| Ain Mere | |
|---|---|
| February 22, 1903 – April 5, 1969 | |
| Place of death | April 5, 1969, Leicester, England |
| Allegiance | |
| Years of service | 1918–1940 Estonian Army 1941–1943 Estonian Omakaitse 1943–1945 Waffen SS |
| Rank | SS-Obersturmbannführer |
| Unit | Estonian Air Force, 20th Waffen Grenadier Division of the SS (1st Estonian) |
| Battles/wars | Estonian War of Independence World War II Eastern Front *Battle of Narva |
| Awards | Order of the Cross of the Eagle Iron Cross 2nd and 1st Class |
Ain Mere (from birth to Estification Ervin Martson), February 22, 1903 – April 5, 1969, Leicester, England) was an Estonian 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 (Estonian Security Police) following its creation in 1942.
He was born in Vändra and fought voluntarily in the Estonian War of Independence. At spring 1919, serving on an aromerd train, Mere got wounded and was sent to rear.
According to the KGB archives, he was in 1940–1941 drafted as an agent of NKVD. He was known under code name "Müller"[1][2].
In July 1941 Mere deserted from the Red Army and came back to Estonia.
On February 5, 1945 in Berlin, he founded the Eesti Vabadusliit (anti-communist group) together with SS-Obersturmbannführer Harald Riipalu.[3]
He was sentenced to the capital punishment during the Holocaust trials in Soviet Estonia but was not extradited by Great Britain and died there in peace.
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