36th Estonian Police Battalion: Difference between revisions
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The battalion was established on 23 November 1941. It participated at [[Anti-partisan operations in Belarus|rear-security and anti-partisan operations in Belarus]] and guarded the [[prisoner-of-war camp]]s in the [[coal mine]]s of [[Stalino]] and [[Makeyevka]].<ref>Massimo Arico, Ordnungspolizei - Encyclopedia of the German police battalions September 1939 - July 1942, p. 144-145.</ref><ref name=hiio>{{cite book|author=Aivar Niglas, [[: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> |
The battalion was established on 23 November 1941. It participated at [[Anti-partisan operations in Belarus|rear-security and anti-partisan operations in Belarus]] and guarded the [[prisoner-of-war camp]]s in the [[coal mine]]s of [[Stalino]] and [[Makeyevka]].<ref>Massimo Arico, Ordnungspolizei - Encyclopedia of the German police battalions September 1939 - July 1942, p. 144-145.</ref><ref name=hiio>{{cite book|author=Aivar Niglas, [[: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> |
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| ⚫ | In August 1942, the battalion participated in the murder of Jews in [[Navahrudak#World War II|Novogrudok, Belarus]].<ref>[[Geoffrey P. Megargee]] (ed.) (2012): ''[[Encyclopedia of Camps and Ghettos, 1933–1945|The United States Holocaust Memorial Museum Encyclopedia of Camps and Ghettos, 1933–1945]]: Ghettos in German-Occupied Eastern Europe'', [[Indiana University Press]], p. 1249]</ref> The battalion's report under [[Harald Riipalu]]'s signature confirms the unit's presence in Novogrudok during the killing operations.<ref>[http://epl.delfi.ee/news/eesti/ee-eestlased-voisid-osaleda-valgevene-massimorvas?id=50880123 "EE: Eestlased võisid osaleda Valgevene massimõrvas"], ''Delfi.ee''</ref> 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 the Jews still surviving in the town of Novogrudok". The Commission notes:<ref>[http://www.mnemosyne.ee/hc.ee/pdf/conclusions_en_1941-1944.pdf Conclusions of the Estonian International Commission for the Investigation of Crimes Against Humanity (PDF)], p. XXI</ref> |
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| ⚫ | In August 1942, the battalion allegedly participated in the murder of Jews in [[Navahrudak#World War II|Novogrudok, Belarus]].<ref>[[Geoffrey P. Megargee]] (ed.) (2012): ''[[Encyclopedia of Camps and Ghettos, 1933–1945|The United States Holocaust Memorial Museum Encyclopedia of Camps and Ghettos, 1933–1945]]: Ghettos in German-Occupied Eastern Europe'', [[Indiana University Press]], p. 1249]</ref> The battalion's report under [[Harald Riipalu]]'s signature confirms the unit's presence in Novogrudok during the killing operations.<ref>[http://epl.delfi.ee/news/eesti/ee-eestlased-voisid-osaleda-valgevene-massimorvas?id=50880123 "EE: Eestlased võisid osaleda Valgevene massimõrvas"], ''Delfi.ee''</ref> 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 the Jews still surviving in the town of Novogrudok". The Commission notes:<ref>[http://www.mnemosyne.ee/hc.ee/pdf/conclusions_en_1941-1944.pdf Conclusions of the Estonian International Commission for the Investigation of Crimes Against Humanity (PDF)], p. XXI</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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The follow up investigation by the [[Estonian Internal Security Service]] (KaPo) declared that the conclusions of the Estonian International Commission for Investigation of Crimes Against Humanity in regards to the participation of the 36th Police Battalion in the killing of the Jewish population of Novogrudok were not based on documentary evidence or eyewitness accounts and are therefore unfounded. According to the KaPo report, the conclusions of the commission were exclusively based on the forced confessions of the [[POW]]s by the [[NKVD]], and the commission failed to interview or call to witness any of the surviving members of the battalion, or the survivors of the massacre in Novogrudok.<ref>[http://kultuur.elu.ee/ke505_okupatsioon.htm Hinnang M. Jakobsoni rahvusvahelise komisjoni raportile.]</ref> |
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== References == |
== References == |
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Revision as of 01:28, 6 August 2017
| 36th Estonian Police Battalion | |
|---|---|
| Active | 23 November 1941 – 18 January 1943 |
| Country |  Nazi Germany |
| Branch | Estonian Auxiliary Police |
| Type | Battalion |
| Role | Schutzmannschaft |
| Size | 600 |
| Part of | SS of Nazi Germany |
| Engagements | 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 SS of Nazi Germany.
The battalion was established on 23 November 1941. It participated at rear-security and anti-partisan operations in Belarus and guarded the prisoner-of-war camps in the coal mines of Stalino and Makeyevka.[1][2]
From 22 November to 31 December 1942 the battalion took part of the Battle of Stalingrad.[2]
In August 1942, the battalion allegedly participated in the murder of Jews in Novogrudok, Belarus.[3] The battalion's report under Harald Riipalu's signature confirms the unit's presence in Novogrudok during the killing operations.[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 the Jews still surviving in the town of Novogrudok". The Commission notes:[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 follow up investigation by the Estonian Internal Security Service (KaPo) declared that the conclusions of the Estonian International Commission for Investigation of Crimes Against Humanity in regards to the participation of the 36th Police Battalion in the killing of the Jewish population of Novogrudok were not based on documentary evidence or eyewitness accounts and are therefore unfounded. According to the KaPo report, the conclusions of the commission were exclusively based on the forced confessions of the POWs by the NKVD, and the commission failed to interview or call to witness any of the surviving members of the battalion, or the survivors of the massacre in Novogrudok.[6]
References
- ^ Massimo Arico, Ordnungspolizei - Encyclopedia of the German police battalions September 1939 - July 1942, p. 144-145.
- ^ a b Aivar Niglas, Toomas Hiio (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}}: Check|author=value (help)CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link) - ^ Geoffrey P. Megargee (ed.) (2012): The United States Holocaust Memorial Museum Encyclopedia of Camps and Ghettos, 1933–1945: Ghettos in German-Occupied Eastern Europe, Indiana University Press, p. 1249]
- ^ "EE: Eestlased võisid osaleda Valgevene massimõrvas", Delfi.ee
- ^ Conclusions of the Estonian International Commission for the Investigation of Crimes Against Humanity (PDF), p. XXI
- ^ Hinnang M. Jakobsoni rahvusvahelise komisjoni raportile.