In January 1944, the
20. Estnische SS-Freiwilligen-Division began formation. The majority of the troops were drawn from the 3. Estnische SS-Freiwilligen Brigade, however elements from
Ost Battalions Nr. 658, also known as
Pups of Rebane (="Fox") and
Nr. 659, the
287.Polizei-Füsilier-Bataillon and the returned Estonian volunteers of the Finnish army unit
Infantry Regiment 200 were also absorbed into the division.
Alfons Vilhelm Robert Rebane (born
June 24,
1908, in
Valga,
Estonia; died
March 8,
1976, in
Augsburg,
Germany) was an
Estonian military commander.
Rebane became one of Estonia's most decorated soldiers. During the war he was promoted up to
SS-Standartenführer (colonel), and awarded with the
Knight's Cross and the
Knight's Cross with Oakleaves for extreme bravery in the battlefield.
Soldiers who fought in units under his command were often colloquially referred to as the "Fox pups" (
Rebane translates to "
fox" in
Estonian).