Estonian Legion

Estonian Legion
"Registration point for the volunteers of the Estonian Legion", September 1942
Active	October 1942 – May 1943
Country	Nazi Germany
Branch	Waffen SS
Type	Infantry
Size	Regiment
Engagements	World War II
Disbanded	May 1943
Commanders
Notable commanders	Franz Augsberger

The Estonian Legion (Estonian: Eesti Leegion, German: Estnische Legion) was a military unit within the Combat Support Forces of the Waffen SS Verfügungstruppe during World War II, mainly consisting of Estonian soldiers.

The formation was announced on 28 August 1942 by the German occupying powers in Estonia and formally established on October 1. 1942.Oberführer Franz Augsberger was nominated to be the commander of the legion and the later 3 Estonian SS Volunteer Brigade. 500 volunteers had appeared and signed up for the Legion by October 13, 1942. In the Spring 1943 additional men were drafted from the police forces and the number rose to 1280.

Battalion Narwa was formed from the first 800 men of the Legion who had finished their training at Dębica (Heidelager in 1943), and were sent in April 1943 to join the in Ukraine. They replaced the Finnish Volunteer Battalion, recalled to Finland for political reasons.

The Battalion Narva was in the focus of the Red Army's attack near Izjum, Ukraine. The unit entered the battle with 800 men, and only one third were left able to fight. The Red Army, however, suffered heavier losses as they lost over 7,000 men killed and wounded, over 100 tanks were lost.

Battalion Narwa participated in the battle of the Korsun-Cherkassy Pocket. Retreating through the escape route called The Hell's Gate, the battalion came under heavy Soviet fire with little cover. The battalion lost almost all of its equipment during the carnage while most of the troops escaped encirclement.

In order to recruit more men for the legion, the German Occupying powers turned to forced mobilization in March 1943 by calling up all Estonian men born between 1919–1924. As the result 5,300 men were conscripted into the Estonian Legion and 6,800 for the support service of the Wehrmacht. Out of the conscripts was formed the second Estonian Regiment and the Estonian SS Volunteer Brigade was established on May 5, 1943.