Harald Riipalu

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Harald Riipalu
February 13, 1912 – April 4, 1961
Place of birth	St. Petersburg, Russia
Place of death	Heckmondwike
Allegiance	Estonia
Years of service	1935–1945
Rank	Obersturmbannführer
Unit	1935, Narva Territorial Regiment 1940, Tartu Territorial Regiment 1941, Red Army 22nd Territorial Corps 1942, Wehrmacht 36th Defence Battalion 1944, 20th Waffen Grenadier Division of the SS (1st Estonian)
Battles/wars	World War II -- Eastern Front
Awards	Iron Cross 2nd & 1st class Infantry Assault Badge Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross

Harald Riipalu (born 13 February 1912, St. Petersburg - died 4 April 1961, Heckmondwike, Great Britain) was an Estonian military commander.

Studied at the Faculty of Law of the University of Tartu between 1932-33. Graduated from the Military Academy in 1935. Served in Narva, then assigned in January 1940 to the Defence League Tartu Territorial Regiment as a junior instructor.

Between 1940-41 served in the Red Army 22nd Territorial Corps. Defected to the German side in the summer of 1941 and was a prisoner of war of the Germans until March 1942. 1942-43 platoon leader and company commander of the 36th Defence Battalion, battalion commander from November 1942. 1943-45 served in the 3rd Estonian SS-Brigade and the 20th Estonian Division of the SS. Commander of the 45th SS-Grenadier Regiment from April 1944. Decorated with the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross for battles at the Narva Front.

Went to England in 1948.

[edit] Awards

Iron Cross 2nd and 1st Class
Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross (23 August 1944)

[edit] References

Harald Riipalu @ das-ritterkreuz.de
Fellgiebel, Walther-Peer. Die Träger des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939-1945. Friedburg, Germany: Podzun-Pallas, 2000. ISBN 3-7909-0284-5.