Jaan Soots (12 March [O.S. 29 February] 1880 – 6 February 1942) was anEstonian military commander during theEstonian War of Independence and politician.

Jaan Soots
Born	(1880-03-12)12 March 1880 Livonia,Russian Empire
Died	6 February 1942(1942-02-06) (aged 61)
Allegiance	Russian Empire Estonia
Years of service	1900–1920
Rank	Major general
Battles / wars	Russo-Japanese War World War I Estonian War of Independence
Awards	Estonian Cross of Liberty Order of the White Star Order of Lāčplēsis Order of Saint Stanislaus Order of Saint Anna Order of Saint Vladimir

Jaan Soots was born in Küti farmstead,Linna village, Helme Parish, Viljandi County (now in Tõrva Parish,Valga County),Governorate of Livonia,Russian Empire. He joined the army voluntarily in 1900, studied between 1901 and 1904 atVilnius Military Academy, participated in theRusso-Japanese War and from 1910 to 1913 studied at theImperial Nicholas Military Academy. At the beginning of the Estonian War of Independence, Soots was Chief of Operative Staff; in February 1919 he became Chief of Staff of the Commander-in-Chief. In 1919, Soots also achieved the rank ofMajor General. Soots also participated in theTartu peace conference and retired in 1920. Later, he was twice a Minister of War, member of the State Assembly, Mayor andLord Mayor (ülemlinnapea) ofTallinn. In 1938, he receivedHerbert Hoover, who, as an honorary citizen of Tallinn, visited Estonia. In 1940,Soviet occupation authorities arrested Soots and in 1942 he died inUssollag prison camp inUsolye,Perm Oblast.

Soots is recipient of the EstonianOrder of the White Star, 1st class, and the Latvian militaryOrder of Lāčplēsis, 2nd class.^[1]

• Estonian War of Independence
• Freikorps in the Baltic

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