Georg Sooden
Georg Aleksander Sooden (born on December 2, 1904 - died on July 28, 1944) was an Estonian SS-Sturmbannführer, serving firstly in Estonian Army, secondly in Wehrmacht and thirdly in Waffen-SS, fighting mostly Estonian area.
Georg Sooden was born in Helsinki, Finland. He had brother Gunnar August Sooden (born in 1903) and sister Irene Johanna Sooden (born in 1907). Familiy moved to Estonia into Jõhvi where Georg started learning in Jõhvi grade school and after that in Jõhvi Gymnasium which he graduated in 1924. After school Sooden started working in Jõhvi police station and in 1925 he went to Estonian Army. Sooden graduated war school in 1927 and as an officer he started work there.
After Estonia was occupied by Soviet Russia in 1941, Sooden had to start serving in Soviet Red Army but he escaped from there and gave himself to germans as a prsioner. Same year, Sooden volunteered for Wehrmacht's Estonian units and he was promoted to Oberleutnant. In September, Estonian East battalions were moved to Russia, fighting against Red Army in Volkhov. In May of 1943, Sooden was ordered to lead 659 Estonian East Battalion and on October 16, he was promoted to Hauptmann and Iron cross was given to him. On January, 1944 Sooden was promoted to Major. After many battles, soldiers started to call Sooden names like "meie vana" (our old), "vana koll" (old monster) and "vana Jüri" (old Jüri).
In 1944, battalion came to Jõhvi and soon it was sent to the Narva front in the Kriivasoo swamp. Soon Estonian East battalions were sent under 20th Estonian SS division command. He fought in the battle of Narva and the battle of Tannenberg Line in the Sinimäed Hills.
Georg Sooden died on July 28, 1944 after russian shell was landed exactly in Sooden's bunker in Blue Hills. Sooden was buried to Jõhvi in the square of War of Independence. Soon his good friend and warmate Raul Jüriado was buried next to him.
On June 20, 1996 Sooden's and Jüriado's graves were restored.
Awards
Decorations
- Eastern Front Medal
- Iron Cross 2nd & 1st class
Links
- Biography at eestileegion.com (in Estonian)
et:Georg Sooden pl:Georg Sooden