1. Aleksander Jaakson was an Estonian general and educator.
15 Facts About Aleksander Jaakson
1. 2.
Aleksander Jaakson was a decorated participant in the Estonian War of Independence and later continued serving in the Estonian Defence Forces in various positions, including military education.
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Aleksander Jaakson was born on 29 January 1892 in a family of a manor worker in Holdre Parish, Kreis Fellin, in the Governorate of Livonia of the Russian Empire.
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Aleksander Jaakson studied in Holdre village school, in Helme parish school, and in Tartu Teachers' Seminar.
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From 1913 to 1915 Aleksander Jaakson worked as a teacher in Turi parish school and Nommkula ministry school.
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Aleksander Jaakson studied in the 4th Petrograd Praporshchik school, receiving the corresponding rank in the Imperial Russian Army, and was then called up to fight on the Eastern Front against the German Empire.
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Aleksander Jaakson received multiple promotions, reaching the rank of Staff Captain in January 1917, and was awarded the Order of Saint Anna and Order of Saint Stanislaus.
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In 1918 Aleksander Jaakson organised a paramilitary defense group, the Estonian Defence League, in Turi.
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Aleksander Jaakson fought against both the Red Army and the Baltische Landeswehr, and suffered a concussion in June 1919 near Stalbe in Latvia.
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Aleksander Jaakson studied at officer courses in Estonian Defence College and in French War College.
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On 18 September 1928 Aleksander Jaakson married Mary Hovaldt.
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Aleksander Jaakson introduced several major changes, a university law was adopted, Tartu University's Faculty of Engineering was brought to Tallinn becoming Tallinn Technical University, and defence institutes were established to both universities.
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In October 1939 Aleksander Jaakson became the Chief of General Staff, and in February 1940 was promoted to the rank of major general.
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Aleksander Jaakson was survived by Mary and Rein, both of them escaping to the West in 1944.
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Aleksander Jaakson participated in public life belonging to several organisations, including being an honorary member of Estonian Naturalists' Society.