Risto-Pearu Koovit

TUNTUD JA TUNDMATU – MÕISTATUSLIK KOLONEL JAAN RINK

Introduction

Tuntud ja tundmatu – mÕistatuslik kolonel jaan rink. Kolonel Jaan Rink – Eesti Vabadussõja vähetuntud kangelane. Uuri tema rolli sõjas, haridust ja olulist panust riigikaitsesse.

Abstract

Colonel Jaan Rink (1886–1927) has remained a relatively little-knownfigure in Estonian military history. Of course, those who are better informed certainlyknow that during the War of Independence he initially served as Chiefof Staff of the 1st Division, and later as Chief of the Administration of Staff tothe Commander-in-Chief. In the final phase of the War of Independence he alsoperformed the duties of Chief of Staff to the Commander-in-Chief, succeedingMajor General Jaan Soots in this position. After the end of the War of Independencehe also briefly served as Chief of Staff of the Estonian Military Forces. Rink was oneof the few senior Estonian officers during the War of Independence who had undergonemilitary training as a general staff officer at the Imperial Nicholas General StaffAcademy; he also had experience at corps staff level during World War I.Since there are currently no comprehensive overviews on Jaan Rink, the purposeof this article is to examine his military education, participation in military activitiesduring both World War I and the War of Independence, involvement in Estoniannational defence after the War of Independence, and his contributions to the developmentof Estonian national defence. The article also serves as a tribute to this lesserknownhero of the War of Independence.

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