Jaan Maide

Jaan Maide, VR II/3 (30 May 1896 – 10 August 1945) was a senior Estonian Army officer who fought in World War I, the Estonian War of Independence and World War II. He was appointed Commander-in-Chief of the Estonian Military by Otto Tief's government in 1944.

Early life Maide was born on 30 May 1896, in Vana-Kariste to Johann and Liso Maide.

Military career Maide was drafted into the Imperial Russian Army in 1915. He graduated from a commissioned officer's academy in Kyiv as an ensign in 1916, and served with the Latvian Riflemen regiment from 1917 until 1918.

Following the Estonian Declaration of Independence, Maide joined the newly formed Estonian Army, where he was appointed commander of the 1st Company of the 6th Regiment. He commanded his unit during the Estonian War of Independence, and was promoted to lieutenant on 12 February 1920. Despite his attempts to reform the army, the plan to defend Estonia failed. Tallinn fell on 22 September 1944, and Maide himself was captured in Munalaskme on 24 October 1944.

Death Maide was transported to the Butyrka prison in Moscow and executed on 10 August 1945.

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