Aleksander Einseln

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Aleksander Einseln (b. 1931) is a former commander of the Estonian Defence Forces. He held that position from 4 May 1993 to 4 December 1995.

Born in Estonia, Einseln fled that country with his mother in 1944 as Soviet troops retook the Baltic states from Nazi Germany. He immigrated to the United States in 1949 and became a citizen. He enlisted in the Army and served in the Korean and Vietnam Wars and was a one-time staff officer with the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff and NATO in Brussels, retiring with the rank of colonel.[1]

In 1993, at the request of Estonian President Lennart Meri, Einseln returned to Estonia to take command of its military forces, over the objections of the U.S. State Department.[2] On December 4, 1995, he was forced to resign due to a disagreement with the defense minister.[3]

In February 1996, he was awarded the Order of the Cross of the Eagle.[4]