ESTONIAN POLICE BATTALIONS
Like the Wehrmacht the Police, too, started recruiting Estonians soon after the Red Army had been driven out from Estonia. The battalions were designated either as Guard or Front battalions but, like other Police formations, there was no real distinction between the two.
There were in all 25 battalions numbered 29-42 and 282-292 inclusive.
In April 1944 it was ordered that a First Estonian Police Regiment would be formed. The commander of this regiment was to be Major Saimre from the 30th Battalion. The regiment consisted of three battalions and it was deployed to coastal defence.
In June 1044 the 37th, 38th and 40th Battalion were combined as the Second Estonian Police Regiment. Since this regiment lacked sufficient staff personnel, the staff of the First Regiment was transferred there which meant that the First Regiment ceased to exist.
Individual histories of the battalions were as follows (additional information to be added):
29th Police Battalion
Disbanded in June 1944 and men used as replacements in 37th and 38th battalions.
30th Police Battalion
Commander major Ellandi. Formed in early spring 1943 from Omakaitse personnel. In action in the river Narva line in January 1944. Sent to guarding the coast-line in March and disbanded in June with the men transferred into the 40th Battalion.
31st Police Battalion
Commander major Kask. Deployed in the summer of 1943 to traffic control and anti-partisan duties near the Estonian-Russian border in Narva area. Transferred to guarding the coast-line when the front reached the river Narva in January 1944. Disbanded in June 1944 and men used as replacements in 37th and 38th battalions.
33th Police Battalion
Deployed in the summer of 1942 in the Leningrad front. Remnants were brought to Estonia in the beginning of 1943. Disbanded in June 1944 and men used as replacements in 37th and 38th battalions.
35th Police Battalion
Forming began in P�rnu in the beginning of 1942. Insufficient number of volunteers enlisted, so the battalion continued life as an administration battalion with e.g. a convalescent company, individual soldiers seconded to German administration and specialists of different trades.
36th Police Battalion
Commander major Renter. Formed in Haapsalu and in the island of Saaremaa at the end of 1942. Sent to tartu in the April of 1943 and in the August to Ukraine near Stalingrad where saw heavy action, but was not inside the encirclement. At the beginning af battle major Renter was replaced with Lieutenant Harald Riipalu. In January 1944 the battalion was brought home to Estonia and disbanded.
37th Police Battalion
Commander major Bergman. Formed in Tartu in the autumn of 1941. Saw action in Latvia and Lithuania in 1944 and brought to Emajõgi line in the summer of 1944. At this phase the commander was major Saimre, who fell in Kärevere. The next commander, Captain Suude fell near Riga, where the battalion fought after retreat from Estonia. The battalion was disbanded in Germany.
38th Police Battalion
Commander major Ellandi. Formed in June 1944 in Tartu. Brought back home from Latvia and deployed in the Emajõgi line in together with the 37th battalion. Saw action again near Riga and retreated to Germany, where disbanded.
39th Police Battalion
Commander major Sobolev. The battalion was formed in Tartu. Deployed in anti-partisan duties in Lithuania. Brought home in 1943, disbanded and the men transferred in the Estonian SS-division.
40th Police Battalion
Commander major Plaado. The Battalion was formed in the Southern part of Estonia in the autumn 0f 1941.In action against partisans in the rear of 18th Army. Transferred to guarding the coast-line and repulsed a Soviet landing attempt in February 1944. In June 1944 Major Ellandi from the disbanded 30th Battalion took command of this battalion. Disbanded in August 1944.
42nd Police Battalion
Commander major Schiller. In the autumn of 1944 deployed in defence in the Emajõgi line. The battalion's retreat was cut by advancing Soviets and was left in.
286. Police Battalion
First commander major Martinsen. The battalion was formed from mobilized policemen in May 1943 and saw action in Nevel area with heavy losses. Brought back home in February-March 1944. The policemen were demobilized and sent back to their civilian policing duties. Major Martinsen was relieved but other officers remained in service and the battalion was reformed using mobilized youths. New commander was captain Kübar, former ADC of the battalion commander. Deployed in guarding the coast-line and August 1944 formed a reserve for the 300th division. Melted away during the retreat in Estonia.
288th. Police Battalion
In action in Narva and could not retreat.
292nd Police Battalion
With the 300th division in action in Narva and could not retreat.
In 1944 it was decided that some of the plice Battalions were to be used as basis for regiments. It was ordered that the 1st Police Regiment was to be formed from the 286th, 288th, 291st ant 292nd Battalions. The staff for this regiment had been formed and the unit was to placed in the Tartu area. Those four battalions were, however in tha Narva area and the Army Group Narwa did not think that they could be spared to another sector of the front. Therefore, it was decided that the staff were to be used for the 2nd Police Regiment. This regiment was formed from 37th, 38th and 40th Police Battalions. The Commander of the regiment was Major Karl Saimre. In July some men from disbanded police battalions (29th to 33rd)were sent to the unit and the Regiment was sent to the front were it fought alongside Latvian Police Regiments.
In August the regiment was brought back to Estonia, where the 40th Battalion was disbanded and the men transferred to the 38th Battalion under Major Julius Ellandi. The 37th Battalion was to be commanded by Major Saimre. It seems that the 2nd Police Regiment was disbanded at this stage and the two Battalions continued their existence as independent units, although in the battles in Tartu area they did fight together.
