Ain-Ervin Mere
Encyclopedia
Ain Mere was an Estonia
n military officer. During the World War II
, he was an Obersturmbannführer
(Lieutenant Colonel) in the Waffen SS and also the head of the Sicherheitspolizei in Estonia (Security Police) following its creation in 1942.
He was born in Vändra
and fought voluntarily in the Estonian War of Independence. In early 1919, Mere was wounded while serving on an armored train and was sent to the rear.
According to the KGB
archives, he was drafted as an agent of NKVD
in 1940–1941. He was known under code name "Müller". In July 1941 Mere deserted from the Red Army
and returned to Estonia.
On February 5, 1945 in Berlin
, he founded the Eesti Vabadusliit (anti-communist group) together with SS-Obersturmbannführer
Harald Riipalu
.
In March 1961, the Soviet court accused during the Holocaust trials in Soviet Estonia
the German Security Police in Estonia, headed by Mere (and later by Julius Ennok) to have been actively involved in the arrest and killing of Estonian Jews along with Ralf Gerrets and Jan Viik. The police were also actively engaged in actions against Estonians deemed to be opponents of the Nazi Germany. Though living in Great Britain
, he was sentenced to capital punishment. Great Britain did not extradite him, due to the lack of evidence and he died at the age of 66 in Leicester
, England
.
Estonia
Estonia , officially the Republic of Estonia , is a state in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by the Gulf of Finland, to the west by the Baltic Sea, to the south by Latvia , and to the east by Lake Peipsi and the Russian Federation . Across the Baltic Sea lies...
n military officer. During the World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, he was an Obersturmbannführer
Obersturmbannführer
Obersturmbannführer was a paramilitary Nazi Party rank used by both the SA and the SS. It was created in May 1933 to fill the need for an additional field grade officer rank above Sturmbannführer as the SA expanded. It became an SS rank at the same time...
(Lieutenant Colonel) in the Waffen SS and also the head of the Sicherheitspolizei in Estonia (Security Police) following its creation in 1942.
He was born in Vändra
Vändra
Vändra is a borough with a municipality status in Pärnu County, Estonia. Vändra is surrounded by Vändra Parish in which the borough itself is not part of. It has a population of 2,500 and an area of 3.28 km²....
and fought voluntarily in the Estonian War of Independence. In early 1919, Mere was wounded while serving on an armored train and was sent to the rear.
According to the KGB
KGB
The KGB was the commonly used acronym for the . It was the national security agency of the Soviet Union from 1954 until 1991, and was the premier internal security, intelligence, and secret police organization during that time.The State Security Agency of the Republic of Belarus currently uses the...
archives, he was drafted as an agent of NKVD
NKVD
The People's Commissariat for Internal Affairs was the public and secret police organization of the Soviet Union that directly executed the rule of power of the Soviets, including political repression, during the era of Joseph Stalin....
in 1940–1941. He was known under code name "Müller". In July 1941 Mere deserted from the Red Army
Red Army
The Workers' and Peasants' Red Army started out as the Soviet Union's revolutionary communist combat groups during the Russian Civil War of 1918-1922. It grew into the national army of the Soviet Union. By the 1930s the Red Army was among the largest armies in history.The "Red Army" name refers to...
and returned to Estonia.
On February 5, 1945 in Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
, he founded the Eesti Vabadusliit (anti-communist group) together with SS-Obersturmbannführer
Obersturmbannführer
Obersturmbannführer was a paramilitary Nazi Party rank used by both the SA and the SS. It was created in May 1933 to fill the need for an additional field grade officer rank above Sturmbannführer as the SA expanded. It became an SS rank at the same time...
Harald Riipalu
Harald Riipalu
Harald Riipalu was an Estonian military commander and one of four commanders who earned the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross when fighting in the German army in World War II.-Early life:Harald Riipalu was born in Saint Petersburg where his family was lessee in a manor...
.
In March 1961, the Soviet court accused during the Holocaust trials in Soviet Estonia
Holocaust trials in Soviet Estonia
A number of Holocaust trials in Soviet Estonia were held in the 1960s.The best-known trial was brought in 1961, by the local Soviet authorities against Estonian collaborators who had participated in the execution of the Holocaust during the Nazi German occupation...
the German Security Police in Estonia, headed by Mere (and later by Julius Ennok) to have been actively involved in the arrest and killing of Estonian Jews along with Ralf Gerrets and Jan Viik. The police were also actively engaged in actions against Estonians deemed to be opponents of the Nazi Germany. Though living in Great Britain
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
, he was sentenced to capital punishment. Great Britain did not extradite him, due to the lack of evidence and he died at the age of 66 in Leicester
Leicester
Leicester is a city and unitary authority in the East Midlands of England, and the county town of Leicestershire. The city lies on the River Soar and at the edge of the National Forest...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
.