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 the merger of the 181st Security Group[1] and two companies each from both the 183rd and 185th Security Groups, subordinated under the 18th Army (Wehrmacht). The 181st, 183rd and 185th security groups were originally formed on August 21st, 1941, for the purposes of securing supply lines and clearing the 18th Army rear area of remaining Red Army troops and partisans[2], but were committed to front-line combat duties from October 1941[3]. Captain Alfons Rebane, a former Estonian Army officer, was appointed commander.[4] [2]

Ost Bataillon 658
Country Nazi Germany
BranchArmy
RoleRear-area security, Front-line combat
SizeBattalion
Part of18th Army, 26th Army
Commanders
Notable
commanders		Alfons Rebane

In February 1943 the Battalion was sent to the front near Krasny Bor southeast of Leningrad where it repelled a major Soviet offensive on 19 March 1943. This action resulted in eight Estonians being recommended for the Iron Cross.[2] The Battalion was moved to the frontline near Lake Ilmen in the spring of 1943, then to the Volkov River 18km north of Novgorod on May 18th. When the Red Army launched the Leningrad–Novgorod Offensive the following year on 14 January, 1944, the 658th Battalion was redeployed during the night to Syrkovo village located north west of Novgorod where it repelled an attacking Soviet division, blocking their advance to Novgorod.[2] Fighting continued around the area until February 5th. For these battles the Commander of the 658th Battalion, Major Alfons Rebane, was awarded the Knight’s Cross of the Iron Cross[2].

On 15th February, 1944, the 658th Battalion, along with the 659th and 660th, were deployed to the Narva front under the command of the XXVI Corps. The Battalion was then subsequently dissolved and its personnel drafted into the 47th Waffen-Grenadier Regiment 2nd Battalion of the newly formed 20th SS Division in April 1944.[5][2]

See also

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 3-7648-1080-7.
  2. Toomas Hiio (2006). "Estonian Security Groups and Eastern Battalions in German Army in 1941-1944". 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. 807–824.
  3. Nigel Thomas (2012). Germany's Eastern Front Allies (2): Baltic Forces. Bloomsbury Publishing. p. 11. ISBN 978-1-7809-6794-3.
  4. Williamson, Gordon. The SS: Hitler's Instrument of Terror. St. Paul, MN: Zenith Press, 2004. ISBN 978-0-7603-1933-8. P. 127.
  5. "Ost-Bataillon 658 (Estn.)". Retrieved 2010-04-22.
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