Jaan Soots

Who was Jaan Soots?

Jaan Soots VR I/1 was an outstanding Estonian military commander during the Estonian War of Independence.

He joined the army voluntarily in 1900, studied 1901-1904 at Vilnius Military Academy, participated in Russo-Japanese War and 1910-1913 studied at Imperial Nicholas Military Academy. In the beginning of the Estonian War of Independence, Soots was Chief of Operative Staff, in February 1919 he become Chief of Staff of Commander in Chief. In 1919 Soots also achieved rank of Major General. Soots also participated in Tartu peace conference and retired in 1920. Later he was twice a Minister of War, member of State Assembly, Mayor and Lord Mayor of Tallinn. In 1938 he received Herbert Hoover, who, as honorary citizen of Tallinn, visited Estonia. In 1940 Soviet occupation authorities arrested Soots and in 1942 he died in a prison camp.

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