Background
Born in Estonia, Einseln fled that country with his mother in 1944 as reoccupied the Baltic states after the retreat of German troops.
Born in Estonia, Einseln fled that country with his mother in 1944 as reoccupied the Baltic states after the retreat of German troops.
He held that position from 4 May 1993 to 4 December 1995. He immigrated to the United States in 1949 and became a United States. citizen. He enlisted in the Army and served in the Korean and Vietnam Wars and was a one-time staff officer with the United States. Joint Chiefs of Staff and North Atlantic Treaty Organization in Brussels, retiring with the rank of colonel.
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 United States. State Department.
The United States. threatened to terminate Einseln"s military pension and even to revoke his United States. citizenship. However, after getting support from several United States. senators, Einseln received official permission from the United States. authorities to take on his new post.
In January 1995, after start of the First Chechen War, Einseln issued a decree stating that in case of foreign troops crossing the border, Estonia Defence Forces must immediately start active resistance, and not cease fighting until ordered so by the President of Estonia. This was seen as attempt to prevent surrender without resistance as had happened in 1939.
In 2014, after start of conflict in Ukraine, active Commander-in-Chief general Riho Terras noted that Einseln"s decree is still in force.
On 4 December 1995, he was forced to resign due to a disagreement with the defense minister. In February 1996, he was awarded the.