| Ain Mere | |
|---|---|
| Born | February 22, 1903 Vändra, Estonia |
| Died | April 5, 1969 Leicester, England |
| Allegiance | Estonia Soviet Union Nazi Germany |
| Years of service | 1918–1940 Estonian Army 1941–1943 Estonian Omakaitse 1943–1945 Waffen SS |
| Rank | SS-Obersturmbannführer |
| Unit | Estonian Air Force, 20th Waffen Grenadier Division of the SS (1st Estonian) |
| Battles/wars | Estonian War of Independence World War II Eastern Front *Battle of Narva |
| Awards | Order of the Cross of the Eagle Iron Cross 2nd and 1st Class |
Ain Mere (from birth to Estification Ervin Martson; February 22, 1903 – April 5, 1969) was an Estonian military officer. During the World War II, he was an Obersturmbannführer (Lieutenant Colonel) in the Waffen SS and also the head of the Sicherheitspolizei in Estonia (Security Police) following its creation in 1942.
He was born in Vändra and fought voluntarily in the Estonian War of Independence. In early 1919, Mere was wounded while serving on an armored train and was sent to the rear.
According to the KGB archives, he was drafted as an agent of NKVD in 1940–1941. He was known under code name "Müller".[1][2] In July 1941 Mere deserted from the Red Army and returned to Estonia.
On February 5, 1945 in Berlin, he founded the Eesti Vabadusliit (anti-communist group) together with SS-Obersturmbannführer Harald Riipalu.[3]
In March 1961, the Soviet court accused during the Holocaust trials in Soviet Estonia the German Security Police in Estonia, headed by Mere (and later by Julius Ennok) to have been actively involved in the arrest and killing of Estonian Jews along with Ralf Gerrets and Jan Viik. The police were also actively engaged in actions against Estonians deemed to be opponents of the Nazi Germany.[4] Though living in Great Britain, he was sentenced to capital punishment. Great Britain did not extradite him, due to the lack of evidence[5] and he died at the age of 66 in Leicester, England.