Ustufu Hando Russ awards fro bravery

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keith A
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Ustufu Hando Russ awards fro bravery

#1

Post by keith A » 28 Jul 2015, 18:38

https://i.ytimg.com/vi/K4eRw0EM794/mqdefault.jpg

Hando Russ receiving the EKII or EKI. Can anyone tell me what date this photo was taken. Also what is the white cross award he also has on his tunic? Is it an Estonian medal?

Tapani K.
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Re: Ustufu Hando Russ awards fro bravery

#2

Post by Tapani K. » 28 Jul 2015, 19:09

Hando Ruus received EKI from General Gille on 19th August in 1943. Since we have Gille in this picture, I assume this is the date and the event.

The white cross is the Estonian Officer's School Cross.

regards,
Tapani K.


keith A
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Re: Ustufu Hando Russ awards fro bravery

#3

Post by keith A » 01 Aug 2015, 14:31

Thanks Tapani, does this mean he graduated from officers school at Neweklau?

best regards

Keith

Tapani K.
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Re: Ustufu Hando Russ awards fro bravery

#4

Post by Tapani K. » 01 Aug 2015, 17:39

No, that is the Estonian cross. During his conscription time in the Estonian army he was sent to the officer school. After completing the officer school and time as an officer trainee as a platoon leader in the 1st Infantry regiment he had completed his conscription time an was discharged as a reserve Lipnik (second lieutenant).

regards.
Tapani K.

keith A
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Re: Ustufu Hando Russ awards fro bravery

#5

Post by keith A » 01 Aug 2015, 19:02

Excellent, many thanks Tapani.

Peter
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Re: Ustufu Hando Russ awards fro bravery

#6

Post by Peter » 02 Aug 2015, 14:26

He wears the EK2 on its button hole ribbon - this was only done on the day of the award of the EK2.
Peter

keith A
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Re: Ustufu Hando Russ awards fro bravery

#7

Post by keith A » 02 Aug 2015, 15:54

Thanks Peter, I thought the occasion was him receiving the EK1 but you are right, I cannot see the ribbon of the EK2 on his tunic. This now leads to the question - when did he receive the EK1? I now see that Alfons Rebane received his award on 9.11.1943 and Paul Maitla his EK1 on 24.7.1944, perhaps Ruus received his EK1 at the same time?

keith A
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Re: Ustufu Hando Russ awards fro bravery

#8

Post by keith A » 02 Aug 2015, 16:04

Sorry, I am wrong. Ruus has the EK1 on his wedding day in April 1944, so it must have been another date. Possibly after the January 1944 battle.

Tapani K.
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Re: Ustufu Hando Russ awards fro bravery

#9

Post by Tapani K. » 03 Aug 2015, 19:35

Like I mentioned earlier, Ruus received his EKI in August 1943. This data comes from Estonian language Wikipedia. A short biographical book on Ruus by Reino Hein has an article printed in Estonian journal Rindeleht. In the article it is mentioned that he was the second Estonian to receive EKI; the first being Major Kure. This was in Rindeleht number 19 issued on September 25th 1943.

The picture in this thread may be from the ceremony after the battle of Izjum in July when General Gille handed out 35 EKII and 4 EKI for members of Battalion Narva. These EKIs obviously to Germans.

regards,
Tapani K.

PK
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Re: Ustufu Hando Russ awards fro bravery

#10

Post by PK » 03 Aug 2015, 21:40

Ustuf. Hando Ruus was awarded EK.II 25.7.43.

If my memory serves me right, Ants-Eduard Teder is on the right of Ruus on the picture. He was wounded at Cherkassy.

keith A
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Re: Ustufu Hando Russ awards fro bravery

#11

Post by keith A » 04 Aug 2015, 10:09

Thanks PK, that clears it up.

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