WWII Estonian volunteers cloth insignia

Having rendezvoused with the Finns in mid April 1943 to assume equipment, the Estonians then continued on to the Donets Basin to join their new division. After linking up with the “Wiking” division during a refit, the units were sent to the Slovyansk area with the newly renamed Estonian Freiwilligen (Volunteer) Panzergrenadier Battalion “Narwa” placed in divisional reserve. 

Although combat raged on a daily basis, the battalion received fresh replacements from Debica and managed to replenish their combat numbers. Having been ordered to winter in the town of Cherkasy, the Estonians were almost annihilated when the Cherkasy pocket collapsed in mid February 1944. As the “Wiking” Division was being withdrawn from the front for a complete refit, it was decided that the Battalion “Narwa” should be sent north to form the core of the 20. Freiwilligen-Grenadierdivision, hastily being mustered near Narva to defend Estonia from Soviet reoccupation.