevski, Starikovski, Zirkov. At the evening commander major Julius Renter fell out and lieutenant
Lieutenant
A lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer in many nations' armed forces. Typically, the rank of lieutenant in naval usage, while still a junior officer rank, is senior to the army rank...
Harald Riipalu
Harald Riipalu
Harald Riipalu was an Estonian military commander and one of four commanders who earned the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross when fighting in the German army in World War II.-Early life:Harald Riipalu was born in Saint Petersburg where his family was lessee in a manor...
took over the commanding of battalion. 42 men of the battalion were awarded with Iron Cross
Iron Cross
The Iron Cross is a cross symbol typically in black with a white or silver outline that originated after 1219 when the Kingdom of Jerusalem granted the Teutonic Order the right to combine the Teutonic Black Cross placed above a silver Cross of Jerusalem....
after the battle, among them also Harald Riipalu, who later became Knight's Cross holder.
The 37th and 40th battalions were fighting against the partisans in the Pskov Oblast
Pskov Oblast
Pskov Oblast is a federal subject of Russia . Pskov Oblast borders the countries of Estonia and Latvia, as well as Belarus. It is the westernmost federal subject of contiguous Russia . Its major cities are the administrative center Pskov and Velikiye Luki . Area: 55,300 km²...
, as was the 38th battalion in the Luga-Pskov
Pskov
Pskov is an ancient city and the administrative center of Pskov Oblast, Russia, located in the northwest of Russia about east from the Estonian border, on the Velikaya River. Population: -Early history:...
-Gdov
Gdov
Gdov is a town and the administrative center of Gdovsky District of Pskov Oblast, Russia, situated on the Gdovka River, just from its outflow into Lake Peipus. Population:...
region. The 288th battalion was engaged in the suppression of the Ronson’s Partisan Republic.
Police Battalions 29th, 31st and 32nd fought in the Battle for Narva Bridgehead.
On August 29, 1944 Police Battalions 37 and 38 participated in the Battle of Emajõgi. As their largest operation, supported by III.Battalion, Estonian Waffen Grenadier Regiment 45, they destroyed the Kärevere bridgehead of two Soviet divisions west from Tartu and recaptured the Tallinn highway bridge over the Emajõgi by 30 August. The operation shifted the entire front back to the southern bank of the Emajõgi. This encouraged the II Army Corps to launch an operation attempting to recapture Tartu on 4 September.
On September 19, 1944 Police Battalion 287 had a clash in Klooga concentration camp
Klooga concentration camp
Klooga was a Nazi labor subcamp of the Vaivara concentration camp complex established in September 1943 in Harju County, during World War II, in German-occupied Estonia near the northern Estonian village Klooga...
with members of the German Sonderkommando, who tried to execute prisoners in the camp.
Police battalions
- 29. Eesti Politseipataljon – Estnische Polizei Füsilier Bataillon 29
- 30. Eesti Politseipataljon – Estnische Polizei Füsilier Bataillon 30
- 31. Eesti Politseipataljon – Estnische Polizei Füsilier Bataillon 31
- 32. Eesti Politseipataljon – Estnische Polizei Füsilier Bataillon 32
- 33. Eesti Politseipataljon – Estnische Polizei Füsilier Bataillon 33
- 34. Eesti Politsei Rindepataljon – Estnische Polizei Front Bataillon 34
- 35. Politsei Tagavarapataljon - Polizei Erzats Bataillon 35
- 36. Kaitse Rindepataljon – Schutzmannschaft Front Bataillon nr. 36
- 37. Eesti Politseipataljon – Estnische Polizei Bataillon 37
- 38. Eesti Politseipataljon - Estnische Polizei Bataillon 38
- 39. Kaitse Vahipataljon Oberpahlen – Schutzmannschaft Wacht Bataillon nr. 39
- 40. Eesti Politseipataljon – Estnische Polizei Bataillon 40
- 41. Kaitse Tagavarapataljon
- 42. Kaitse Pioneeripataljon – Schutzmannschaft Pioneer Bataillon 42
- 286. Politsei Jalaväepataljon – Polizei Füsilier Bataillon 286
- 287. Politsei Vahipataljon – Polizei Wacht Bataillon 287
- 288. Politsei Jalaväepataljon – Polizei Füsilier Bataillon 288
- 289. Politsei Jalaväepataljon – Polizei Füsilier Bataillon 289
- 290. Politsei Pioneeripataljon – Polizei Blau Pionier Bataillon 290
- 291. Politsei Jalaväepataljon – Polizei Füsilier Bataillon 291
- 292. Politsei Jalaväepataljon – Polizei Füsilier Bataillon 292
- 293. Politsei Jalaväepataljon – Polizei Füsilier Bataillon 293
- 521. Eesti Politseipataljon – Estnische Polizei Füsilier Bataillon 521