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Commander of the Estonian Defence Forces

The Commander of the Defence Forces (Estonian: Kaitseväe juhataja) is the Chief of the Estonian Defence Forces and the national defence organisations.

Commander of the Defence Forces
Kaitseväe juhataja
Standard of the Commander of the Defence Force
Incumbent
Major General Andrus Merilo
since 1 July 2024
Estonian Defence Forces
TypeChief of defence
Member ofHeadquarters of the Estonian Defence Forces
Reports toMinister of Defence
SeatTallinn, Estonia
NominatorMinister of Defence
AppointerGovernment of Estonia
Term lengthFive years (with option for another two years)
Formation1918
First holderGeneral Johan Laidoner
Websitewww.mil.ee

List of officeholders

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No. Portrait Commander Took office Left office Time in office Defence branch Ref.
1Laidoner, JohanGeneral
Johan Laidoner
(1884–1953)
[a]		23 December 1918
1 December 1924
12 March 1934		26 March 1920
8 January 1925
22 June 1940		1 year, 94 days
38 days
6 years, 102 days
Total: 7 years, 234 days		 
Army
2Jonson, GustavMajor General
Gustav Jonson
(1880–1942)
[b]		22 June 19403 September 194073 days 
Army
Cavalry
Vacant
Soviet and German occupations
3Maide, JaanMajor General
Jaan Maide
(1896–1945)
[c]		18 September 194424 October 194436 days 
Army
Vacant
Soviet occupation
4Einseln, AleksanderGeneral
Aleksander Einseln
(1931–2017)
[d]		1 May 19934 December 19952 years, 217 days 
Army		[1][2]
5Kert, JohannesLieutenant General
Johannes Kert
(1959–2021)
[e]		23 January 199630 June 20004 years, 159 days 
Defence League		[4]
–Ermus, AarneLieutenant colonel
Aarne Ermus
(born 1966)
Acting		30 June 200021 September 200083 days 
Army		[5]
6Kõuts, TarmoVice Admiral
Tarmo Kõuts
(born 1953)
[f]		21 September 200014 November 20066 years, 54 days 
Border Guard
7Laaneots, AntsGeneral
Ants Laaneots
(born 1948)		5 December 20065 December 20115 years, 0 days 
Army
8Terras, RihoGeneral
Riho Terras
(born 1967)		5 December 20115 December 20187 years, 0 days 
Army		[6]
9Herem, MartinGeneral
Martin Herem
(born 1973)		5 December 201830 June 20245 years, 208 days 
Army		[7]
10Merilo, AndrusMajor General
Andrus Merilo
(born 1973)		1 July 2024Incumbent175 days 
Army

See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ First term served during Estonian War of Independence. Made commander-in-chief twice under martial law. Eventually removed from position on 22 June 1940, after Soviet Union occupied Estonia.
  2. ^ Served as commander-in-chief following the forced resignation of Johan Laidoner following the Soviet Union's demand that the Red Army establish military bases and station 25,000 troops on Estonian soil for the duration of the war. Executed by Soviet authorities in 1942.
  3. ^ Served as commander-in-chief in the period between the German occupation and second Soviet occupation. Captured by the Soviets on 24 October 1944.
  4. ^ Resigned on 4 December 1995 due to a disagreement with the Minister of Defence.
  5. ^ Was requested to make a resignation by the head of state, head of government and the Minister of Defence, but refused.[3] Impeached by the President of the Republic on 30 June 2000.[4]
  6. ^ Requested to be resigned to enter politics.

References

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  1. ^ Toivo Miljan. Historical Dictionary of Estonia. Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, 2004. ISBN 978-0-8108-4904-4; pp. 185–186
  2. ^ WORLD NEWS BRIEFS;Ex-U.S. Colonel Resigns As Estonian Army Chief - New York Times
  3. ^ "Kindral Johannes Kert jääb kaitseväe juhiks". epl.delfi.ee. Archived from the original on 2018-01-19. Retrieved 2018-01-19.
  4. ^ a b "Johannes Kert: "Ma isegi ei tea, kes just praegu olen!"". epl.delfi.ee. Retrieved 2018-01-19.
  5. ^ "Johannes Kerdi vabastamine ja Aarne Ermuse nimetamine". www.riigiteataja.ee. Retrieved 2018-01-19.
  6. ^ "President ülendas Tsahkna ettepanekul Terrase kindraliks". ERR. Retrieved 20 February 2017.
  7. ^ "Gallery: Maj. Gen. Herem takes over command of the Estonian Defence Forces". ERR. Retrieved 4 December 2018.
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