Global InformationPaul Maitla information
Paul Maitla | |
|---|---|
 Paul Maitla in 1944 | |
| Nickname(s) | "Kugelblitz" ("Ball Lightning")[1] |
| Born | March 27, 1913 Kärkna, Kreis Dorpat, Governorate of Livonia, Russian Empire |
| Died | May 10, 1945 (aged 32) Nymburk, Czechoslovakia |
| Cause of death | Execution by firing squad |
| Allegiance |  Estonia Soviet Union  Nazi Germany |
| Service/ | Estonian Army (1938–1940) Red Army (1940-1941) Wehrmacht (1941-1943) Waffen-SS (1943–1945) |
| Years of service | 1938–1945 |
| Rank | Sturmbannführer |
| Unit | 1938, 3rd Infantry battalion, Estonian Army 1939, Estonian state defence instructor 1940, 171st Infantry Battalion, Red Army 1941, 37th Police Battalion, Wehrmacht 1943, Estonian Legion 1944, 20th Waffen Grenadier Division of the SS (1st Estonian) |
| Battles/wars | World War II Battle of Narva (1944)Battle of Tannenberg Line Battle of Oppeln |
| Awards | Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross |
Paul Maitla (born Paul Mathiesen; March 27, 1913 – May 10, 1945)[2] was an Estonian commander in the German Waffen-SS during World War II. He is one of the four Estonians who received the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross of Nazi Germany. He received his award for leading the recapture of the central hill of the Sinimäed during the Battle of Tannenberg Line, effectively breaking the Soviet offensive in that sector.
- ^ Erelt, Pekka. "Death of Major Paul Maitla". Eesti Ekspress. Retrieved 5 January 2017.
- ^ Paul Maitla Archived 2017-01-06 at the Wayback Machine Postimees