the 20th waffen grenadier division of the ss (1st estonian) (, ) was a foreign infantry division of the waffen-ss, an armed branch of the german nazi party that served alongside but was never formally part of the wehrmacht during world war ii. according to some sources, the division was under "reichsführer-ss" heinrich himmler's overall command but was not an integral part of the "schutzstaffel" (ss). it was officially activated on 24 january 1944, and many of its soldiers had been members of the estonian legion and/or the 3rd estonian ss volunteer brigade, which had been fighting as part of german forces since august 1942 and october 1943 respectively. both of the preceding formations drew their personnel from german-occupied estonia. shortly after its official activation, widespread conscription within estonia was announced by the german occupying authorities. the division was formed in estonia around a cadre comprising the 3rd estonian ss volunteer brigade, and was initially known as the 20th estonian ss volunteer division.