Another very complicated issue here but is isn't broadly true that the Estonians didn't want to fight for the Germans !!

Most Estonians wanted to fight to protect Estonia and regain independance and having lived under Soviet rule prior to Barbarossa had decided that the Germans were the lesser of the two evils and many volunteered to join German formations as early as 19412 /42 when the Eastern / Police and Security Batalions were formed, Estonian Security Btl 36 fought in the Stalingrad area in late 1942 !!

Some went to Finland to fight the Russians there due to the close ties to the Finns explained by Kai .

Many men from these units formed the Estonian Legion which formed on 29/9/42 the Legion went on to fight in the Nevel front. The I Btl of the Legion became Batttalion " Narva " on 31/3/43 and fought with the Wiking Division in the Ukraine and the Cherkassy pocket replacing the Finnish Btl ,until it returned to Estonia in early 1944 when it became the Fusilier Btl of the 20th Estonian SS Divison.

The so called " Finnish boys " of the Finnish IR 200 returned to Estonia on 19/8/44 as Finland was on the brink of a peace agreement with the Russians. Understandably as they were to become part of 20 SS Div all other ranks were given SS Uniforms but the officers retained their grey Finnish ones. They saw action in the Tartu area.

Have spoken to Estonian veterans who fought with the Germans many of whom are members of German vet organisations , they are proud of their service and the fact that as members of the Waffen SS they were given excellent training and weopons to defend their homeland.

Of course many Estonians who were deported in 1940/41 to Russia ended up serving with the Red Army in the 8th Estonian Rifle Corps , one of their biggest battles was at Veliki Luki .

As i said a very complicated issue !!

regards

Paul