Published: 25 December 2010
Last Updated: 05 May 2013

The 3. Estnische SS-Freiwilligen Brigade was formed when Estnische SS-Freiwilligen Brigade was redesignated in October 1943.
It was upgraded to a division by absorbing the other Estonian formations in the German military and some Estonian police formations, and was redesignated 20. Estnische SS-Freiwilligen-Division in 23 January 1944.

Commander

SS-Obersturmbannführer Franz Augsberger (22 Oct 1943 – 23 Jan 1944)

Manpower strength

31 Dec 1943 5.009 (178/864/4.057) (Officers/NCO/Enlisted)

Order of battle

SS-Freiwilligen Regiment 42 (renamed 45 Nov 1943)
– I Bataillon
— 1. Kompanie
— 2. Kompanie
— 3. Kompanie
— 4. (schwere)Kompanie
– II Bataillon
— 5. Kompanie
— 6. Kompanie
— 7. Kompanie
— 8. (schwere)Kompanie
– 13. (IG)Kompanie
– 14.(anti-tank)Kompanie
43. SS-Freiwilligen Regiment (renamed 46 Nov 1943)
– I Bataillon
— 1. Kompanie
— 2. Kompanie
— 3. Kompanie
— 4. (schwere)Kompanie
– II Bataillon
— 5. Kompanie
— 6. Kompanie
— 7. Kompanie
— 8. (schwere)Kompanie
– 13. (IG)Kompanie
– 14. (anti-tank)Kompanie
– 15. Pionere-Kompanie
SS-Flak Abteilung 53
– 1. Batterie (20mm)
– 2. Batterie (37 mm)
– 3. Batterie (88 mm)
SS-Panzerjäger Abteilung 53
SS-Nachrichten Kompanie 53
SS-Feldersatz Bataillon 53
SS-Ausbildungs-und Ersatz Regiment 33
SS-Artillerie Abteilung 53
– Stabsbatterie
– 1. Batterie
– 2. Batterie
– 3. Batterie

Sources used

Christopher Ailsby – Hitler’s Renegades: Foreign nationals in the service of the Third Reich
David Littlejohn – Foreign Legions of the Third Reich, vol 4
Kurt Mehner – Die Waffen-SS und Polizei 1939-1945
Rolf Michaelis – Estländare i tysk tjänst 1941-1945: en översikt

Reference material on this unit

August Jurs – Estonian freedomfighters in World War Two
Mart Laar – Eesti Leegion: sönas ja pildis / The Estonian legion in words and pictures
Richard Landwehr – Estonian Vikings
Rolf Michaelis – Esten in der Waffen-SS: Die 20. Waffen-Grenadier-Division der SS (estnische Nr. 1)