In World War II around 55,000 Estonians are mobilised into the Red Army and at least 72,000 into the German armed forces. The Republic of Estonia ceases to exist.Ī hope that surrendering is a way to save Estonia from war turns out to be an illusion. Estonia surrenders without a fight and is occupied. In September 1939 the Soviet Union demands the establishment of Red Army military bases on the Estonian territory. “1944” tells the story of Estonia in World War II A thrilling war movie, full of action, love, tears and laughter takes us back to one of the most controversial events in history. Today 70 years on, the makers of Estonia's biggest ever box-office success “Names in Marble”, try to show the hopes, aims and drama of these men and the ones close to them as objectively as possible. The US Displaced Persons Commission in September 1950 and other decisions by Western Allies have drawn the same distinction. The International Military Tribunal at Nuremberg declared the SS to be a criminal organization, but exonerated the Baltic Waffen-SS units.

Estonian men, deported by Stalin in 1939, now brought out of Siberian labour camps and returning home in enemy uniforms. Motivated until they meet their brothers in the Soviet Army. Half of the SS infantry consists of local Estonian conscripts motivated to resist the looming Soviet re-occupation of their small country. Volunteer infantry battalions from Denmark, East Prussia, Flanders, Holland, Norway and Wallonia within the Waffen-SS fight off Soviet Army's thrust at Germany.

The Battle of Tannenberg Line, second to Stalingrad, the bloodiest conflict on the Eastern Front.

1944 battle of tannenberg line