Osprey Men-at-Arms 363 : Germany's Eastern Front Allies (2) : Baltic Forces

The Baltic region of Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia - (which formed, together with adjoining Belarus, the German-controlled Reichskommissariat Ostland) - saw some of the most prolonged and savage fighting of any on Germany's Eastern Front during World War II. The coastal nations were invaded by the USSR in 1940; captured by the Wehrmacht in 1941; provided major recruitment for the German Army and Waffen-SS in 1941-44; were retaken by the Red Army in 1944-45 despite stubborn resistance; yet still sustained a guerrilla movement which was not wiped out by the Russian occupiers until 1952. This tragic period saw many combat and local security units raised by both sides, offering a most interesting range of uniforms and insignia. Text by Nigel Thomas PhD with illustrations by Darko Pavlovic.

Contents

• Estonia : Soviet and German Invasions : SS Legion, Air Force, Auxiliaries, Frontier Regiments, Police Units, Guerrillas
• Latvia : Soviet and German Invasions : Police and Schuma Units, Eastern Battalions, SS Legion, Air Force, Auxiliaries, Guerrillas
• Lithuania : Soviet and German Invasions : Guerrillas, Police/Combat Police Units, Lithuanian Battalions in German Army,
• Belarus : German Invasion, Police/Combat Police : SS Brigade Weissruthenien, Defence Corps, Anti-Soviet Guerrillas.