The Estonian SS-Frewilligen-Panzergrenadier-Bataillon Narwa was the first and best fighting unit fielded by this small Baltic nation as part of the German-led crusade against Communism. Fully motorized and equipped with heavy support weapons, it was able to take its place in the ranks of the multinational SS Wiking Division. Because of cultural persecution, the Estonians had good reason to take up arms against Stalin and the unit contained both professional soldiers and those who had education above High School. The Estonians proved to be worthy successors to the Finns, who they replaced at the front, showing both tenacity and fortitude in the face of an ancestral foe. In one battle alone they inflicted 7,000 casualties on the Red army and destroyed nearly 100 tanks.