Immediately before the outbreak of World War II, in August 1939, Germany and the Soviet Union signed the Nazi-Soviet Pact (also known as the Molotov–Ribbentrop Pact, or the 1939 … See more

World War II began with the invasion of Poland, an important regional ally of Estonia, by Germany. Although some coordination existed between Germany and the USSR early in the war, the Soviet Union communicated to Nazi Germany its decision to launch … See more

On 22 June 1941, Nazi Germany launched their invasion of the Soviet Union. On 3 July, Joseph Stalin made his public statement over the radio calling for a scorched earth policy … See more

Most Estonians greeted the Germans with relatively open arms and hoped for restoration of independence. In Southern Estonia pro-independence administrations were set up, led by Jüri Uluots, and a co-ordinating council was set up in Tartu as soon as the Soviet … See more

Before World War II, the Republic of Estonia and the USSR had signed and ratified the following treaties:
Kellogg-Briand Pact
27 August 1928, … See more

In the summer of 1940 the occupation of Estonia was carried through as a regular military operation. 160,000 men, supported by 600 tanks were concentrated for the invasion into Estonia. 5 divisions of the Soviet Air Force with 1150 aircraft blockaded the … See more

Estonian units in German forces
In 1941, it was announced in Germany that additional Combat Support Forces, the Waffen-SS units … See more