Georg Sooden
Encyclopedia
Georg Aleksander Sooden (lived December 2, 1904 – July 28, 1944) was an Estonia
n officer, serving firstly in the Estonian Army, secondly in Wehrmacht
and thirdly in Waffen-SS
, fighting mostly in the Estonian area.
Georg Sooden was born in Helsinki
, Finland
. He had brother Gunnar August Sooden (born in 1903) and sister Irene Johanna Sooden (born in 1907). Their family moved to Estonia
into Jõhvi
where Georg started learning in Jõhvi grade school and after that in Jõhvi Gymnasium which he graduated in 1924. After school Sooden started working in Jõhvi police station and in 1925 he went to the Estonian Army. Sooden graduated war school in 1927 and as an officer he started work there.
After Estonia was occupied by the Soviet Union in 1941, Sooden had to start serving in the Red Army but he escaped from there and gave himself to the Germans as a prisoner. That same year, Sooden volunteered for the Wehrmacht
's Estonian units and he was promoted to Oberleutnant
. In September, the Estonian East battalions were moved to Russia, fighting against the Red Army in Volkhov
. In May 1943, Sooden was ordered to lead the 659 Estonian East Battalion and on October 16, he was promoted to Hauptmann
and was awarded with the Iron cross
. On January, 1944 Sooden was promoted to Sturmbannführer
. After many battles, soldiers started to call Sooden names like "meie vana" (our old), "vana koll" (old monster) and "vana Jüri" (old Jüri).
In 1944, the battalion came to Jõhvi and soon it was sent to the Narva front
in the Kriivasoo swamp. Soon the Estonian East battalions were sent under 20th Waffen Grenadier Division of the SS (1st Estonian) command. He fought in the battle of Narva
and the Battle of Tannenberg Line in the Sinimäed Hills.
Georg Sooden died on July 28, 1944 after a Russian shell landed exactly in Sooden's bunker in Blue Hills. Sooden was buried to Jõhvi
in the square of the War of Independence. Soon his good friend and warmate Raul Jüriado was buried next to him.
On June 20, 1996 Sooden's and Jüriado's graves were restored.
Estonia
Estonia , officially the Republic of Estonia , is a state in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by the Gulf of Finland, to the west by the Baltic Sea, to the south by Latvia , and to the east by Lake Peipsi and the Russian Federation . Across the Baltic Sea lies...
n officer, serving firstly in the Estonian Army, secondly in Wehrmacht
Wehrmacht
The Wehrmacht – from , to defend and , the might/power) were the unified armed forces of Nazi Germany from 1935 to 1945. It consisted of the Heer , the Kriegsmarine and the Luftwaffe .-Origin and use of the term:...
and thirdly in Waffen-SS
Waffen-SS
The Waffen-SS was a multi-ethnic and multi-national military force of the Third Reich. It constituted the armed wing of the Schutzstaffel or SS, an organ of the Nazi Party. The Waffen-SS saw action throughout World War II and grew from three regiments to over 38 divisions, and served alongside...
, fighting mostly in the Estonian area.
Georg Sooden was born in Helsinki
Helsinki
Helsinki is the capital and largest city in Finland. It is in the region of Uusimaa, located in southern Finland, on the shore of the Gulf of Finland, an arm of the Baltic Sea. The population of the city of Helsinki is , making it by far the most populous municipality in Finland. Helsinki is...
, Finland
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
. He had brother Gunnar August Sooden (born in 1903) and sister Irene Johanna Sooden (born in 1907). Their family moved to Estonia
Estonia
Estonia , officially the Republic of Estonia , is a state in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by the Gulf of Finland, to the west by the Baltic Sea, to the south by Latvia , and to the east by Lake Peipsi and the Russian Federation . Across the Baltic Sea lies...
into Jõhvi
Jõhvi
Jõhvi is a town in north-eastern Estonia, and the capital of Ida-Viru County. The town is also an administrative centre of Jõhvi Parish. It is situated 50 km from the Russian border....
where Georg started learning in Jõhvi grade school and after that in Jõhvi Gymnasium which he graduated in 1924. After school Sooden started working in Jõhvi police station and in 1925 he went to the Estonian Army. Sooden graduated war school in 1927 and as an officer he started work there.
After Estonia was occupied by the Soviet Union in 1941, Sooden had to start serving in the Red Army but he escaped from there and gave himself to the Germans as a prisoner. That same year, Sooden volunteered for the Wehrmacht
Wehrmacht
The Wehrmacht – from , to defend and , the might/power) were the unified armed forces of Nazi Germany from 1935 to 1945. It consisted of the Heer , the Kriegsmarine and the Luftwaffe .-Origin and use of the term:...
's Estonian units and he was promoted to Oberleutnant
Oberleutnant
Oberleutnant is a junior officer rank in the militaries of Germany, Switzerland and Austria. In the German Army, it dates from the early 19th century. Translated as "Senior Lieutenant", the rank is typically bestowed upon commissioned officers after five to six years of active duty...
. In September, the Estonian East battalions were moved to Russia, fighting against the Red Army in Volkhov
Volkhov
Volkhov is an industrial town in Leningrad Oblast, Russia, situated east of St. Petersburg, on the Volkhov River. Population: -History:...
. In May 1943, Sooden was ordered to lead the 659 Estonian East Battalion and on October 16, he was promoted to Hauptmann
Hauptmann
Hauptmann is a German word usually translated as captain when it is used as an officer's rank in the German, Austrian and Swiss armies. While "haupt" in contemporary German means "main", it also has the dated meaning of "head", i.e...
and was awarded with the Iron cross
Iron Cross
The Iron Cross is a cross symbol typically in black with a white or silver outline that originated after 1219 when the Kingdom of Jerusalem granted the Teutonic Order the right to combine the Teutonic Black Cross placed above a silver Cross of Jerusalem....
. On January, 1944 Sooden was promoted to Sturmbannführer
Sturmbannführer
Sturmbannführer was a paramilitary rank of the Nazi Party equivalent to major, used both in the Sturmabteilung and the Schutzstaffel...
. After many battles, soldiers started to call Sooden names like "meie vana" (our old), "vana koll" (old monster) and "vana Jüri" (old Jüri).
In 1944, the battalion came to Jõhvi and soon it was sent to the Narva front
Battle of Narva (1944)
The Battle of Narva was a military campaign between the German Army Detachment "Narwa" and the Soviet Leningrad Front fought for possession of the strategically important Narva Isthmus on 2 February – 10 August 1944 during World War II....
in the Kriivasoo swamp. Soon the Estonian East battalions were sent under 20th Waffen Grenadier Division of the SS (1st Estonian) command. He fought in the battle of Narva
Battle of Narva (1944)
The Battle of Narva was a military campaign between the German Army Detachment "Narwa" and the Soviet Leningrad Front fought for possession of the strategically important Narva Isthmus on 2 February – 10 August 1944 during World War II....
and the Battle of Tannenberg Line in the Sinimäed Hills.
Georg Sooden died on July 28, 1944 after a Russian shell landed exactly in Sooden's bunker in Blue Hills. Sooden was buried to Jõhvi
Jõhvi
Jõhvi is a town in north-eastern Estonia, and the capital of Ida-Viru County. The town is also an administrative centre of Jõhvi Parish. It is situated 50 km from the Russian border....
in the square of the War of Independence. Soon his good friend and warmate Raul Jüriado was buried next to him.
On June 20, 1996 Sooden's and Jüriado's graves were restored.
Awards
Decorations- Eastern Front MedalEastern Front MedalThe Eastern Front Medal, , more commonly known as the Ostmedaille was instituted on May 26, 1942 to mark service on the German Eastern Front during the period November 15, 1941 to April 15, 1942...
- Iron Cross 2nd & 1st classIron CrossThe Iron Cross is a cross symbol typically in black with a white or silver outline that originated after 1219 when the Kingdom of Jerusalem granted the Teutonic Order the right to combine the Teutonic Black Cross placed above a silver Cross of Jerusalem....