Farewell to Estonian soldiers from the 20. Waffen Grenadier Division der SS (estnische Nr 1) before departing in early 1944. Photographed with family, friends and those who came to say goodbye as they depart for Narva front, to defend Estonia. The divisional commander was SS-Brigadeführer Franz Augsberger, an Austrian, who took this new division into action at the Battle of Narva in early 1944. Despite its spirited performance, the division was pushed back through its homeland and into the Courland Pocket, where the bulk of it was successfully evacuated to Germany. The division was returned to the Eastern Front in December to oppose the Soviet drive into Silesia, and thence into Czechoslovakia. Franz Augsberger was killed in action on 17 March 1945 during the division’s breakout from a Soviet encirclement at Falkenberg. He was replaced as divisional commander by SS-Oberführer Berthold Maack. In May 1945, part of the division was captured by the Soviets. Most of those unfortunate enough to fall into the hands of the Red Army were put to death. Some of their more fortunate comrades succeeded in fighting their way westwards and surrendered to Anglo-American forces.
Posted on: Mon, 08 Dec 2014 16:08:51 +0000
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