Estonian Regiment "Reval"

Estonian Regiment "Reval"
Active	February 1944 – 8 May 1945
Disbanded	8 May 1945
Country	Nazi Germany
Branch	Waffen SS
Type	Infantry
Size	Regiment
Engagements	World War II Battle of Narva (1944) Battle for Narva Bridgehead Battle of Tannenberg Line
Commanders
Notable commanders	Maj. Richard Rubach

Estonian Regiment "Reval" (Estonian: Eesti Piirikaitserügement Tallinn) was formed in the early spring of 1944. The regiment comprised only Estonians, and had three battalions. The regiment was led by Major Richard Rubach, helped by Lt. Viktor Noorkukk. The regiment's first name was supposed to be Narwa, but that name was already used by another Estonian battalion.

The regiment's first battalion consisted mostly of Viljandi County men led by Captain Arnold Purre. The second battalion was made up of Tallinn and Tartu County men led by Captain Jüri Jürgen. The third battalion was made up of Pärnu County men led by Captain Mats Mölder.[1]

The regiment was sent to the Narva front on February 13, 1944.[2] The regiment was sent without adequate training or equipment (particularly machine guns) and suffered heavy losses, as there were many casualties to Soviet artillery and aircraft.

See also

• 20th Waffen Grenadier Division of the SS (1st Estonian)
• Estonian Legion

References

1. Estonian International Commission for the Investigation of Crimes Against Humanity (2006). Estonia, 1940-1945: Reports of the Estonian International Commission for the Investigation of Crimes Against Humanity. Estonian Foundation for the Investigation of Crimes Against Humanity. p. 999. ISBN 9789949130405. Retrieved July 21, 2024.
2. "Eesti Rügement "Tallinn"" (in Estonian). wehrmacht.rindeleht.ee. Archived from the original on 2013-07-23. Retrieved 2014-10-04.