Paul Vent
Encyclopedia
Paul Vent was an Estonia
n military officer who served in the Imperial Russian Army
, the Estonian Army, the Wehrmacht
and in the Waffen SS. Paul Vent fought in World War I, Estonian War of Independence and World War II. He earned Cross of Libery and Order of the Cross of the Eagle while in Estonian Army and 1st class Iron Cross while in Waffen SS.
Paul Vent was educated at the Tartu Real gymnasium, where he then joined the Vladimir War School in 1917. In 1918 he came back to Estonia and fought in Estonian War of Independence and was promoted to lipnik. Vent fought on the Southern Estonian front and helped liberate northern Latvia, pushing out the Baltische Landeswehr
. After the war he stayed in Estonian Army. In 1940 Paul Vent was promoted to major.
After the Soviet occupation in 1940 the Estonian Army was disbanded with many officers being either imprisoned, executed or sent into service with the Red Army
, Paul Vent went into hiding in Otepää
. When the Germans occupied Estonia, Vent came out and joined Wehrmacht. In 1943 Paul Vent was transferred to the Estonian Legion
, or 20th Estonian SS division. He led 45th Estonian regiment and fought in Narva front
serving out 1st class Iron Cross on March 11, 1944 for showing much bravery in battles. Since April 1 Vent lead the 47th Estonian SS Regiment. On 14 August 1944 Vent was ordered to lead "Vent" group and was sent to Tartu front defending the Emajõgi line
.
His death is unclear.
Waffen SS
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 officer who served in the Imperial Russian Army
Imperial Russian Army
The Imperial Russian Army was the land armed force of the Russian Empire, active from around 1721 to the Russian Revolution of 1917. In the early 1850s, the Russian army consisted of around 938,731 regular soldiers and 245,850 irregulars . Until the time of military reform of Dmitry Milyutin in...
, the Estonian Army, 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:...
and in the Waffen SS. Paul Vent fought in World War I, Estonian War of Independence and World War II. He earned Cross of Libery and Order of the Cross of the Eagle while in Estonian Army and 1st class Iron Cross while in Waffen SS.
Paul Vent was educated at the Tartu Real gymnasium, where he then joined the Vladimir War School in 1917. In 1918 he came back to Estonia and fought in Estonian War of Independence and was promoted to lipnik. Vent fought on the Southern Estonian front and helped liberate northern Latvia, pushing out the Baltische Landeswehr
Baltische Landeswehr
Baltische Landeswehr was the name of the unified armed forces of the Couronian and Livonian nobility from 7 December 1918 to 3 July 1919.- Command structure :...
. After the war he stayed in Estonian Army. In 1940 Paul Vent was promoted to major.
After the Soviet occupation in 1940 the Estonian Army was disbanded with many officers being either imprisoned, executed or sent into service with the 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...
, Paul Vent went into hiding in Otepää
Otepää
Otepää is a town in Valga County, southern Estonia, it's the administrative centre of Otepää Parish. Town has a population of 2,189 . Otepää is a popular skiing resort, popularly known as the "winter capital" of Estonia...
. When the Germans occupied Estonia, Vent came out and joined Wehrmacht. In 1943 Paul Vent was transferred to 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:...
, or 20th Estonian SS division. He led 45th Estonian regiment and fought in 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....
serving out 1st class Iron Cross on March 11, 1944 for showing much bravery in battles. Since April 1 Vent lead the 47th Estonian SS Regiment. On 14 August 1944 Vent was ordered to lead "Vent" group and was sent to Tartu front defending the Emajõgi line
Combat in South Estonia, 1944
The Tartu Offensive Operation , also known as the Battle of Tartu and the Battle of Emajõgi was a campaign fought over southeastern Estonia in 1944. It took place on the Eastern Front during World War II between the Soviet 3rd Baltic Front and parts of the German Army Group North.The Soviet...
.
His death is unclear.
Decorations
Estonian Army- Cross of Liberty (Estonia) - February 18, 1925
- Order of the Cross of the EagleOrder of the Cross of the EagleThe Order of the Cross of the Eagle was instituted in 1928 by the Estonian Defence League to commemorate the tenth anniversary of Estonian independence. It was adopted as a state order in 1936.The Order of the Cross of the Eagle is bestowed to give recognition for military services and services...
- February 20, 1935
Waffen SS
- Iron CrossIron 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....
1st class - March 11, 1944