# Hans Kruus

_Estonian historian and politician (1891-1976)_

Canonical: https://diginpl.com/people/hans-kruus
Last updated: 2026-11-06

> Hans Johannes Kruus was an Estonian historian, academic and politician. As well as sitting in the Estonian parliament and the Supreme Soviet of the Estonian SSR, he was Deputy Prime Minister of Estonia in 1940 and Foreign Minister of the Estonian SSR between 1944 and 1950. He was also Rector of the University of Tartu in 1940–41 and in 1944.

## Quick facts

- **Born:** 22 October 1891 ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q4242571#P569))
- **Place of birth:** Tartu ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q4242571#P19))
- **Died:** 30 June 1976 ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q4242571#P570))
- **Place of death:** Tallinn ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q4242571#P20))
- **Citizenship:** Russian Empire; Estonia ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q4242571#P27))
- **Occupation:** historian; politician; university teacher ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q4242571#P106))
- **Political party:** Communist Party of the Soviet Union ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q4242571#P102))
- **Education:** Imperial University of Dorpat ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q4242571#P69))
- **Positions held:** Council of Ministers of Estonian SSR (5 March 1947 – 8 March 1950); Supreme Soviet of the Estonian Soviet Socialist Republic (25 August 1940 – 25 August 1947); Chamber of Deputies (15 July 1940 – 25 August 1940); Acting Prime Minister (21 June 1940 – 25 August 1940); member of the Riigikogu (10 March 1922 – 15 March 1922); member of the Estonian Constituent Assembly (23 April 1919 – 20 December 1920); Estonian Provincial Assembly (14 July 1917 – 23 April 1920) ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q4242571#P39))
- **Awards:** Order of the Badge of Honour; Order of the Red Banner of Labour; Order of Friendship of Peoples ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q4242571#P166))

## Questions

**When was Hans Kruus born?**  
Hans Kruus was born on 22 October 1891 in Tartu.

**What positions has Hans Kruus held?**  
Positions held by Hans Kruus include: Council of Ministers of Estonian SSR (1947–1950); Supreme Soviet of the Estonian Soviet Socialist Republic (1940–1947); Chamber of Deputies (1940–1940); Acting Prime Minister (1940–1940); member of the Riigikogu (1922–1922).

**Where did Hans Kruus study?**  
Hans Kruus was educated at Imperial University of Dorpat.

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## Sources

- [Wikipedia (English): Hans Kruus](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hans_Kruus) — [CC BY-SA 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)
- [Wikidata item Q4242571](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q4242571) — [CC0 1.0](https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/)
- [Image: Hans Kruus, 1920s.jpg by Heinrich Riedel (Public domain)](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Hans_Kruus,_1920s.jpg)

## Licence and attribution

Text from the Wikipedia article Hans Kruus, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. This page's text is shared under the same licence. Facts from Wikidata (CC0). Image: Hans Kruus, 1920s.jpg — Heinrich Riedel, Public domain.

## Cite this page

"Hans Kruus". DigiNepal. Last updated 6 November 2026. https://diginpl.com/people/hans-kruus. Retrieved 6 November 2026.