Alexander Tynisson Estonian military leader, major general (1918). Date of Birth: 17.04.1875 Country: Estonia

Biography of Alexander Tõnisson

Alexander Tõnisson was an Estonian military figure and Major General (1918). He graduated from the Vilnius Military School in 1899 and participated in the Russo-Japanese War. Tõnisson served in the Riga Training Battalion and took part in World War I, where he was awarded the Order of St. Vladimir, 4th class with swords and a bow for his distinguished combat actions. In 1917, he was involved in the formation of Estonian national units and commanded the 1st Estonian Regiment during the battles near Riga. He later became the brigade commander in the Estonian Division. Tõnisson held the rank of Colonel in the Russian Army.

In 1918, he was transferred to the reserves and traveled to Finland. Tõnisson returned to Estonia in the autumn of 1918 and became one of the founders of the Estonian army. He served as the commander of the 1st Division and led military operations on the Viru Front during the War of Independence. In 1920, Tõnisson became the Minister of Defense and held this position until 1933. He was also a permanent member of the Defense Ministry Council. From 1920 to 1927 and from 1932 to 1933, he served as the chairman of the Central Republican Council of Officers. Tõnisson retired in 1934 but continued to contribute to society.

For his military merits, he was awarded the Cross of Freedom, 1st class, and the Knight's Cross of the Order of the Cross of Liberty. Tõnisson served as the mayor of Tartu from 1934 to 1939 and the mayor of Tallinn from 1939 to 1940. He was also a deputy chairman of the National Assembly in 1937, and a member of the Riigikogu (parliament) from 1938 to 1940. He was a member of the Union of Fatherland.

In 1940, Tõnisson was arrested by the NKVD. There is a version that during his arrest, an NKVD officer threw the Cross of Freedom and the Knight's Cross of the Order of the Cross of Liberty, which belonged to General Tõnisson, onto the floor and trampled on them. In 1941, General Tõnisson was executed in the Battery Prison. On June 19, 2005, a monument to General Tõnisson was unveiled in the central square of the city of Jõhvi (sculptor Jaan Vares). On April 27, 2007, during the unrest caused by the relocation of the Bronze Soldier from the center of Tallinn to the cemetery (in which about 300 people participated in Jõhvi), an attempt was made to destroy the monument to Tõnisson.