Long Description:This Kindralmajor Johannes Orasmaa monument is displayed on the front of the Estonian Defence League building is located at Toompea 8, and is accessible 24/7. "Major General Orasmaa, head of the Home Guard, was arrested by Soviet occupation forces on July 19, 1940 and subsequently died in May 1943 in a Soviet prison." (
visit link)
Below the monument is a granite marker that reads:
Selles majas töötas
Johannes Orasmaa VR I-2., II-3.
aastatel 1925+1940 Kaitseliidu ülemana
Which, in English, reads:
Worked in this building
John Orasmäe VR I-2., II-3.
Defence Chief between 1925 and 1940
A brief biography of Kindralmajor Johannes Orasmaa follows:
"The Commander 10.02.1925-17.06.1940
Born on 3 December 1890 Viru Joala field as the son of a craftsman.
Education:
Joala elementary school
Narva Alexander Church School
1911 graduated from Boys High School in Narva
Vladimir Military School in St. Petersburg, 1911-1913
Career and social activities:
1913-1914 Liepaja and artillery fortifications Nowo Georgiewski
1914-1917 9th heavy artillery brigades, 48 and 72 raskesuurtükiväedivisjoniga German and Austrian fronts, shocks and regime was twice gassed
1917 Ukrainian army
1. 1918 Estonia Artillery Brigade 5th Battery of
White Russian Northern Corps armor
1918-1919 first 5th Regiment of Artillery Battery of
3. 1919 5th Regiment of Artillery Battery of
1919-1920 2nd Regiment of Artillery Commander
1920-1921 Armoured Division Artillery, Inspector, Assistant to Head of Division
1921-1923 Armoured Brigade Commander
1923-1925 2nd soomusrügemendi upper
1925-1940 Commander of the Defence
Ranks:
1913 Second Lieutenant
1916 Lt.
1917 sub-master
1918 Captain
1920 Colonel
1923 Colonel
1928, Major General
Awards:
Liberty I / 2, II / 3
Tartu County Farm Vaimastvere
Eagle Cross sash
Red Cross Order of Merit
Commander of the White Rose of Finland and the Order of Merit
Order of Polonia Restituta
Knight's Cross of King Leopold II of Belgium
Order of St. Stanislav IV and phase III
Order of St. Anna, IV, III and Phase II
Phase IV of the Order of St. Vladimir
Arrested on 19.07.1940, died on 24.05.1943 in a prison camp Vyatka, Kirov Oblast." (
visit link)