36th Estonian Police Battalion: Difference between revisions
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|unit_name=36th Estonian Police Battalion |
|unit_name=36th Estonian Police Battalion |
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|dates= 23 November 1941 – 18 January 1943 |
|dates= 23 November 1941 – 18 January 1943 |
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|allegiance= {{Flag|Nazi Germany}} |
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| ⚫ | |||
|allegiance= |
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|type= Battalion |
|type= Battalion |
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|role= [[Bandenbekämpfung|Rear security]] |
|role= [[Bandenbekämpfung|Rear security]] |
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|march= |
|march= |
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|identification_symbol= |
|identification_symbol= |
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|battles= [[Nazi security warfare]]<br>[[Battle of Stalingrad]] |
|battles= [[Nazi security warfare]]<br />[[Battle of Stalingrad]] |
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|notable_commanders= [[Harald Riipalu]] |
|notable_commanders= [[Harald Riipalu]] |
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|anniversaries= |
|anniversaries= |
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==Operational history== |
==Operational history== |
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The 36th Estonian Police Battalion was established on 23 November 1941 |
The 36th Estonian Police Battalion was established on 23 November 1941 in western Estonia and on [[West Estonian archipelago|Estonian islands]]. Between May and August 1942, the battalion was in training and received reinforcements from other units, bringing its total strength to 23 officers, 161 non-commissioned officers, and 254 troops.<ref name=hiio2011_p208>{{cite journal|last1=Hiio|first1=Toomas|title=Eesti üksustest Wehrmacht'i, SSi ja politsei ning Relva-SSi alluvuses Teise maailmasõja ajal|journal=Estonian Yearbook of Military History |date=2011|page=208|language=et|url=http://publications.tlu.ee/index.php/eymh/article/view/450/334|access-date=4 August 2018}}</ref> |
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It participated at [[Anti |
It participated at [[Anti-partisan operations in Belarus]] and guarded the [[prisoner-of-war camp]]s in the coal mines of [[Stalino]] and [[Makeyevka]].<ref name=hiio>{{cite book|author=Aivar Niglas |author2=[[:et:Toomas Hiio|Toomas Hiio]]|year=2006|pages=825–876|chapter=Estonian defence battalions / police battalions|editor=Toomas Hiio |editor2=Meelis Maripuu |editor3=Indrek Paavle |title=Estonia 1940–1945: Reports of the Estonian International Commission for the Investigation of Crimes Against Humanity|location=Tallinn}}</ref> From 22 November to 31 December 1942 the battalion took part of the [[Battle of Stalingrad]].<ref name=hiio/> Having had 39 killed, 97 wounded, and 11 missing, the battalion was brought back to Estonia in January 1943 and disbanded, with many men joining the [[Estonian Legion]].<ref name=hiio2011_p209>{{cite journal|last1=Hiio|first1=Toomas|title=Eesti üksustest Wehrmacht'i, SSi ja politsei ning Relva-SSi alluvuses Teise maailmasõja ajal|journal=Estonian Yearbook of Military History |date=2011|page=209|language=et|url=http://publications.tlu.ee/index.php/eymh/article/view/450/334|access-date=4 August 2018}}</ref> |
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36th battalion was |
The 36th battalion was formed again in May 1943, and in autumn was sent to the front at [[Nevel (town)|Nevel]] where it was merged into the 288th battalion.<ref name=hiio2011_p209/> |
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==Massacre at Novogrudok== |
==Massacre at Novogrudok== |
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On 6 and 7 August |
On 6 and 7 August 3000 to 5000 Jews were killed in the area of [[Navahrudak#World War II|Novogrudok, Belarus]].<ref name=hiio2011_p209/><ref name=Kaasik>{{cite journal|last1=Kaasik|first1=Peeter|title=What Did the 36th Estonian Front Defence Battalion Do in Novogrudok?|journal=[[National Archives of Estonia|Tuna]] |date=2017 |
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|volume=2 |
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|url=http://www.ra.ee/tuna/en/what-did-the-36th-estonian-front-defence-battalion-do-in-novogrudok/ |
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|access-date=4 August 2018}}</ref> The 36th battalion was in the area from 4 August to 25 August 1942. The battalion's 16 August report said that the battalion was engaged in "fighting against partisans".<ref name=hiio2011_p208/><ref name=Kaasik/> |
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According to the [[Estonian International Commission for Investigation of Crimes Against Humanity]], "the 36th Police Battalion participated on August 7, 1942 in the gathering together and shooting of almost all |
According to the [[Estonian International Commission for Investigation of Crimes Against Humanity]], "the 36th Police Battalion participated on August 7, 1942 in the gathering together and shooting of almost all Jews still surviving in the town of Novogrudok". The Commission's report noted:<ref>{{cite web|title=PHASE II: THE GERMAN OCCUPATION OF ESTONIA IN 1941–1944|publisher=[[Estonian International Commission for Investigation of Crimes Against Humanity]]|page=XXI|url=http://www.mnemosyne.ee/hc.ee/pdf/conclusions_en_1941-1944.pdf|access-date=4 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120305103650/http://www.mnemosyne.ee/hc.ee/pdf/conclusions_en_1941-1944.pdf|archive-date=2012-03-05}}</ref> |
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<blockquote>In the published records, this unit was described as fighting against partisans at the time. The Commission believes that although there clearly were numerous engagements between police units and partisans, "fighting against partisans" and "guarding prisoner of war camps" were at times ways of describing participation in actions against civilians, including Jews.</blockquote> |
<blockquote>In the published records, this unit was described as fighting against partisans at the time. The Commission believes that although there clearly were numerous engagements between police units and partisans, "fighting against partisans" and "guarding prisoner of war camps" were at times ways of describing participation in actions against civilians, including Jews.</blockquote> |
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{{reflist}} |
{{reflist}} |
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[[Category: |
[[Category:Estonian Auxiliary Police]] |
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[[Category:Military history of Estonia during World War II]] |
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[[Category:Generalbezirk Estland]] |
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[[Category:The Holocaust in Belarus]] |
[[Category:The Holocaust in Belarus]] |
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Latest revision as of 20:58, 6 February 2024
| 36th Estonian Police Battalion | |
|---|---|
| Active | 23 November 1941 – 18 January 1943 |
| Allegiance |  Nazi Germany |
| Branch | Schutzmannschaft Estonian Auxiliary Police |
| Type | Battalion |
| Role | Rear security |
| Size | 438 (August 1942) |
| Part of | SS of Nazi Germany |
| Engagements | Nazi security warfare Battle of Stalingrad |
| Commanders | |
| Notable commanders | Harald Riipalu |
36th Estonian Police Battalion (also known as Schutzmannschaft Front Bataillon 36 Arensburg (German) and 36. Kaitse Rindepataljon (Estonian)) was an Estonian rear-security unit during World War II that operated under command of the German SS.
Operational history[edit]
The 36th Estonian Police Battalion was established on 23 November 1941 in western Estonia and on Estonian islands. Between May and August 1942, the battalion was in training and received reinforcements from other units, bringing its total strength to 23 officers, 161 non-commissioned officers, and 254 troops.[1] It participated at Anti-partisan operations in Belarus and guarded the prisoner-of-war camps in the coal mines of Stalino and Makeyevka.[2] From 22 November to 31 December 1942 the battalion took part of the Battle of Stalingrad.[2] Having had 39 killed, 97 wounded, and 11 missing, the battalion was brought back to Estonia in January 1943 and disbanded, with many men joining the Estonian Legion.[3]
The 36th battalion was formed again in May 1943, and in autumn was sent to the front at Nevel where it was merged into the 288th battalion.[3]
Massacre at Novogrudok[edit]
On 6 and 7 August 3000 to 5000 Jews were killed in the area of Novogrudok, Belarus.[3][4] The 36th battalion was in the area from 4 August to 25 August 1942. The battalion's 16 August report said that the battalion was engaged in "fighting against partisans".[1][4]
According to the Estonian International Commission for Investigation of Crimes Against Humanity, "the 36th Police Battalion participated on August 7, 1942 in the gathering together and shooting of almost all Jews still surviving in the town of Novogrudok". The Commission's report noted:[5]
In the published records, this unit was described as fighting against partisans at the time. The Commission believes that although there clearly were numerous engagements between police units and partisans, "fighting against partisans" and "guarding prisoner of war camps" were at times ways of describing participation in actions against civilians, including Jews.
The Estonian Internal Security Service (KaPo) investigation into the battalion's activities concluded that there was no evidence about participation in war crimes or crimes against humanity.[6]
References[edit]
- ^ a b Hiio, Toomas (2011). "Eesti üksustest Wehrmacht'i, SSi ja politsei ning Relva-SSi alluvuses Teise maailmasõja ajal". Estonian Yearbook of Military History (in Estonian): 208. Retrieved 4 August 2018.
- ^ a b Aivar Niglas; Toomas Hiio [in Estonian] (2006). "Estonian defence battalions / police battalions". In Toomas Hiio; Meelis Maripuu; Indrek Paavle (eds.). Estonia 1940–1945: Reports of the Estonian International Commission for the Investigation of Crimes Against Humanity. Tallinn. pp. 825–876.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link) - ^ a b c Hiio, Toomas (2011). "Eesti üksustest Wehrmacht'i, SSi ja politsei ning Relva-SSi alluvuses Teise maailmasõja ajal". Estonian Yearbook of Military History (in Estonian): 209. Retrieved 4 August 2018.
- ^ a b Kaasik, Peeter (2017). "What Did the 36th Estonian Front Defence Battalion Do in Novogrudok?". Tuna. 2. Retrieved 4 August 2018.
- ^ "PHASE II: THE GERMAN OCCUPATION OF ESTONIA IN 1941–1944" (PDF). Estonian International Commission for Investigation of Crimes Against Humanity. p. XXI. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2012-03-05. Retrieved 4 August 2018.
- ^ "Kilode viisi arhiividokumente andsid sama vastuse: Zuroffil pole tõendeid" (in Estonian). Eesti Päevaleht. 25 January 2003. Retrieved 4 August 2018.