13 Facts About Paul Maitla

Paul Maitla is one of the four Estonians who received the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross of Nazi Germany.

Paul Maitla received his award for leading the recapture of the central hill of the Sinimaed during the Battle of Tannenberg Line, effectively breaking the Soviet offensive in that sector.

Paul Maitla's 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 from 1921, Tartu Kommertsgumnaasium from 1927, graduating from the Poeglaste secondary school in 1934.

In September 1934 Paul Maitla entered the Estonian Military School and specialised in pioneering.

Paul Maitla then entered officer training in 1937, graduating in August 1938.

Paul Maitla was then assigned to the 3rd Infantry battalion in Valga.

Paul 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.

Paul Maitla returned from training in 1943 and was promoted to commander of the 3rd Company of the 1st Battalion of the 45th Regiment.

Paul Maitla was appointed Hauptsturmfuhrer 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.

Paul Maitla was then relocated to a hospital in Bregenz, Germany until January 1945.

Paul Maitla then rejoined the 45th regiment, which had by this time been relocated to central Europe.

The fate of Paul Maitla was uncertain for number of decades, until some information was discovered in 2005 in the city archives of the Czech town of Nymburk.