Oskar Ruut
Encyclopedia
Oskar Ruut was an Estonia
n Hauptsturmführer
in World War II
, who served in the famous Battalion Narva and in 20th Waffen Grenadier Division of the SS (1st Estonian).
Oskar Ruut was born in Valga where he studied in Valga grade school and later in Valga Gymnasium. After graduating from gymnasium Ruut joined the Estonian Army serving in 3rd Infantry Battalion placed in Valga. Ruut was promoted to kapral and later sent to 7th Infantry Regiment. In civil life Ruut studied case law
in the University of Tartu
.
In 1941, when Estonia was occupied by Soviet Union
Ruut organized a group of volunteers to fight against Red Army
and Destruction battalions
. His group helped to liberate Tallinn
from Red Army
in August 1941.
In the early 1942, Ruut joined the Estonian Auxiliary Police
and was sent to the line near Leningrad
.
Ruut volunteered the Estonian Legion
next year and was sent to SS-Junkerschule
located in Bad Tölz
, from where he graduated with best results from his course. He was promoted to SS-Obersturmführer
. Ruut became the company leader in famous Battalion Narwa which was sent to the line at Dnieper River
. He fought with Battalion Narwa in Izium and Cherkasy. He received Iron Cross
2nd & 1st class for showing bravery in these battles.
Battalion Narwa returned to Estonia in March, 1944 and was affiliated with 20th Estonian SS Division. Ruut led successfully his company in Narva and Auvere
.
In August, 1944, during the Battle of Blue Hills Ruut destroyed two Soviet T-34
tanks receiving three wounds on his head and right shoulder. On next day he came back to lead his company.
Oskar Ruut died on August 3, 1944 when he was killed by a soviet tank. Just before his death he had destroyed three tanks by himself. He is buried in Cemetery of German soldiers in Toila
.
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 Hauptsturmführer
Hauptsturmführer
Hauptsturmführer was a Nazi rank of the SS which was used between the years of 1934 and 1945. The rank of Hauptsturmführer was a mid-grade company level officer and was the equivalent of a Captain in the German Army and also the equivalent of captain in foreign armies...
in World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, who served in the famous Battalion Narva and in 20th Waffen Grenadier Division of the SS (1st Estonian).
Oskar Ruut was born in Valga where he studied in Valga grade school and later in Valga Gymnasium. After graduating from gymnasium Ruut joined the Estonian Army serving in 3rd Infantry Battalion placed in Valga. Ruut was promoted to kapral and later sent to 7th Infantry Regiment. In civil life Ruut studied case law
Case law
In law, case law is the set of reported judicial decisions of selected appellate courts and other courts of first instance which make new interpretations of the law and, therefore, can be cited as precedents in a process known as stare decisis...
in the University of Tartu
University of Tartu
The University of Tartu is a classical university in the city of Tartu, Estonia. University of Tartu is the national university of Estonia; it is the biggest and highest-ranked university in Estonia...
.
In 1941, when Estonia was occupied by Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
Ruut organized a group of volunteers to fight against Red Army
Red Army
The Workers' and Peasants' Red Army started out as the Soviet Union's revolutionary communist combat groups during the Russian Civil War of 1918-1922. It grew into the national army of the Soviet Union. By the 1930s the Red Army was among the largest armies in history.The "Red Army" name refers to...
and Destruction battalions
Destruction battalions
Destruction battalions, colloquially destroyers or strybki was a paramilitary organisation in the western Soviet Union, which fulfilled tasks of internal security in the Eastern Front and after it.-Background:...
. His group helped to liberate Tallinn
Tallinn
Tallinn is the capital and largest city of Estonia. It occupies an area of with a population of 414,940. It is situated on the northern coast of the country, on the banks of the Gulf of Finland, south of Helsinki, east of Stockholm and west of Saint Petersburg. Tallinn's Old Town is in the list...
from Red Army
Red Army
The Workers' and Peasants' Red Army started out as the Soviet Union's revolutionary communist combat groups during the Russian Civil War of 1918-1922. It grew into the national army of the Soviet Union. By the 1930s the Red Army was among the largest armies in history.The "Red Army" name refers to...
in August 1941.
In the early 1942, Ruut joined the Estonian Auxiliary Police
Estonian Auxiliary Police
Estonian Auxiliary Police were Estonian units that fought in World War II under command of Germany. Estonian regular units allied with Nazi Germany began to be established on 25 August 1941, when under the order of Generalfeldmarschall Wilhelm Ritter von Leeb, commander of the Army Group North,...
and was sent to the line near Leningrad
Leningrad
Leningrad is the former name of Saint Petersburg, Russia.Leningrad may also refer to:- Places :* Leningrad Oblast, a federal subject of Russia, around Saint Petersburg* Leningrad, Tajikistan, capital of Muminobod district in Khatlon Province...
.
Ruut volunteered the Estonian Legion
Estonian Legion
The Estonian Legion was a military unit within the Combat Support Forces of the Waffen SS Verfügungstruppe during World War II, mainly consisting of Estonian soldiers.-Creation:...
next year and was sent to SS-Junkerschule
SS-Junkerschule Bad Tölz
SS-Junkerschule Bad Tölz was the officers' training school for the Waffen-SS. It was the SS equivalent of Britain's Sandhurst and the USA's West Point. The school was established in 1937, in the town of Bad Tölz which is about 30 miles south of Munich and the location was seemingly chosen because...
located in Bad Tölz
Bad Tölz
Bad Tölz is a town in Bavaria, Germany, and administrative center of the district of Bad Tölz-Wolfratshausen.- History :Since the retreat of the glaciers at the end of the Ice Age, archaeology has shown continuous occupation of the site of Bad Tölz...
, from where he graduated with best results from his course. He was promoted to SS-Obersturmführer
Obersturmführer
Obersturmführer was a paramilitary rank of the Nazi party that was used by the SS and also as a rank of the SA. Translated as “Senior Assault Leader”, the rank of Obersturmführer was first created in 1932 as the result of an expansion of the Sturmabteilung and the need for an additional rank in...
. Ruut became the company leader in famous Battalion Narwa which was sent to the line at Dnieper River
Dnieper River
The Dnieper River is one of the major rivers of Europe that flows from Russia, through Belarus and Ukraine, to the Black Sea.The total length is and has a drainage basin of .The river is noted for its dams and hydroelectric stations...
. He fought with Battalion Narwa in Izium and Cherkasy. He received 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....
2nd & 1st class for showing bravery in these battles.
Battalion Narwa returned to Estonia in March, 1944 and was affiliated with 20th Estonian SS Division. Ruut led successfully his company in Narva and Auvere
Battle of Auvere
Battle of Auvere was a battle in Estonia, stating on July 20, 1944 and ending on July 25. It was a part of the World War II campaign in Narva....
.
In August, 1944, during the Battle of Blue Hills Ruut destroyed two Soviet T-34
T-34
The T-34 was a Soviet medium tank produced from 1940 to 1958. Although its armour and armament were surpassed by later tanks of the era, it has been often credited as the most effective, efficient and influential design of World War II...
tanks receiving three wounds on his head and right shoulder. On next day he came back to lead his company.
Oskar Ruut died on August 3, 1944 when he was killed by a soviet tank. Just before his death he had destroyed three tanks by himself. He is buried in Cemetery of German soldiers in Toila
Toila
Toila is a small borough in northeastern Estonia. It is located in Ida-Viru county, some 10 km northeast from the town of Jõhvi. Toila is the administrative centre of Toila Parish and has a population of 896 .- Tourism :...
.
Decorations
Waffen SS- 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....
- Infantry Assault BadgeInfantry Assault BadgeThe Infantry Assault Badge was a German war badge awarded to Waffen SS and Wehrmacht Heer soldiers during WWII. This decoration was instituted on December 20th 1939 by the Oberstbefehlshaber des Heeres, Generalfeldmarschall von Brauchitsch...
- 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...
- Honour Roll Clasp of the ArmyHonour Roll Clasp of the ArmyThe Honour Roll Clasp of the Army or Ehrenblatt des Heeres was a Decoration of Nazi Germany during World War II. The total number awarded was 4,556. -History:...
- given posthumously