658th Eastern Battalion

The 658th Eastern Battalion (German: Ost Bataillon 658) was an Eastern Front World War II military unit of the Wehrmacht composed of Estonians. It was formed on 23 October 1942 from Estnische Sicherungs-Abteilung 181 by the German 18th Army[1] and fought in Northern Russia. In June 1944 it was dissolved and its personnel used to form SS Volunteer Grenadier Regiment 47 of the 20th Waffen Grenadier Division of the SS (1st Estonian).[2]

The unit was commanded by former Estonian Army officer –and later Waffen-SS fighter –Major Alfons Rebane.[3]

References

  1. ^ Georg Tessin (1975). Verbände und Truppen der Deutschen Wehrmacht und Waffen-SS im Zweiten Weltkrieg 1939-1945. Band 12. Die Landstreitkräfte 631–800. Blissendorf: Biblio-Verlag. p. 55. ISBN 3764810807. 
  2. ^ "Ost-Bataillon 658 (Estn.)". http://wehrmacht.flwgc.org/Gliederungen/OstBataillone/OstBtl658.htm. Retrieved 2010-04-22. 
  3. ^ Williamson, Gordon. The SS: Hitler's Instrument of Terror. St. Paul, MN: Zenith Press, 2004. ISBN 9780760319338. P. 127.

See also