Voldemar Koht

Voldemar Karl Koht VR II/3 (until 1940 Voldemar Karl Koch; 21 February 1893 – 2 September 1942) was an Estonian soldier and commander of the Estonian Armored Train Regiment.

Early life Voldemar Karl Koht was born on 21 February 1893 in (Now Väike-Maarja Parish) in Lääne-Viru County as Voldemar Karl Koch to Karl and Ida Margaretha Koch. Koch attended Tartu Aleksandri Gymnasium and graduated with a C-grade. From 1913-1914, Koch studied at an officer school in Pskov. Koch served as battalion commander of the 4th Infantry Regiment.

Koch took part in battles near Pada Manor, Paju, Kriuši, Narva, Luga River, and Krasnaya Gorka. At the end of the war, Koch was awarded with the Cross of Liberty, Second Class, Third Rank on 17 August 1920.

Interwar After the Estonian Independence War, he continued to serve in the Estonian National Army's infantry, where he was the commander of multiple battalions, and from 1923-1924, he was the acting commander of the 1st Infantry Regiment.

Armored Train Regiment In April 1934, Koch was appointed commander of the 2nd Armored Train Regiment. Later that year, Koch attended a higher military school (Kõrgem Sõjakool) (Later Estonian Military Academy). Upon graduating, Koch became commander of the Armored Train Regiment in 1936.

Second World War After the Soviet Union invaded and occupied the Baltic States in June 1940, the Estonian army was formed into the 22nd Red Rifle Corps of the Red Army. Koht served as commander of the 140th Rifle Regiment of the 182nd Red Rifle Division in the 22nd Red Rifle Corps.

Imprisonment and death On 14 June 1941, Koht was arrested at the Värska training camp, where he was transported to Gulag labor camp Norillag in Norilsk. Koht was executed by gunfire on 2 September 1942 at Norillag.