Paul Maitla
Encyclopedia
Paul Maitla was an Estonia
n military commander. He is one of the four Estonian soldiers who received the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross
. He received his award for leading the recapture of the central hill of the Sinimäed during the Battle of Tannenberg Line, effectively braking the Soviet offensive in that sector.
Paul Maitla attended elementary school in Sipe
from 1921, Tartu
Kommertsgümnaasium from 1927, finally graduating from the Poeglaste secondary school in 1934. After graduation he changed his name to Maitla.
In September 1934 Maitla entered the Estonian Military School and specialised in pioneering. Maitla then entered officer training in 1937, graduating in August 1938. He was then assigned to the 3rd Infantry battalion in Valga. On Independence Day, 1939, he was promoted by the President of Estonia
to the rank of lieutenant. During 1939 and 1940 he was the State defence instructor in the secondary schools of Tartu
.
, where he served until he was captured the Germans in July 1941. Maitla was then interned by the Germans until November 1941, when he was released and joined the 37th Police Battalion, and tasked with guarding German airfields.
In the autumn of 1942. Maitla was promoted to lieutenant. In October, he joined the Estonian Legion
. He and 113 men were sent to Poland for training. From there, he was sent to Bad Tolz
for additional officer training. Maitla returned from training in 1943 and was promoted to commander of the 3rd Company of the 1st Battalion of the 45th Regiment. In April 1943, the Estonian Waffen SS brigade participated in the battles in Nevel
, and he received the Iron Cross II class on 8 December for bravery.
While on leave, he married Aino Angerjas on December 18, and in autumn of 1943, his daughter Kai was born. In 1944, Maitla fell ill and was in hospital in Tartu until February.
After he recovered, he was appointed Hauptsturmführer and in April 1944 he was commander of the 1st Battalion of the 45th Regiment of the newly formed 20th Waffen Grenadier Division of the SS (1st Estonian). In the same year, Maitla with his battalion succeeded in stopping the Red Army offensive at Auvere
and received the Iron Cross I class. On 29 July, he and his battalion led a decisive counter-attack at the Battle of Tannenberg Line for which he was awarded the Knights Cross on 23 August.
In August, Maitla was assigned to Combat group Vent, but fell ill again shortly afterwards and admitted into Tartu Hospital. He was then relocated to a hospital in Bregenz
, Germany until January 1945. Maitla then rejoined the 45th regiment, which had by this time been relocated to central Europe. On April 20, 1945, he was promoted to Sturmbannführer.
town of Nymburk
. These archives show that Maitla was arrested on May 9, 1945 and murdered together with 4 other Estonian soldiers on May 10 (on the first day of peace after World War II
had ended) by Czech communists.
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 military commander. He is one of the four Estonian soldiers who received the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross
Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross
The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was a grade of the 1939 version of the 1813 created Iron Cross . The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was the highest award of Germany to recognize extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership during World War II...
. He received his award for leading the recapture of the central hill of the Sinimäed during the Battle of Tannenberg Line, effectively braking the Soviet offensive in that sector.
Early life
Paul was the youngest of three children of the family. His brother died in the Estonian War of Independence, 8 years older sister had died in Estonia a few years after World War II.Paul Maitla attended elementary school in Sipe
Sipe
Sipe or Sipes is a surname. It may refer to:Sipe* Brian Sipe, American football player* Jeff Sipe, American jazz rock drummer* Richard Sipe, American author* Russell Sipe, founder of Computer Gaming World magazine...
from 1921, Tartu
Tartu
Tartu is the second largest city of Estonia. In contrast to Estonia's political and financial capital Tallinn, Tartu is often considered the intellectual and cultural hub, especially since it is home to Estonia's oldest and most renowned university. Situated 186 km southeast of Tallinn, the...
Kommertsgümnaasium from 1927, finally graduating from the Poeglaste secondary school in 1934. After graduation he changed his name to Maitla.
In September 1934 Maitla entered the Estonian Military School and specialised in pioneering. Maitla then entered officer training in 1937, graduating in August 1938. He was then assigned to the 3rd Infantry battalion in Valga. On Independence Day, 1939, he was promoted by the President of Estonia
President of Estonia
The President of the Republic is the head of state of the Republic of Estonia.Estonia is a parliamentary republic, therefore President is mainly a symbolic figure and holds no executive power. The President has to suspend his membership in any political party for his term in office...
to the rank of lieutenant. During 1939 and 1940 he was the State defence instructor in the secondary schools of Tartu
Tartu
Tartu is the second largest city of Estonia. In contrast to Estonia's political and financial capital Tallinn, Tartu is often considered the intellectual and cultural hub, especially since it is home to Estonia's oldest and most renowned university. Situated 186 km southeast of Tallinn, the...
.
World War II
After the Soviet occupation of Estonia in 1940, Maitla was drafted into the Red ArmyRed 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...
, where he served until he was captured the Germans in July 1941. Maitla was then interned by the Germans until November 1941, when he was released and joined the 37th Police Battalion, and tasked with guarding German airfields.
In the autumn of 1942. Maitla was promoted to lieutenant. In October, he joined 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:...
. He and 113 men were sent to Poland for training. From there, he was sent to Bad Tolz
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...
for additional officer training. Maitla returned from training in 1943 and was promoted to commander of the 3rd Company of the 1st Battalion of the 45th Regiment. In April 1943, the Estonian Waffen SS brigade participated in the battles in Nevel
Nevel
Nevel is a town and the administrative center of Nevelsky District of Pskov Oblast, Russia, located on Lake Nevel southeast of Pskov. Population:...
, and he received the Iron Cross II class on 8 December for bravery.
While on leave, he married Aino Angerjas on December 18, and in autumn of 1943, his daughter Kai was born. In 1944, Maitla fell ill and was in hospital in Tartu until February.
After he recovered, he was appointed Hauptsturmführer and in April 1944 he was commander of the 1st Battalion of the 45th Regiment of the newly formed 20th Waffen Grenadier Division of the SS (1st Estonian). In the same year, Maitla with his battalion succeeded in stopping the Red Army offensive at 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....
and received the Iron Cross I class. On 29 July, he and his battalion led a decisive counter-attack at the Battle of Tannenberg Line for which he was awarded the Knights Cross on 23 August.
In August, Maitla was assigned to Combat group Vent, but fell ill again shortly afterwards and admitted into Tartu Hospital. He was then relocated to a hospital in Bregenz
Bregenz
-Culture:The annual summer music festival Bregenzer Festspiele is a world-famous festival which takes place on and around a stage on Lake Constance, where a different opera is performed every second year.-Sport:* A1 Bregenz HB is a handball team....
, Germany until January 1945. Maitla then rejoined the 45th regiment, which had by this time been relocated to central Europe. On April 20, 1945, he was promoted to Sturmbannführer.
Death
The fate of Paul Maitla was uncertain for number of decades, until some information was discovered in 2005 in the city archives of the CzechCzech Republic
The Czech Republic is a landlocked country in Central Europe. The country is bordered by Poland to the northeast, Slovakia to the east, Austria to the south, and Germany to the west and northwest....
town of Nymburk
Nymburk
Nymburk is a city in the Central Bohemian Region of the Czech Republic, located 45 km east of Prague on the Elbe River. It is also home to the Czech men's basketball team ČEZ Basketball Nymburk...
. These archives show that Maitla was arrested on May 9, 1945 and murdered together with 4 other Estonian soldiers on May 10 (on the first day of peace after 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...
had ended) by Czech communists.
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See also
- SinimäedSinimäed (film)The Blue Hills is a 2006 Estonian film directed by Raimo Jõerand. It is a documentary film about the 1944 Battle of Tannenberg Line. Based upon the war diaries of Paul Maitla, the film tells the story of this epic battle and the young Estonian men who had to choose between two totalitarian powers....
, documentary film based upon Paul Maitla's war diaries.