FOR FREEDOM ONLY -THE STORY OF ESTONIAN VOLUNTEERTS IN THE FINNISH WARS OF 1940-

Description: DURING THE SECOND WORLD WAR CONTINGENTS OF ESTONIAN VOLUNTEERS FOUGHT IN THE RANKS OF THE FINNISH ARMY AND NAVY. THEIR NUMERICAL STRENGTH, ONCE NEGLIGIBLE, BEGAN TO INCREASE DURING THE SPRIBNG OF 1943 TO BECOME THE EQUIVALENT OF TWO COMPANIES. THIS INCREASE IN NUMBERS CONTINUED, REACHING THE STRENGTH OF TWO BATTALIONS BY THE FOLLOWINGS AUTUMN. AT THE BEGINNING OF FEBRUARY 1944, THESE BATTALIONS BECAME PART OF A NEWLY ESTABLISHED INFANTRY REGIMENT. TO THIS REGIMENT BELONGED APPROXIMATELY 2,300 ESTONIANS VOLUNTEERS WHILE, AT THE SAME TIME, ABOUT 400 SERVED IN THE FINNISH NAVY. THESE MEN HAD COME ILLEGALLY TO FINLAND FROM GERMAN-OCCUPIED ESTONIA. THE MAJORITY CROSSED THE GULF OF FINLAND IN SMALL FISHING BOATS CARRYING UP TO TWENTY OR PERHAPS THIRTY PASSENGERS, WHILE OTHERS TRAVERSED THE GULF IN STILL SMALLER SAILBOATS OR EVEN ROWBOATS.SHORTLY BEFORE THE FINNISH-SOVIET ARMISTICE THE MAJORITY OF ESTONIAN VOLUNTEERS IN THE FINNISH ARMY MADE THE DECISION TO RETURN TO THEIR HOMELAND. THE IMMINENCE OFG ARED ARMY INVASION PROMPTED THESE MEN TO RETURN TO ESTONIA IN ORDER TO STOP SUCH AN ONSLAUGHT. TO DO THIS, THEY HAD FIRST TO OBTAIN AMNESTY FROM THE GERMANS WHO CONSIDERED THEM DESERTERS FROM THEIR SERVICE. WHEN IT WAS ARRANGED BY FINNISH MILITARY AUTHORITIES, APPROXIMATELY TWO THOUSAND MEN RETURNED TO ESTONIA…..

Price: 61.32 CAD

Location: North Saanich, British Columbia

End Time: 2025-01-11T00:50:47.000Z

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