Battle of Narva

Battle of Narva Part of Eastern Front (World War II) Narva River: Hermann Castle on the Estonian bank (left) facing its Russian counterpart fortress of Ivangorod Date 2 February – 10 August 1944 Location Narva, Estonia 59°23′N 28°12′E / 59.383°N 28.2°E / 59.383; 28.2Coordinates: 59°23′N 28°12′E / 59.383°N 28.2°E / 59.383; 28.2 Result German defensive victory Belligerents Germany Estonian conscript, police and border guard forces Soviet Union Commanders Johannes Frießner Leonid Govorov Strength 123,541 personnel[1] 32 tanks[2] 137 aircraft[1] 200,000 personnel[2][3] 2500 assault guns 100 tanks[4] 800 aircraft[1] Casualties and losses 14,000 dead or missing 54,000 wounded or sick 100,000 dead or missing 380,000 wounded or sick 300 tanks 230 aircraft[2][5]

v • d • e Eastern Front Barbarossa – Baltic Sea – Black Sea – Finland – Leningrad and Baltics – Crimea and Caucasus – Moscow – 1st Rzhev–Vyazma – 2nd Kharkov – Blue – Stalingrad – Velikiye Luki – 2nd Rzhev–Sychevka – Kursk – 2nd Smolensk – Dnieper – 2nd Kiev – Dniepr-Carpathian – Narva – Hube's Pocket – Vyborg–Petrozavodsk – Bagration – Lvov–Sandomierz – Lublin–Brest – Romania (Iassy–Kishinev) – Baltic – Budapest – Vistula–Oder – East Prussia – East Pomerania – Silesia – Vienna – Berlin – Prague – German capitulation –Manchuria v • d • e Leningrad and the Baltics 1941–1944 June in Lithuania – Summer in Estonia – Evacuation of Tallinn – Nazi occupation – Toropets-Kholm – Demyansk – Iskra – Polyarnaya Zvezda – Krasny Bor – Lenino – Leningrad western approaches – Formation of Narva bridgeheads – Narva (15–28 February 1944) – Narva (1–4 March 1944) – Narva (March–June 1944) – Vilnius – Narva (July 1944) – Kaunas – Sinimäed – South Estonia – Riga – North Estonia – Attempt to restore independence of Estonia – Moonsund – Re-occupation of Estonia – Courland – Re-occupation of Latvia v • d • e Estonia 1944 Formation of Narva bridgeheads – Narva (15–28 February) – Narva (1–4 March) – Bombing of Tallinn – Narva (18–24 March) – Narva (March–June) – Auvere – Narva (July) – Sinimäed – South Estonia – North Estonia – Porkuni – Moonsund Archipelago – Tehumardi

The Battle of Narva (Estonian: Narva lahing; German: Schlacht bei Narva; Russian: Битва за Нарву) was a military campaign between the German army detachment "Narwa" and the Soviet Leningrad Front fought for the strategically important Narva Isthmus in 2 February – 10 August 1944.

The campaign took place in the northern section of the Eastern Front and consisted of two major phases: the Battle for Narva Bridgehead^[6] and the Battle of Tannenberg Line.^[7] The Soviet Kingisepp–Gdov Offensive, Narva Offensives (15–28 February, 1–4 March, and 18–24 March) were part of the Winter Spring Campaign of 1944.^[8] Following Joseph Stalin's 'Broad Front' strategy, these coincided with the Dnieper–Carpathian Offensive.^[8]

As a continuation of the Leningrad-Novgorod Offensive in January 1944, the Soviet Estonian Operation pushed the front westward to the Narva River, aiming to destroy the army detachment "Narwa"and to thrust deep into Estonia. The Soviet units established a number of bridgeheads on the opposite bank in February. Subsequent attempts failed to expand. German counter attacks annihilated the bridgeheads to the north of Narva and reduced the bridgehead south of the town stabilizing the front until July 1944.

The Soviet Narva Offensive (July 1944) and the follow-on Battle of Tannenberg Line were part of the Soviet Summer Autumn Campaign of 1944, coinciding with the Lvov-Sandomierz Operation. The Narva Offensive captured the city and forced the German forces to retreat to their prepared Tannenberg Defence Line in the hills of Sinimäed 16 kilometres from Narva. In ensuing fierce Battle of Tannenberg Line, the German army group held the line.

Joseph Stalin's main strategic goal — a quick occupation of Estonia as a base for air- and seaborne attacks against Finland and an invasion to East Prussia — was not achieved. As a result of the lengthy German defence, the Soviet war effort in the Baltic Sea region was hampered for seven and a half months.

A number of foreign volunteers and the local Estonian conscripts participated in the battle as part of German forces. By giving its support to the German illegal conscription call, the Estonian resistance movement had hoped to recreate a national army and restore the independence of the country.

Contents 1 Background 1.1 Terrain 1.2 Preceding combat 1.3 Soviet aims 1.4 Soviet deployments 1.5 German and Finnish aims 1.6 Aims of Estonian resistance movement 1.7 Formation of army detachment "Narwa" 2 Combat activity 2.1 Formation of bridgeheads 2.2 Narva Offensives, 15–28 February and 1–4 March 2.3 6–24 March 2.4 Strachwitz offensive 2.5 Narva Offensive, July 1944 2.6 Battle of Tannenberg Line 3 Casualties 4 Aftermath 4.1 Baltic Offensive 4.2 Attempt to restore Estonian Government 4.3 Civilian refugees 4.4 Outcome for Finland 4.5 Post-war status of Estonians in Waffen SS 4.6 Modern representations 5 References and Notes 5.1 Notes

Background

Terrain

Terrain played a significant role in operations around Narva. The elevation above sea level rarely rises above 100 meters by Narva, and the land is cut by numerous waterways including the Narva and Plyussa Rivers. The bulk of the land in the region is forested and large swamps inundate areas of low elevation. The effect of the terrain on operations was one of channelization; because of the swamps, only certain areas were suitable for large-scale troop movement.^[1]

On a strategic scale, a natural choke point was present between the northern shore of Lake Peipus and the Gulf of Finland. The 45 kilometres wide strip of land is entirely bisected by the Narva River as well as having large areas of wilderness. The primary transportation routes, Narva–Tallinn Highway and Narva–Tallinn Railway, run on an east-west axis near and parallel to the coastline. There are no other east-west transportation routes capable of sustaining troop movement on a large scale in the region.^[1]

Preceding combat

On 14 January 1944, the Leningrad Front launched the Krasnoye Selo–Ropsha Offensive aimed at forcing the German 18th Army back from its positions near Oranienbaum. On the third day of the offensive, the Soviets broke through German lines and pushed westward.

Soviet aims

By 1944 it was fairly routine practice for the Stavka to assign its operating fronts new and more ambitious missions while the Soviet Armed Forces were conducting major offensive operations. The Stavka justified the practice on the grounds of a need for relentless pressure for a possible German collapse. For the 1943/44 winter campaign, Stalin ordered the Red Army to conduct major offensives along the entire Soviet-German front in a continuation of the 'Broad Front' strategy he had pursued since the beginning of the war. This was applied in consonance with his long-standing rationale that, if the Red Army applied pressure along the entire front, German defences were likely to break in at least one section. The Soviet winter campaign included major assaults across the entire expanse the front in the Ukraine, Belorussia and against the German Panther Line in the region of the Baltic Sea.^[8]

Breaking through the Narva Isthmus situated between the Gulf of Finland and Lake Peipus was of major strategic importance to the Soviet Armed Forces. The success of the Estonian Operation would have provided unobstructed advance along the coast to Tallinn, forcing the Army Group North to escape from Estonia for fear of getting besieged. For the Baltic Fleet trapped in an eastern bay of the Gulf of Finland, Tallinn was the closest exit to the Baltic Sea.^[1] The ejection of the Army Group North from Estonia would have made Finland subject to air and amphibious attacks originating from Estonian bases. The perspective of an invasion to East Prussia through Estonia^[9] appealed even more to the Stavka, as it appeared bringing German resistance to a collapse.^[10] In the participation of Leonid Govorov, commander of the Leningrad Front, and Vladimir Tributz, commander of the Baltic Fleet, a scheme was prepared to destroy the Army Group North.^[10][11] Stalin ordered the capture of Narva at all costs no later than 17 February:^[12]

"It is mandatory that our forces seize Narva no later than 17 February 1944. This is required both for military as well as political reasons. It is the most important thing right now. I demand that you undertake all necessary measures to liberate Narva no later than the period indicated. (signed) I. Stalin"

After the failure of the Leningrad Front to fulfil the order, Stalin gave a new order on 22 February: to break through the army detachment "Narwa" defence, give a shock at the South-Estonian port of Pärnu and cut out the German forces in Estonia, direct two armies at South-East Estonia, keep going through Latvia and open the road to East Prussia and Central Europe. On 22 February, as the Soviet offensive had been stalled for three weeks, the Soviet Union presented Finland with peace conditions.^[12] While Finland regarded the terms as unacceptable, the war waging around them appeared dangerous enough to keep negotiating. To push Finland into the unfavourable peace conditions, Stalin needed to take Estonia.^[9] Stalin's wish was an order to the commanders of Leningrad Front, with their heads at stake.^[13] After reinforcements, Narva front acquired the highest concentration of forces on the Eastern Front in March 1944.^[14] By July 1944, a detailed plan was prepared of the Soviet advance to Tallinn.^[15]

Soviet deployments

Three Soviet armies were deployed at the maximum concentration of forces in March 1944. The 2nd Shock Army was placed in the sector against Narva and north of it, the 59th Army south of Narva, and the 8th Army south of the 59th Army along the 50 km long Narva river stretching down to Lake Peipus. Detailed information on the size of the Soviet forces at the Narva front during the Winter-Spring campaign has not been published by any sources. It is impossible to give an overview on the Soviet strength until the Red Army archival information will be made available to non-Russian investigators or published.^[1] Estonian historian Hannes Walter has estimated the number of Soviet troops in the Battle of Narva at 205,000^[3] which is in accordance with the number of divisions multiplied by the assumed sizes of the divisions presented by the Estonian historian Mart Laar accounting for roughly 200,000 troops.^[2] The order of battle of the Leningrad Front as of 1 March, 1944:^[16]

• 2nd Shock Army - Lieutenant General Ivan Fedyuninsky
  • 43rd Rifle Corps - Major General Anatoli Andreyev
  • 109th Rifle Corps - Major General Ivan Alferov
  • 124th Rifle Corps - Major General Voldemar Damberg

• 8th Army - Lieutenant General Filip Starikov
  • 6th Rifle Corps - Major General Semyon Mikulski
  • 112th Rifle Corps - Major General Filip Solovev

• 59th Army - Lieutenant General Ivan Korvnikov
  • 117th Rifle Corps - Major General Vasili Trubachev
  • 122nd Rifle Corps - Major General Panteleimon Zaitsev

Separate detachments:

• 8th Estonian Rifle Corps - Lieutenant General Lembit Pärn^[17]
• 14th Rifle Corps - Major General Pavel Artyushenko
• 124th Rifle Division - Colonel Mikhail Papchenko
• 30th Guards Rifle Corps - Lieutenant General Nikolai Simonyak
• 46th, 260th and 261st Separate Guards Heavy Tank and 1902nd Separate Self-propelled Artillery regiments^[18]
• 3rd Breakthrough Artillery Corps - Major General N. N. Zhdanov
• 3rd Guards Tank Corps - Major General I. A. Vovchenko

At the start of the Narva Offensive (July 1944), the Leningrad Front deployed 136,830 troops,^[19] 150 tanks, 2,500 assault guns, and 800+ aircraft^[2]

German and Finnish aims

The Oberkommando des Heeres believed it was crucial to stabilize the front on the Narva River. A Soviet breakthrough here would have meant the loss of the northern coast of Estonia, with it the loss of control of the Gulf of Finland and thus given the Soviet Baltic Fleet access to the Baltic Sea.^[1] As Colonel General Georg Lindemann said in his daily order to the 11th Infantry Division:^[20]

“

We are standing on the border of our native land. Every step backwards will carry the war through the air and water to Germany.

”

As Finland was negotiating with the Soviet Union for peace, the Oberkommando des Heeres paid attention to the Narva Front, using every means to convince the Finnish Defence Command that their defence was going to hold. The German command informed their Finnish colleagues in detail about the events on the Narva Front while a delegation of the Finnish Defence Command visited Narva in Spring 1944.^[2]

A breakthrough to the Baltic Sea would also have threatened the German control of the entire Baltic Sea and the iron ore imports from Sweden. Additionally the loss of Narva would have meant fuel derived from the adjacent Kohtla-Järve oil shale deposits (32 kilometers west of Narva on the coast) would be denied to the German war machine.^[1] Besides being a narrow corridor well suited for defence, the terrain in the area of Narva was dominated by forests and swamps. Directly behind the Narva River lay the city itself, ideally positioned as a bastion from which defending forces could influence combat to both the north and south of the city along the river valley.^[1]

This position known as the northern segment of Panther Line was where Generalfeldmarschall Georg von Küchler in charge of the army group wanted to set up his defence. Hitler initially refused, and replaced von Küchler with Generalfeldmarschall Walter Model as the commander of the Army Group North. Model agreed with von Küchler, however, being one of Hitler's favourites, he also was allowed more freedom by Hitler. Using this freedom to his advantage, Model managed to fall back and begin establishing a line along the Narva River with a strong bridgehead on the eastern bank in Ivangorod. This appeased Hitler and also followed the German standard operating procedure for defending a river line. Subsequently on 1 February 1944, the High Command of Army Group North tasked the Sponheimer Group (renamed army detachment "Narwa" on February 23) to defend the Panther Line in the isthmus between the Gulf of Finland and Lake Peipus at all costs.^[1]

After the initial Soviet success, President of Finland was presented with Stalin's peace terms on 8 February 1944. With the tactical success of the army detachment "Narwa" from Mid-February to April, Finland terminated the negotiations with the Soviet Union on April 18, 1944.^[21]

Aims of Estonian resistance movement

During the course of Nazi German occupation, Estonian expectations of regaining their independence began to diminish. Pursuant to the Constitution of Estonia formally still in force, Estonian politicians formed an underground National Committee of the Republic of Estonia which convened on 14 February 1944. As President Konstantin Päts was currently imprisoned by the Soviet authorities, the acting head of state according to the Constitution was last Prime Minister Jüri Uluots. The Germany-appointed Estonian Self-Administration had previously attempted several unsuccessful general mobilisation calls which were illegal under the Hague Conventions (1899 and 1907) and opposed by Uluots.^[22][23] In February 1944 when the Leningrad Front reached the vicinity of Narva and a new Soviet occupation became a real threat, Uluots switched his stand on the German draft. In his radio speech on 7 February, Uluots reasoned that armed Estonians could become useful against both Germans and Soviets. He also hinted that Estonian troops on Estonian soil would have: "... a significance much wider than what I could and would be able to disclose here."^[24]. Along with other Estonian politicians, Uluots saw the fighting against the Soviet Armed Forces as a means of preventing a new Soviet occupation and restoring Estonia’s independence once the war was over.^[25] The conscription call was received with popular support and the mobilisation brought together 38,000 men^[26] which were formed into a detachment euphemistically called the 20th Estonian SS-Volunteer Division^[27][28] and seven border guard regiments. Added the Estonian Finnish Infantry Regiment 200 within the ranks of the Finnish Army, the Estonian volunteers within the Waffen SS and the personnel conscripted earlier into the Wehrmacht returned to Estonia, a total of 70,000 Estonian troops were under Nazi German arms in 1944.^[23]

Formation of army detachment "Narwa"

In February 1944, the L and LIV Army Corps along with the III (Germanic) SS Panzer Corps were on the left flank of the 18th Army as they retreated to Narva. On 4 February, the Sponheimer Group was released from the 18th Army and subordinated directly to the Army Group North. In support of the forces already in place, Hitler ordered reinforcements. The Panzer Corps Feldherrnhalle with over 10,000 troops and equipment was airlifted from Belorussia into Estonia via the airfield in Tartu on 1 February. A week later, the 5th Battalion of the Panzergrenadier Großdeutschland Division arrived on the front. The Grenadier Regiment Gnesen (an ad-hoc regiment formed from replacement army units in Poland) was sent from Germany and arrived on 11 February. Three days later, the 214th Infantry Division was transferred from Norway. Over the next two weeks various units were added to the group, including the 11th SS Volunteer Panzergrenadier Division "Nordland" as well as several divisions of the Wehrmacht, the Estonian Division, and local Estonian border guard and police battalions. Infantry General Otto Sponheimer was replaced with General Johannes Frießner and Sponheimer Group renamed army detachment "Narwa" on 23 February. The Army Group North ordered the deployment of the army detachment "Narwa" on February 22 in the following positions: III SS Panzer Corps deployed to Narva, Ivangorod Bridgehead on the east bank of the river and north of Narva; the XXXXIII Army Corps against the Krivasoo Bridgehead south of the city and the XXVI Army Corps to the sector between the Krivasoo and Lake Peipus. As of 1 March 1944, there were a total of 123,541 personnel subordinated to the army group in the following order of battle:^[1]

• XXVI Army Corps - SS-Obergruppenführer Anton Grasser
  • 11th Infantry Division
  • 58th Infantry Division
  • 214th Infantry Division
  • 225th Infantry Division
  • 3rd Estonian Border Guard Regiment (as of April 15)
• XXXXIII Army Corps - SS-Obergruppenführer Karl von Oven
  • 61st Infantry Division
  • 170th Infantry Division
  • 227th Infantry Division
  • Feldherrnhalle Panzergrenadier Division
  • Gnesen Grenadier Regiment
• III SS (Germanic) Panzer Corps - SS-Obergruppenführer Felix Martin Julius Steiner
  • 11th SS Panzergrenadier Division "Nordland"
  • 4th SS Panzergrenadier Brigade "Nederland"
  • 20th Estonian SS-Volunteer Division

Separate units:

• Eastern Sector, Coastal Defence (Staff of 2nd Anti-Aircraft Division as HQ) - Lieutenant General Alfons Luczny
  • Estonian Regiment "Reval"
  • 3 Estonian police battalions
  • 2 Estonian Eastern Battalions

Other military units:

• Artillery Command No. 113
• High Pioneer Command No. 32
• 502nd Heavy Tank Battalion
• 752nd Anti-Tank Battalion
• 540th Special Infantry (Training) Battalion

In the summer of 1944, the Panzergrenadier Division Feldherrnhalle and seven infantry divisions were removed from the Narva Front^[2] leaving 22,250 troops on the location.^[29]

Combat activity

Formation of bridgeheads

Launching the Kingisepp–Gdov Offensive on 1 February, the 2nd Shock Army's 109th Rifle Corps captured the town of Kingisepp on the first day.^[12] The 18th Army was forced into its new positions on the eastern bank of the Narva River.^[15] Forward units of the 2nd Shock Army crossed the river and established several bridgeheads on the west bank to the north and south of the city of Narva on 2 February. The 2nd Shock Army expanded the bridgehead in the Krivasoo Swamp south of Narva five days later temporally cutting Narva–Tallinn Railway behind the III SS Panzer Corps. Govorov was unable to take advantage of the opportunity of encircling the smaller German army group which called in reinforcements. These came mostly from the newly mobilised Estonians motivated to resist the looming Soviet re-occupation. At the same time, the Soviet 108th Rifle Corps landed units across Lake Peipus 120 kilometres south of Narva and established a bridgehead around the village of Meerapalu. By a coincidence, the I.Battalion, SS Volunteer Grenadier Regiment 45 (1st Estonian) headed for Narva reached the area. A battalion of the 44th Infantry Regiment (consisting in personnel from East Prussia), the I.Battalion, 1st Estonian and an air squadron destroyed the Soviet bridgehead on 15-16 February. The Mereküla Landing Operation was conducted as the 517-strong 260th Independent Naval Infantry Brigade landed at the coastal borough of Mereküla behind the Sponheimer Group lines. However, the unit was almost completely annihilated.^[1][13]

Narva Offensives, 15–28 February and 1–4 March

The Soviet 30th Guards Rifle Corps and the 124th Rifle Corps launched a new Narva Offensive on 15 February.^[8] In ferocious battles, units of the Sponheimer Group exhausted the Soviet army which halted its offensive. Both sides used the pause for bringing in additional forces. The fresh SS Volunteer Grenadier Regiments 45 and 46 (1st and 2nd Estonian) accompanied by units of the "Nordland" Division destroyed the Soviet bridgeheads north of Narva by 6 March. The newly arrived 59th Army attacked westwards from the Krivasoo Swamp and encircled the strong points of the 214th Infantry Division and Estonian 658th and 659th Eastern Battalions. The resistance of the encircled units gave the German command time to move in all available forces and to stop the 59th Army units' advance.^[1][13]

6–24 March

The Soviet aviation conducted an air raid, leveling the historical town of Narva on 6 March. An air and artillery shock of 100,000 shells and grenades at the "Nordland" and "Nederland" detachments in Ivangorod prepared the 30th Guards Rifle Division's attack on 8 March. Simultaneous pitched battles took place north from the town, where the 14th Rifle Corps supported by the artillery of the 8th Estonian Rifle Corps attempted to re-establish a bridgehead. The two Estonian regiments repulsed the attacks causing great losses for the Soviets.^[1][13]

Soviet air assaults against civilians in Estonian towns were a part of the offensive, aiming to force the Estonians away from supporting the German side. The Soviet Long Range Aviation assaulted the Estonian capital Tallinn on the night before 9 March. Approximately 40% of the housing space was destroyed in the city, as 25,000 people were left without a shelter, and 500 civilians killed. The result of the air raid was the opposite to the Soviet aim as the people felt disgusted by the Soviet atrocities and more men answered the German conscription call.^[1][13]

The Soviet tank attack at Auvere Station on 17 March, was stopped by a squadron of the 502nd Heavy Tank Battalion. The Narva Offensive (18–24 March 1944) continued for another week^[8] until the Soviet forces had suffered enough casualties to switch over to defensive. This enabled the army detachment "Narwa" to take the initiative.^[1][13]

Strachwitz offensive

The Strachwitz Battle Group annihilated the Soviet 8th Army shock troop wedge at the western end of the Krivasoo Bridgehead on 26 March. The German battle group destroyed the eastern tip of the bridgehead on 6 April. Panzergraf Hyazinth Strachwitz von Gross-Zauche und Camminetz inspired by the success tried to eliminate the whole bridgehead but was unable to proceed due to the spring thaw that had rendered the swamp impassable for the Tiger I tanks.^[30] By the end of April, the parties had mutually exhausted their strengths. Relative calm settled on the front until late July, 1944.^[1][13]

Narva Offensive, July 1944

The Soviet breakthrough in Belorussia made the Army Group North withdraw a large portion of their troops from Narva to the central part of the Eastern Front and to Finland. As there were no more sufficient forces for the defence of the former front line at Narva in July, the army group began preparations for its withdrawal to the Tannenberg Defence Line in the hills of Sinimäed 16 kilometres from Narva. While the command of the Leningrad Front was unaware of the preparations, they designed a new Narva Offensive. Shock troops from the Finnish Front were concentrated near Narva, giving the Leningrad Front a 4:1 superiority both in manpower and equipment. Before the German forces had implemented the plan, the Soviet 8th Army launched the offensive with its assault at Auvere Railway Station. The I.Battalion 1st Estonian and the 44th Infantry Regiment repulsed the attack inflicting heavy losses to the 8th Army. The "Nordland" and "Nederland" detachments in Ivangorod left their positions quietly on the night before 25 July. The evacuation was carried out according to Steiner's plans until the 2nd Shock Army resumed with the offensive in the morning of 25 July. Supported by 280,000 shells and grenades from 1360 assault guns, the army crossed the Narva River north of the town. The II.Battalion 1st Estonian Regiment kept the 2nd Shock Army from capturing the highway behind the retreating troops. The defensive operation cost the destruction of the SS Volunteer Panzergrenadier Regiment 48 "General Seyffardt" due to their tactical errors. The Soviet forces captured Narva on 26 July.^[1][13]

Battle of Tannenberg Line

The Soviet vanguard 201st and 256th Rifle Divisions attacked the Tannenberg Line and conquered a part of the Lastekodumägi the easternmost of the three hills. The Anti-Tank Company, SS Panzergrenadier Regiment 24 "Danmark" returned the hill to the hands of the army detachment "Narwa" at the following night. Subsequent attempts of the Soviet tanks to conquer the hills were repulsed by the III SS Panzer Corps on the following day. The SS Reconnaissance Battalion 11 and the I.Battalion, Waffen Grenadier Regiment 47 (3rd Estonian) ferocious counter attack at the night before 28 July subsequently collapsed under the Soviet tank fire while the Estonian battalion was destroyed. In a pitched battle carried into the next day without a break in fighting, the two Soviet armies forced the army detachment "Narwa" into its new positions at the central of the three hills the Grenaderimägi.^[1][13]

The climax of the Battle of Tannenberg Line was the Soviet attack on 29 July. The Soviet shock units suppressed the German resistance on the Lastekodumägi, while the Soviet main forces suffered heavy casualties in the subsequent assault at the Grenaderimägi. The Soviet tanks encircled the Grenaderimägi and the westernmost hill of Tornimägi. At the same time, Steiner sent out the remaining seven German tanks which hit the surprised Soviet armoured forces back. This enabled an improvised battle group consisting in personnel from different nationalities to launch a fierce counter attack led by Hauptsturmführer Paul Maitla re-conquering the central Grenaderimägi to the hands of the multi-national unit in German uniforms. Of the 136,830 Soviets initiating the Narva Offensive in July, a few thousands had survived and the Soviet tank regiments were demolished.^[1][13]

With the aid of swift reinforcements, the two Soviet armies continued their attacks. The Stavka demanded the destruction of the army detachment "Narwa" and the capture of the town Rakvere by 7 August. The 2nd Shock Army was back to 20,000 troops by 2 August while their numerous attempts pursuing unchanged tactics failed to break the multinational defence of the army detachment "Narwa". Govorov terminated the Soviet offensive at the Sinimäed Hills on 10 August.^[1][13]

Casualties

In the Soviet era, the losses in the battle of Narva were not mentioned in the Soviet sources.^[2] In recent years, Russian authors have published some figures^[10][31] but not for the whole course of the battles.^[2] The number of Soviet casualties can only be estimated indirectly.^[1][2]

Adding up the numbers of losses in the operations conducted by Leningrad Front in 1944, according to the data of the Stavka,^[19] the total casualties of the Leningrad Front in 1944 were 665,827 men, 145,102 of them dead or missing.^[2] The share of the battles around Narva is unknown but considering the length of the operation, roughly half of the 56,564 dead or missing and the 170,876 wounded or sick in the Leningrad-Novgorod Offensive^[19] can be accounted for the Battle of Narva.^[2] This is in accordance with the estimation of the Soviet researcher F.I. Paulman, stating that the 2nd Shock Army lost over 30,000 troops in the Narva bridgeheads during February.^[4] Deducting the losses in the operations of the Leningrad-Novgorod Offensive conducted elsewhere, the casualties in the battles in Finland, and in the Baltic Offensive, the numbers of Soviet losses in the Battle of Narva^[2] total at approximately 100,000 dead or missing and 380,000 wounded or sick.^[2] The "cost of nearly 500,000 men" is confirmed by the British historian Ian Baxter.^[5]

The army detachment "Narwa" lost 23,963 personnel as dead, wounded and missing in action in February 1944.^[29] During the following months until 30 July 1944, additional 34,159 German personnel were lost, 5,748 of them dead and 1,179 missing in action.^[1] The total of the German casualties of the initial phase of the campaign was approximately 58,000 men, 12,000 of them dead or missing in action. In 24 July – 10 August 1944, the German forces buried 1709 men in Estonia.^[2][32] Added the troops missing in action, the number of dead in the period is estimated at approximately 2,500. Accounting the standard ratio 1 / 4 of the irrecoverable losses to the wounded, the number of German casualties in the later period of the battle was approximately 10,000. The total of German casualties in the Battle of Narva is estimated at 14,000 dead or missing and 54,000 wounded or sick.^[2]

Aftermath

Baltic Offensive

On 1 September, Finland announced stopping the military cooperation with Germany to sign armistice with the Soviet Union.^[21] On 4 September, Finland opened access for the Soviets to the Finnish waters. With the Soviet offensive at Riga threatening to complete the encirclement, the Army Group North started preparations for the withdrawal of troops from Estonia in an operation codenamed Aster. The possible transportation corridors were thoroughly prepared on the map of the headquarters of the army group.^[2][33] On 14 September, a provisional order to start the preparations for withdrawal was given to the "Nordland" Division.^[34] On 17 September 1944, a naval force under Vice-Admiral Theodor Burchardi began evacuating elements of the German formations and Estonian civilians. Within six days, around 50,000 troops and 1,000 prisoners had been removed.^[35] The elements of the 18th Army in Estonia were ordered to withdraw into Latvia.

The Soviet 1st, 2nd and 3rd Baltic Fronts launched their Baltic Offensive on 14 September. The operation was aimed at cutting off the Army Group North in Estonia. After much argument, Adolf Hitler agreed to allow the total evacuation of the troops in mainland Estonia. The 2nd Shock Army launched its Tallinn Offensive on 17 September from the Emajõgi River Front in South Estonia. At midnight before 19 September, the army detachment "Narwa" left its positions in the Tannenberg Line. The 8th Army noticed the evacuation five hours after it had been completed and started to chase it escaping towards the Estonian harbours and the Latvian border. The III SS Panzer Corps reached Pärnu by 20 September, while the II SS Corps retreated south to form the 18th Army's rearguard.^[35] As they retreated, the Soviet armies advanced to take Tallinn on 22 September. The Soviets had demolished the harbour at Haapsalu by 24 September, the Germans evacuating Vormsi Island just off the coast on the following day.^[36] The German evacuation of mainland Estonia was completed with minor casualties by 25 September.^[1]

The 8th Army went on to take the remaining West Estonian Archipelago in the Moonsund Landing Operation. The Baltic Offensive operation resulted in the expulsion of the German forces from Estonia, a large part of Latvia and Lithuania.

During the withdrawal from Estonia, the German command released thousands of native Estonian conscripts from military service. However, the Soviet command began conscripting Baltic natives as areas were brought under Soviet control.^[37] While some ended up serving on both sides, many hid in the woods to avoid conscription.

The Army Group North land lines of communication were permanently severed from Army Group Centre and it was relegated to the Courland Pocket, an occupied Baltic seashore area in Latvia. On 25 January, Adolf Hitler renamed the Army Group North to the Army Group Courland implicitly realizing that there was no possibility of restoring a new land corridor between Courland and East Prussia.^[38] The Red Army commenced the encirclement and reduction of the pocket enabling the Soviets to focus on operations towards East Prussia. The Army Group Courland retained a possibility of being a major threat. Operations by the Red Army against the Courland Pocket continued until the surrender of Army Group Courland on 9 May, 1945, when close to 200,000 Germans were taken prisoner there.

Attempt to restore Estonian Government

The lengthy German defence prevented a swift Soviet breakthrough into Estonia, which gave the underground National Committee of the Republic of Estonia enough time for an attempt to re-establish Estonian independence. On 1 August 1944, the national committee pronounced itself Estonia's highest authority and on 18 September 1944, acting head of state Uluots appointed a new government led by Otto Tief. Over the radio in English, the government declared its neutrality in the war. The government issued two editions of the Riigi Teataja (State Gazette) but did not have time to distribute them. On 21 September, the national forces seized the government buildings in Toompea, Tallinn and ordered the German forces to leave.^[25][39] The flag of Estonia was hoisted in the tower of Pikk Hermann to be removed by the Soviets four days later. The Estonian Government in Exile served to carry the continuity of the Estonian state forward until 1992, when Heinrich Mark, the last prime minister in the duties of the head of state, handed his credentials over to the incoming President Lennart Meri.

Civilian refugees

The delay of Soviet occupation allowed over 25,000 Estonians and 3,700 Swedes to flee to neutral Sweden and 6,000 Estonians to Finland. Thousands of refugee boats and ships sunk in the Baltic Sea.^[23] In September, 90,000 soldiers and 85,000 Estonian, Finnish, German refugees, and Soviet prisoners of war were evacuated to Germany.^[36] The sole German cost of this undertaking was the loss of a steamer. More German naval evacuations followed from Estonian ports,^[36] where up to 1,200 people were drowned in Soviet attacks.^[23]

Outcome for Finland

The lengthy German defence in the Battle of Narva denied a Soviet-occupied Estonia as a favorable base for amphibious invasions and air attacks against Helsinki and other Finnish cities. Hopes of the Stavka to assault Finland from Estonia and force it into capitulation were diminished. Finnish Carl Gustav Emil Mannerheim Chief of Defence repeatedly reminded the German side that in case their troops in Estonia retreated, Finland would be forced to make peace even on extremely unfavourable terms. Thus, the prolonged Battle of Narva helped Finland to avoid a Soviet occupation, sustain its resisting capacity and enter the negotiations for the Moscow Armistice with her own terms.^{[4][10][12][13][29]}

Post-war status of Estonians in Waffen SS

After World War II, Estonian citizens who fought on the German side were convicted as traitors of the Soviet Union. If captured, they were sent to prison camps or shot immediately. The Western countries were requested to give up the Estonians who served in German forces. The Soviet demand was generally ignored by most of the Western countries excluding Sweden and Finland. The Nuremberg Trials in declaring the Waffen SS a criminal organisation explicitly excluded conscripts in the following terms:^[40].

“

Tribunal declares to be criminal within the meaning of the Charter the group composed of those persons who had been officially accepted as members of the SS as enumerated in the preceding paragraph who became or remained members of the organisation with knowledge that it was being used for the commission of acts declared criminal by Article 6 of the Charter or who were personally implicated as members of the organisation in the commission of such crimes, excluding, however, those who were drafted into membership by the State in such a way as to give them no choice in the matter, and who had committed no such crimes.

”

On 13 April 1950, a message from the U.S. High Commission in Germany (HICOG) signed by John McCloy to the U.S. Secretary of State clarified the U.S. position on the Baltic Waffen SS Units: they were not to be seen as "movements," "volunteer," or "SS." In short, they had not been given the training, indoctrination and induction normally given to SS members. Subsequently the US Displaced Persons Commission declared in September 1950:

“

The Baltic Waffen SS Units (Baltic Legions) are to be considered as separate and distinct in purpose, ideology, activities, and qualifications for membership from the German SS, and therefore the Commission holds them not to be a movement hostile to the Government of the United States.

”

Modern representations

After regaining independence in 1991, the Government of Estonia took the position that in the Battle of Narva, the Estonians in the German Armed Forces were fighting for the independence of the country.^[13] The stand was based on the support for the German conscription call by Jüri Uluots and the actions of Otto Tief government. The veterans of the battle were granted the right to march in the Independence Day parade. Those considered by the Republic of Estonia as having outstanding services were rewarded with decorations of honour.^[2] In 1994, the first memorial stone was unveiled in Sinimäed in the presence of the Commander-in-Chief of the Estonian Defence Forces. Estonian historians describe the battles of Narva as a battle of the Estonian people for their country, a consolation for the humiliation of 1939.^[13] Books about the battles of Narva started to be published in Estonia and the full-length documentary film Sinimäed was made. An annual gathering of some 300 veterans of the 20th Waffen Grenadier Division (1st Estonian) and of other German military units including Waffen-SS veterans from other European countries takes place in the Sinimäed around July 29.^[41]

References and Notes

• McTaggart, Pat (2003). "The Battle of Narva, 1944". Hitler's Army. Da Capo Press. pp. 287-308. ISBN 0306812606. http://books.google.com/books?id=K5ptwGy4i2sC&pg=PA287&dq. 
• Carlos, Jurado; Nigel Thomas, Darko Pavlovic (2002). Germany's Eastern Front Allies (2). Osprey Publishing. ISBN 9781841761930. http://books.google.com/books?id=Rv4B9984gXcC&dq. 
• Miljan, Toivo (2004). Historical Dictionary of Estonia. Scarecrow Press. ISBN 9780810849044. http://books.google.com/books?id=XKWRct15XfkC&dq. 
• Walter, Hannes. "Estonia in World War II". Historical Text Archive. http://historicaltextarchive.com/sections.php?op=viewarticle&artid=383. Retrieved 2008-10-21. 

Notes

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