Jaan Soots

Jaan Soots (12 March [O.S. 29 February] 1880 – 6 February 1942) was an Estonian military commander during the Estonian War of Independence and politician.

Jaan Soots
Born(1880-03-12)12 March 1880
Livonia, Russian Empire
Died6 February 1942(1942-02-06) (aged 61)
AllegianceRussian Empire
Estonia
Years of service1900–1920
RankMajor general
Battles/wars
Awards

Jaan Soots was born in Küti farmstead, Linna village, Helme Parish, Viljandi County (now in Tõrva Parish, Valga County), Governorate of Livonia, Russian Empire. He joined the army voluntarily in 1900, studied between 1901 and 1904 at Vilnius Military Academy, participated in the Russo-Japanese War and from 1910 to 1913 studied at the Imperial Nicholas Military Academy. At the beginning of the Estonian War of Independence, Soots was Chief of Operative Staff; in February 1919 he became Chief of Staff of the Commander-in-Chief. In 1919, Soots also achieved the rank of Major General. Soots also participated in the Tartu peace conference and retired in 1920. Later, he was twice a Minister of War, member of the State Assembly, Mayor and Lord Mayor (ülemlinnapea) of Tallinn. In 1938, he received Herbert Hoover, who, as an honorary citizen of Tallinn, visited Estonia. In 1940, Soviet occupation authorities arrested Soots and in 1942 he died in Ussollag prison camp in Usolye, Perm Oblast.

Soots is recipient of the Estonian Order of the White Star, 1st class, and the Latvian military Order of Lāčplēsis, 2nd class.[1]

See also

References

  1. Priedītis, Ērichs Ēriks (1996). Latvijas Valsts apbalvojumi un Lāčplēši (in Latvian). Riga: Junda. ISBN 9984-01-020-1. OCLC 38884671.
Political offices
Preceded by
Ants Piip
Minister of War
1921 - 1923
Succeeded by
Ado Anderkopp
Preceded by
Hans Kurvits
Minister of War
1924 - 1927
Succeeded by
Nikolai Reek
Preceded by
Anton Uesson
Lord Mayor of Tallinn
1934 - 1939
Succeeded by
Aleksander Tõnisson
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