Harald Riipalu

Harald Riipalu was an Estonian military commander and one of four such commanders who earned the Knights Cross of the Iron Cross while serving with the German army during World War II.

Harald Riipalu was born in Saint Petersburg where his family was lessee in a manor. When World War I began, their family moved to Estonia, Saare parish near Kpa river. He had four sisters, one of whom died at the age of four. In 1920, after the Estonian War of Independence, he attended a small local parish school. In 1926 he went to study in Hugo Treffner Gymnasium in Tartu. He graduated in 1932, being among the best students in the school.

Source: Wikipedia