Kaarel Eenpalu (28 May 1888 in Tartu County

Tartu County

Tartu County , or Tartumaa , is one of 15 counties of Estonia.It is located in eastern Estonia bordering Põlva County, Valga County, Viljandi County and Jõgeva County....

, Estonia, Russian Empire

Russian Empire

The Russian Empire was a state that existed from 1721 until the Russian Revolution of 1917. It was the successor to the Tsardom of Russia and the predecessor of the Soviet Union...

 – 27 January or 28 January 1942, Kirov Oblast

Kirov Oblast

Kirov Oblast is a federal subject of Russia . Its administrative center is the city of Kirov. Population: -History:In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Vyatka remained a place of exile for opponents of the tsarist regime, including many prominent revolutionary figures.In 1920, a number of...

, Russia, USSR) was an Estonian journalist, politician and head of state.

Education

Eenpalu was educated at the Hugo Treffner Gymnasium

Hugo Treffner Gymnasium

The Hugo Treffner Gymnasium is a secondary school in Tartu, Estonia with special emphasis on science education. Founded by Hugo Treffner, it was the only large secondary school in the 19th century Estonia with dominantly Estonian students and no age restrictions...

 in Tartu

Tartu

Tartu is the second largest city of Estonia. In contrast to Estonia's political and financial capital Tallinn, Tartu is often considered the intellectual and cultural hub, especially since it is home to Estonia's oldest and most renowned university. Situated 186 km southeast of Tallinn, the...

. Between 1909 and 1914 he studied law at Tartu University and later graduated from Moscow University.

Journalism

From 1910 to 1912 and in 1915 he was member of the editorial board of the Postimees Daily in Tartu, in 1918 editor of Postimees, in 1920 editor-in-chief of "Tallinna Teataja" (Tallinn Gazette) daily, and in 1924 editor-in-chief of the "Kaja" (Echo) newspaper.

War

Eenpalu was active in World War I

World War I

World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...

, serving as a battery commander in the First Estonian Artillery Regiment in 1917 and 1918. During the Estonian War of Independence in 1918–1919, he first commanded the Tartu High School students' battalion, and then a battery in the Second Estonian Artillery Regiment.

Political career

Eenpalu was a member of the Estonian Constituent Assembly

Estonian Constituent Assembly

The Estonian Constituent Assembly was elected on 5-7 April 1919, called by the Estonian Provisional Government during the Estonian War of Independence. The Assembly was elected by proportional representation. Eligible voters included soldiers at the front...

 (Asutav Kogu, 1919–1920), member of National Assembly (Riigikogu

Riigikogu

The Riigikogu is the unicameral parliament of Estonia. All important state-related questions pass through the Riigikogu...

, 1920–1937), member of the Chamber of Deputies (Riigivolikogu, since 1938) and held a series of high government offices of the newly independent Estonian state. In 1919–1920 he was State Controller. In 1920, 1921–1924, and 1924–1926 he held the position of the Minister of Internal Affairs, and can thus be considered a founder of the Estonian Police. From 22 June 1926 to 19 July 1932 and from 18 May 1933 to 29 August 1934 he was Speaker of the III, IV and V Riigikogu. From 19 July to 1 November 1932 he was the head of state (Riigivanem, literally "Elder of State"). In 1934–1938 he was again Minister of Internal Affairs, and in 1938–1939 he was the Prime Minister of Estonia.

Capture

After the Soviet Union

Soviet Union

The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....

 occupied Estonia in June 1940, Eenpalu, along with a number of other leading Estonian politicians, was arrested and subsequently deported to Russia. He died in 1942 in a Soviet prison camp in Vyatka

Kirov, Kirov Oblast

Kirov , formerly known as Vyatka and Khlynov, is a city in northeastern European Russia, on the Vyatka River, and the administrative center of Kirov Oblast. Population: -History:...

 (Vyatlag), Kirov (Vyatka) Oblast.

Awards

1927 – Order of the Estonian Red Cross

Order of the Estonian Red Cross

The Order of the Estonian Red Cross was instituted in 1920 by the Estonian Red Cross Society. The Order of the Estonian Red Cross is bestowed in order to give recognition for humanitarian services rendered in the interests of the Estonian people and for the saving of life.-Classes:The Order of the...

 I/II

1930 – Order of the Cross of the Eagle

Order of the Cross of the Eagle

The Order of the Cross of the Eagle was instituted in 1928 by the Estonian Defence League to commemorate the tenth anniversary of Estonian independence. It was adopted as a state order in 1936.The Order of the Cross of the Eagle is bestowed to give recognition for military services and services...

 I

1935 – Order of the Estonian Red Cross

Order of the Estonian Red Cross

The Order of the Estonian Red Cross was instituted in 1920 by the Estonian Red Cross Society. The Order of the Estonian Red Cross is bestowed in order to give recognition for humanitarian services rendered in the interests of the Estonian people and for the saving of life.-Classes:The Order of the...

 I/I

1938 – Order of the White Star

Order of the White Star

The Order of the White Star was instituted on 1936. The Order of the White Star is bestowed on Estonian citizens and foreigners to give recognition for services rendered to the Estonian state.- Classes :The Order of the White Star comprises five classes:...

 I

1939 – Order of the National Coat of Arms

Order of the National Coat of Arms

The Order of the National Coat of Arms was instituted by Konstantin Päts on 7 October 1936 to commemorate 24 February 1918, the day on which Estonian independence was declared...

 I