Aleksander Tõnisson VR I/1 (17 April 1875 – 30 June 1941) was an

Estonia Estonia, officially the Republic of Estonia, is a country in Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by the Gulf of Finland across from Finland, to the west by the Baltic Sea across from Sweden, to the south by Latvia, and to the east by Ru ...

n military commander ( Major General) during the

Estonian War of Independence The Estonian War of Independence, also known as the War of Freedom in Estonia, was a defensive campaign of the Estonian Army and its allies, most notably the United Kingdom, against the Soviet Russian westward offensive of 1918–1919 and the ...

. In 1899, he graduated from Vilnius Military Academy. Tõnisson participated in

Russo-Japanese war The Russo-Japanese War (8 February 1904 – 5 September 1905) was fought between the Russian Empire and the Empire of Japan over rival imperial ambitions in Manchuria and the Korean Empire. The major land battles of the war were fought on the ...

and in

World War I World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...

. In 1917, he participated in formation of Estonian national units and as commander of 1st Estonian regiment participated in battles at Riga front. In 1918, he escaped from German occupation to

Finland Finland, officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country in Northern Europe. It borders Sweden to the northwest, Norway to the north, and Russia to the east, with the Gulf of Bothnia to the west and the Gulf of Finland to the south, ...

, returned in autumn and became commander of 1st Division of Estonia. During the Estonian Liberation War, Tõnisson fought successfully at Viru Front. After war, he served twice as minister of defence, in 1934 he retired from military and was

mayor In many countries, a mayor is the highest-ranking official in a Municipal corporation, municipal government such as that of a city or a town. Worldwide, there is a wide variance in local laws and customs regarding the powers and responsibilitie ...

Tartu Tartu is the second largest city in Estonia after Tallinn. Tartu has a population of 97,759 (as of 2024). It is southeast of Tallinn and 245 kilometres (152 miles) northeast of Riga, Latvia. Tartu lies on the Emajõgi river, which connects the ...

1934–1939 and

Lord Mayor Lord mayor is a title of a mayor of what is usually a major city in a Commonwealth realm, with special recognition bestowed by the sovereign. However, the title or an equivalent is present in other countries, including forms such as "high mayor". A ...

(''ülemlinnapea'') of

Tallinn Tallinn is the capital city, capital and List of cities in Estonia, most populous city of Estonia. Situated on a Tallinn Bay, bay in north Estonia, on the shore of the Gulf of Finland of the Baltic Sea, it has a population of (as of 2025) and ...

from 1939 to 1940. In 1940,

Soviet The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. (USSR), commonly known as the Soviet Union, was a List of former transcontinental countries#Since 1700, transcontinental country that spanned much of Eurasia from 1922 until Dissolution of the Soviet ...

occupation authorities arrested Tõnisson and executed him the following year.

Honours and awards

* Order of St. Vladimir, 4th class; for distinguished service * Cross of Liberty, first-class, first degree. * Commander of the Order of the Cross of the Eagle * Protection of Natural Amenities Medal, 2nd Rank

References

* Ülo Kaevats et al. 2000. ''Eesti entsüklopeedia 14''. Tallinn: Eesti Entsüklopeediakirjastus, 1875 births 1941 deaths People from Jõgeva Parish People from Kreis Dorpat Patriotic League (Estonia) politicians Ministers of defence of Estonia Members of the Estonian National Assembly Members of the Riiginõukogu Mayors of Tartu Mayors of Tallinn Estonian major generals Imperial Russian Army officers Russian military personnel of the Russo-Japanese War Russian military personnel of World War I Estonian military personnel of the Estonian War of Independence Recipients of the Order of St. Vladimir, 4th class Recipients of the Order of St. Anna, 2nd class Recipients of the Order of St. Anna, 3rd class Recipients of the Order of St. Anna, 4th class Recipients of the Order of Saint Stanislaus (Russian), 2nd class Recipients of the Order of Saint Stanislaus (Russian), 3rd class Recipients of the Cross of Liberty (Estonia) Recipients of the Military Order of the Cross of the Eagle, Class I Recipients of the Military Order of the Cross of the Eagle, Class III Recipients of the Protection of Natural Amenities Medal, Rank II Estonian people executed by the Soviet Union {{Estonia-1938-Riigikogu-politician-stub