German occupation of Estonia during World War II

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Occupation of the Baltic states
Baltic states Nazi Germany Soviet Union
Background Baltic–Soviet relations Non-aggression pacts Soviet–Estonian Soviet–Latvian Soviet–Lithuanian German–Estonian German–Latvian German–Lithuanian Molotov–Ribbentrop Pact
Soviet occupation in 1940 Mutual Assistance Treaties Soviet–Estonian Soviet-Latvian Soviet-Lithuanian Orzeł incident Ultimata to Estonia to Latvia to Lithuania People's Parliament Sovietization Deportations from Estonia from Latvia from Lithuania June deportation Welles Declaration
German occupation Estonia Occupation Resistance Holocaust Latvia Occupation Resistance Holocaust Lithuania Occupation Resistance Holocaust
Soviet re-occupation in 1944 Battle of Narva Baltic offensive Courland Pocket Guerrilla war in the Baltic states Latvian partisans Lithuanian partisans
Under Soviet rule Guerrilla war in the Baltic states Operation Priboi Operation Jungle Estonian SSR Latvian SSR Lithuanian SSR Territorial changes Baltic Way Singing Revolution Sąjūdis Tautas fronte Rahvarinne Congress of Estonia
State continuity Baltic diplomatic services (1940–91) Estonian Latvian Lithuanian Kersten Committee Helsinki Accords
Aftermath Estonia–Russia relations Latvia–Russia relations Lithuania–Russia relations Russians in Estonia Russians in Latvia Russians in Lithuania
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In the course of Operation Barbarossa, Nazi Germany invaded Estonia in July–December 1941, and occupied the country until 1944. Estonia had gained independence in 1918 from the then-warring German and Russian Empires. However, in the wake of the August 1939 Nazi-Soviet Pact, the Soviet Union had invaded and occupied Estonia in June 1940, and the country was formally annexed into the USSR in August 1940.

In the summer of 1941, the German invaders were at first seen by most Estonians as liberators from Soviet terror, since the Germans arrived only a week after the mass deportation of tens of thousands of people from Estonia and other territories occupied by the USSR in 1939–1941: eastern Poland, Latvia, Lithuania, Bessarabia and Northern Bukovina. Despite high hopes for Estonian independence, the people there soon realized that the Germans were just a different occupying power.

The Nazi German authorities exploited occupied Estonia for their war effort, and in 1941–1944

Even though the Germans did not cross the southern Estonian border until July 7–9, many Estonian deserters from Soviet units opened fire on the Red Army as early as June 22. On that day, a group of Forest Brothers attacked Soviet trucks in the district of Harju.^[2] The Soviet 22nd Rifle Corps lost the most men, as a large group of Estonian soldiers and officers deserted from it. Furthermore, the border guards of Soviet Estonia mostly had fought for an independent Estonia, and they also escaped to the forests, becoming some of the best Estonian fighters. Estonian writer Juhan Jaik wrote in 1941: "These days bogs and forests are more populated than farms and fields. The forests and bogs are our territory while the fields and farms are occupied by the enemy [i.e., the Soviets]".^[2]

The

At the end of July the Germans resumed their advance in Estonia, working with the Estonian Forest Brothers. Both German troops and Estonian partisans took Narva on August 17 and the Estonian capital Tallinn on August 28. On that day, the Soviet flag shot down earlier on Pikk Hermann was replaced with the flag of Estonia by Fred Ise. After the Soviets were driven from Estonia, German troops disarmed all partisan groups.^[3] The Estonian flag was soon replaced with the German one, and the 2,000 Estonian soldiers who took part in the parade in Tartu on July 29, were disbanded.^[4]

Most Estonians greeted the Germans with relatively open arms and hoped for the restoration of independence. Estonia set up an administration, led by Jüri Uluots as soon as the Soviet regime retreated and before German troops arrived. Estonian partisans that drove the Red Army from Tartu made it possible. That all was for nothing since the Germans had made their plans as set out in Generalplan Ost,^[5] they disbanded the provisional government and the territory of Estonia was organized as Generalbezirk Estland, subordinated to the Reichskommissariat Ostland, an administrative subdivision of Nazi Germany. A Sicherheitspolizei was established for internal security under the leadership of Ain-Ervin Mere.

In April 1941, on the eve on the German invasion,

1. Germanization (Eindeutschung) of the "racially suitable" elements.
2. Colonization by Germanic people.
3. Exile, deportations of undesirable elements.

Rosenberg felt that the "Estonians were the most Germanic out of the people living in the Baltic area, having already reached 50 percent of Germanization through Danish, Swedish and German influence". Non-suitable Estonians were to be moved to a region that Rosenberg called "Peipusland" to make room for German colonists.^[6] The removal of 50% of Estonians was in accordance with the Nazi Generalplan Ost.^[7]

The initial enthusiasm that accompanied the liberation from Soviet occupation quickly waned as a result and the Germans had limited success in recruiting volunteers. The draft was introduced in 1942, resulting in some 3400 men fleeing to Finland to fight in the Finnish Army rather than join the Germans. Finnish Infantry Regiment 200 (Estonian: soomepoisid 'boys of Finland') was formed out of Estonian volunteers in Finland.

With the Allied victory over Germany becoming certain in 1944, the only option to save Estonia's independence was to stave off a new Soviet invasion of Estonia until Germany's capitulation.

Political resistance

In June 1942 political leaders of Estonia who had survived Soviet repressions held a hidden meeting from the occupying powers in Estonia where the formation of an underground Estonian government and the options for preserving continuity of the republic were discussed.^[8]

On January 6, 1943 a meeting was held at the Estonian foreign delegation in Stockholm. It was decided that, in order to preserve the legal continuity of the

In June 1944 the elector's assembly of the Republic of Estonia gathered in secrecy from the occupying powers in Tallinn and appointed Jüri Uluots as the prime minister with the responsibilities of the President. On June 21 Jüri Uluots appointed Otto Tief as deputy prime minister.[8]

As the Germans retreated, on September 18, 1944 Jüri Uluots formed a government led by the Deputy Prime Minister, Otto Tief. On September 20 the Nazi German flag on Pikk Hermann was replaced with the tricolor flag of Estonia. On September 22 the Red Army took Tallinn and the Estonian flag on Pikk Hermann was replaced with the Soviet flag. The Estonian underground government, not officially recognized by either the Nazi Germany or Soviet Union, fled to Stockholm, Sweden and operated in exile until 1992, when Heinrich Mark, the Prime Minister of the Republic of Estonia in duties of the President in exile,^[10] presented his credentials to the newly elected President of Estonia Lennart Meri. On February 23, 1989 the flag of the Estonian SSR had been lowered on Pikk Hermann; it was replaced with the flag of Estonia to mark Estonian Independence Day on February 24, 1989.

Estonians in German military units

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The annexation of Estonia by the USSR in 1940 was complete, but never recognized internationally except by

By January 1944, the front was pushed back by the Red Army almost all the way to the former Estonian border. Jüri Uluots, the last constitutional Prime Minister of the Republic of Estonia,

On 1 August 1944, the Finnish government and President Risto Ryti were to resign. On the next day, Aleksander Warma, the Estonian Ambassador to Finland (1939–1940 (1944))^[16] announced that the National Committee of the Estonian Republic had sent a telegram, which requested the Estonian volunteer regiment to be returned to Estonia fully equipped. On the following day, the Finnish Government received a letter from the Estonians. It had been signed in the name of "all national organizations of Estonia" by Aleksander Warma, Karl Talpak and several others, seconding the request. It was then announced that the regiment would be disbanded and that the volunteers were free to return home. An agreement had been reached with the Germans, and the Estonians were promised amnesty if they chose to return and fight in the SS. As soon as they landed, the regiment was sent to perform a counter-attack against the Soviet 3rd Baltic Front, which had managed a breakthrough on the Tartu front, and was threatening the capital Tallinn.

After an attempt to break through the Tannenberg Line failed, the main struggle was carried to the

On August 19, 1944 Jüri Uluots, in a radio broadcast, called for the Red Army to hold back and a peace agreement to be reached.[8]

As Finland left the war on September 4, 1944 according to their peace agreement with the USSR, the defence of the mainland became practically impossible and the German command decided to

German administrators

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In 1941 Estonia was occupied by German troops and after a brief period of military rule by the commanders of the Army Group North (in the occupied USSR), a German civilian administration was established. On 5 December 1941, the territory of Estonia was organized as Generalbezirk Estland, subordinated to the Reichskommissariat Ostland.

Generalkommissar

(Subordinated to the Reichskommissar Ostland.)

• 1941–1944 SA-Obergruppenführer Karl-Siegmund Litzmann (1893-1945)

S.S. und Polizeiführer

(The

• 1941–1944 SS-Oberführer Hinrich Möller (1906–1974)
• 1944 SS-Brigadeführer Walther Schröder (1902–1973)

Lagerkommandant

(Responsible for the operation of all concentration camps within the Reichskommissariat Ostland.)

• SS-Hauptsturmführer Hans Aumeier (1906–1947)

Collaboration

Estonian Self-Administration

Estonian Self-Administration (

Although the Directorate did not have complete freedom of action, it exercised a significant measure of autonomy, within the framework of German policy, political, racial and economic. For example, the Directors exercised their powers pursuant to the laws and regulations of the Republic of Estonia, but only to the extent that these had not been repealed or amended by the German military command.^[19]

Directors

Director General

• 1941–1944 Hjalmar Mäe (1901–1978)

Director for Home Affairs

• 1941–1944 Oskar Angelus (1892–1979)

Directors for Justice

• 1941–1943 Hjalmar Mäe
• 1943–1944 Oskar Öpik

Director for Finance

• 1941–1944 Alfred Wendt (1902-1986)

Holocaust

Republic of Estonia and 70 of these men were volunteers. From the very first days of her existence as a state, Estonia showed her tolerance towards all the peoples inhabiting her territories. On 12 February 1925 the Estonian government passed a law pertaining to the cultural autonomy of minority peoples. The Jewish community quickly prepared its application for cultural autonomy. Statistics on Jewish citizens were compiled. They totaled 3,045, fulfilling the minimum requirement of 3000 for cultural autonomy. In June 1926 the Jewish Cultural Council was elected and Jewish cultural autonomy was declared. Jewish cultural autonomy was of great interest to the global Jewish community. The Jewish National Endowment presented the Estonian government with a certificate of gratitude for this achievement.^[20]

There were, at the time of Soviet occupation in 1940, approximately 4000 Estonian Jews. The Jewish Cultural Autonomy was immediately abolished. Jewish cultural institutions were closed down. Many of Jewish people were deported to Siberia along with other Estonians by the Soviets. It is estimated that 350–500 Jews suffered this fate.^[21][22][23] About three-fourths of Estonian Jewry managed to leave the country during this period.^[19][24] Out the approximately 4,300 Jews in Estonia prior to the war, almost 1000 were entrapped by the Nazis.^[23][25]

Round-ups and killings of Jews began immediately following the arrival of the first German troops in 1941, who were closely followed by the extermination squad

Walter Stahlecker

. Arrests and executions continued as the Germans, with the assistance of local collaborators, advanced through Estonia.

Unlike German forces, some support apparently existed among an undefined segment of the local collaborators for anti-Jewish actions. The standard form used for the cleansing operations was arrest 'because of communist activity'. The equation between Jews and communists evoked a positive response among some Estonians. Estonians often argued that their Jewish colleagues and friends were not communists and submitted proofs of pro-Estonian conduct in hope to get them released.^[25]

Estonia was declared

7 ethnic Estonians: Ralf Gerrets, Ain-Ervin Mere, Jaan Viik, Juhan Jüriste, Karl Linnas

, Aleksander Laak and Ervin Viks that have faced trials for crimes against humanity. Since the reestablishment of the Estonian independence markers were put in place for the 60th anniversary of the mass executions that were carried out at the Lagedi, Vaivara and Klooga (Kalevi-Liiva) camps in September 1944.[29]

There are three Estonians who have been honoured with The Righteous Among the Nations: Uku Masing and his wife Eha Masing and Polina Lentsman.^[30]

Estonian military units' involvement in crimes against humanity

The

Estonian International Commission for the Investigation of Crimes Against Humanity^[31] has reviewed the role of Estonian military units and police battalions in an effort to identify the role of Estonian military units and police battalions participation during World War II in crimes against humanity

.

The conclusions of the Estonian International Commission for the Investigation of Crimes Against Humanity are available online.[31] It says that there is an evidence of Estonian units' involvement in crimes against humanity, and acts of genocide; however, the commission noted

Given the frequency with which police units changed their personnel, the Commission does not believe that membership in the cited units, or in any specific unit is, on its own, proof of involvement in crimes. However, those individuals who served in the units during the commission of crimes against humanity are to be held responsible for their own actions.^{[citation needed]}

Controversies

Views diverge on history of Estonia during World War II and following the occupation by Nazi Germany.

• According to the Estonian point of view, the occupation of Estonia by Soviet Union lasted five decades, only interrupted by the German occupation of 1941–1944.^[32] Estonian representatives at the European Parliament even made a motion for a resolution acknowledging the 48 years of occupation as a fact.^[33] The final version of the resolution of European parliament, however, only acknowledged Estonia's loss of independence lasting from 1940 to 1991 and that annexation of Estonia by Soviet Union was considered illegal by Western democracies.^[34]
• The position of the Russian Government: Russia has denied that Soviet Union illegally annexed the Baltic republics of Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia in 1940. The Kremlin's European affairs chief Sergey Yastrzhembsky: "There was no occupation."^[35] Russian State officials look at the events in Estonia in the end of World War II as the liberation from fascism by the Soviet Union.^[36]
• Views of World War II veteran, an Estonian Ilmar Haaviste fought on the German side: "Both regimes were equally evil – there was no difference between the two except that Stalin was more cunning".^{[citation needed]}
• Views of World War II veteran, an Estonian Arnold Meri fought on the Soviet side: "Estonia's participation in World War II was inevitable. Every Estonian had only one decision to make: whose side to take in that bloody fight – the Nazis' or the anti-Hitler coalition's."^{[citation needed]}
• Views of World War II veteran, a Russian fought on the Soviet side in Estonia answering a question: How do you feel being called an "occupier"? " Viktor Andreyev: "Half believe one thing half believe another. That's in the run of things."^[37]

In 2004 controversy regarding the events of World War II in Estonia surrounded the Monument of Lihula.^{[citation needed]}

In April 2007 the divergent views on history of World War II in Estonia centered around the Bronze Soldier of Tallinn.^{[citation needed]}

See also

• 20th Waffen Grenadier Division of the SS (1st Estonian)
• Estonian resistance movement
• Judenfrei
• Klooga concentration camp
• Reichskommissariat Ostland

References

1. ^ "Conclusions of the Commission". Estonian International Commission for Investigation of Crimes Against Humanity. 1998. Archived from the original on June 29, 2008.
2. ^
   ISBN 978-0-375-72471-8
3. ISBN 0-7603-0745-8
4. ISBN 978-0-375-72471-8
5. ^ Buttar, 2013 p. 54
6. ISBN 0-8179-2852-9
7. ^ Buttar, 2013 p. 54
8. ^ ^{a b c d e} Chronology Archived 2007-06-09 at the Wayback Machine at the EIHC
9. ^ Mälksoo, Lauri (2000). Professor Uluots, the Estonian Government in Exile and the Continuity of the Republic of Estonia in International Law. Nordic Journal of International Law 69.3, 289–316.
10. ^ Mark, Heinrich, Heinrich Mark (in Estonian), president.ee, archived from the original on 2007-11-14, retrieved 12 July 2013
11. ^ Estonian Vikings: Estnisches SS-Freiwilligen Bataillon Narwa and Subsequent Units, Eastern Front, 1943–1944.
12. ^ Uluots, Jüri, Jüri Uluots, president.ee, archived from the original on 2007-09-27, retrieved 12 July 2013
13. ISBN 0-7603-0745-8
14. ^ Estonian State Commission on Examination of Policies of Repression (2005). The White Book: Losses inflicted on the Estonian nation by occupation regimes. 1940–1991 (PDF). Estonian Encyclopedia Publishers. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2013-01-14. Retrieved 2018-08-30.
15. ISBN 0-312-16192-1
    .
16. ^ Aleksander Warma, president.ee, archived from the original on 2007-09-27, retrieved 2007-07-07
17. ^ Mart Laar (2006). Sinimäed 1944: II maailmasõja lahingud Kirde-Eestis (Sinimäed Hills 1944: Battles of World War II in Northeast Estonia) (in Estonian). Tallinn: Varrak.
18. ^ Hannes, Walter. "Estonia in World War II". Historical Text Archive. Archived from the original on 2006-03-17. Retrieved 2008-10-21.
19. ^ ^{a b} Conclusions of the Estonian International Commission for the Investigation of Crimes Against Humanity Archived June 21, 2007, at the Wayback Machine – Phase II: The German occupation of Estonia in 1941–1944 Archived June 29, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
20. ^ "Estonia", The Virtual Jewish History Tour, retrieved 2009-03-11
21. Holocaust and Genocide Studies
    12.2, 308–325.
22. ^ Berg, Eiki (1994). The Peculiarities of Jewish Settlement in Estonia. GeoJournal 33.4, 465–470.
23. ^ ^{a b} The Holocaust in the Baltics Archived 2008-03-07 at the Wayback Machine
24. ^ Estonia
25. ^ ^{a b} Birn, Ruth Bettina (2001), Collaboration with Nazi Germany in Eastern Europe: the Case of the Estonian Security Police. Contemporary European History 10.2, 181–198.
26. ^ ^{a b} Museum of Tolerance Multimedia Learning Center, Wiesenthal, archived from the original on 2007-09-28
27. ^ Communism and Crimes against Humanity in the Baltic states Archived 2011-09-29 at the Wayback Machine
28. ^ Vaivara
29. ^ Holocaust Markers, Estonia, Heritage Abroad, archived from the original on 2009-08-23
30. ISBN 0-8050-6260-2
31. ^ ^{a b} Conclusions of the Estonian International Commission for the Investigation of Crimes Against Humanity Archived June 21, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
32. ^ Moscow celebrations Archived September 29, 2007, at the Wayback Machine at newsfromrussia
33. ^ Motion for a resolution on the Situation in Estonia, 2007-05-21, retrieved 2010-03-05, Estonia, as an independent Member State of the EU and NATO, has the sovereign right to assess its recent tragic past, starting with the loss of independence as a result of the Hitler-Stalin Pact of 1939 and including three years under Hitler's occupation and terror, as well as 48 years under Soviet occupation and terror,
34. ^ European Parliament resolution of 24 May 2007 on Estonia, 2007-05-24, retrieved 2010-03-05, Estonia, as an independent Member State of the EU and NATO, has the sovereign right to assess its recent tragic past, starting with the loss of independence resulting from the Hitler-Stalin Pact of 1939 and ending only in 1991, the Soviet occupation and annexation of the Baltic States was never recognised as legal by the Western democracies
35. ^ "Russia denies Baltic 'occupation'", BBC News, May 5, 2005, retrieved May 20, 2010
36. ^ Booth, Jenny (April 27, 2007). "Russia threatens Estonia over removal of Red Army statue". The Times. London. Retrieved May 20, 2010.
37. ^ Jackson, Patrick (May 9, 2007), When giants fought in Estonia, BBC, retrieved May 20, 2010

• ISBN 9781780961637
  .

External links

• Birn, Ruth Bettina (2001), Collaboration with Nazi Germany in Eastern Europe: the Case of the Estonian Security Police. Contemporary European History 10.2, 181–98.
• Estonian SS-Legion (photographs)
• Estonian SS-Legion (photographs)
• Hjalmar Mäe
• Hjalmar Mäe (photograph)
• Saksa okupatsioon Eestis
• Weiss-Wendt, Anton (2003). Extermination of the Gypsies in Estonia during World War II: Popular Images and Official Policies.
  Holocaust and Genocide Studies
  17.1, 31–61.