Harald Riipalu

Infobox Military Person
name=Harald Riipalu
lived=February 13, 1912 – April 4, 1961
placeofbirth=St. Petersburg, Russia
placeofdeath=Heckmondwike


caption=
nickname=
allegiance=Estonia
serviceyears=1935–1945
rank=Obersturmbannführer
unit=1935, Narva Territorial Regiment
1940, Tartu Territorial Regiment
1941, Red Army 22nd Territorial Corps
1942, Wehrmacht 36th Defence Battalion
1944, 20th Waffen Grenadier Division of the SS (1st Estonian)
battles=World War II
-- Eastern Front
awards=Iron Cross 2nd & 1st class
Infantry Assault Badge
Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross

Harald Riipalu (13 February 1912, St. Petersburg – 4 April 1961, Heckmondwike, Great Britain) was an Estonian military commander.

Studied at the Faculty of Law of the University of Tartu between 1932-33. Graduated from the Military Academy in 1935. Served in Narva, then assigned in January 1940 to the Defence League Tartu Territorial Regiment as a junior instructor.

Between 1940-41 served in the Red Army 22nd Territorial Corps. Defected to the German side in the summer of 1941 and was a prisoner of war of the Germans until March 1942. 1942-43 platoon leader and company commander of the 36th Defence Battalion, battalion commander from November 1942. 1943-45 served in the 3rd Estonian SS-Brigade and the 20th Estonian Division of the SS. Commander of the 45th SS-Grenadier Regiment from April 1944. Decorated with the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross for battles at the Narva Front.

Went to England in 1948.

Awards

* Iron Cross 2nd and 1st Class
* Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross (23 August 1944)

References

* [http://www.das-ritterkreuz.de/index_search_db.php4?modul=search_result_det&wert1=5209&searchword=Riipalu Harald Riipalu @ das-ritterkreuz.de]
* Fellgiebel, Walther-Peer. "Die Träger des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939-1945". Friedburg, Germany: Podzun-Pallas, 2000. ISBN 3-7909-0284-5.