The 12th Lithuanian Police Battalion during the Second World War (1941–1945)

Abstract

During the Second World War, from 50 to 70 thousand Lithuanians, 90 thousand Estonians, 110–115 thousand Latvians served in the German Armed Forces. During the war, the following Lithuanian units were formed: 1) Lithuanian Engineer Battalions (Litauische Bauabteilung, from 2 to 2.5 thousand soldiers and officers), 2) Special Self-Defence unit (Landesschutzverbände, about 3 thousand soldiers and oficers), 3) Lithuanian Territorial Corps (Litauische Sonderverbände, from 10–12 thousand soldiers and officers), 4) Fatherland Defence Forces (Kampfgruppe Mäder, about 6 thousand soldiers and officers), 5) Battalion “Lietuva” (Litauen battalion, was formed from Lithuanian of Reich Labour Service (further – the RAD, Reichsarbietsdienst) in Keslin, Pomerania, Germany).[...]