Mati Õun
| Mati Õun | |
|---|---|
 Oun, Mati.IMG 3306.JPG Õun in 2012 | |
| Born | 17 July 1942 Tallinn, Estonia |
| 21 December 2024 (aged 82)21 December 2024 (aged 82) | |
| 🏳️ Citizenship | Estonian |
| 🏫 Education | University of Tartu |
| 💼 Occupation | Military historian, writer, teacher |
| 🏅 Awards | Order of the White Star, 5th Class |
Mati Õun (17 July 1942 – 21 December 2024) was an Estonian military historian, writer, teacher and sports figure. He published more than 80 books on maritime and military history and was a co-author of reference works including the Eesti entsüklopeedia and Mereleksikon.[1] He was also among the founders of the Estonian Academic Military History Society and one of the pioneers of powerlifting in Estonia.[1][2]
Early life and education
Born in Tallinn, Õun graduated from the Tallinn Construction and Mechanics Technical School in 1961 and later completed a degree in history by correspondence at the University of Tartu in 1984.[2] In a 2022 radio interview, he reflected on his compulsory service in the Soviet Navy and on his later work as an author of military-history books.[3]
Career and scholarship
Õun served as director of the Estonian Theatre and Music Museum from 1989 to 1992.[4] He later taught history and military history at a range of Estonian institutions, including the Estonian Institute of Humanities, the Estonian National Defence Academy, the Estonian Military Academy, Tallinn Pedagogical University, Tallinn University and the Estonian Maritime Academy.[1]
His writing focused especially on naval warfare and maritime history, but he also published on land warfare and military technology.[5][6][7][8] He was also a frequent public lecturer and commentator on military history in conferences, on radio and on television.[1] In 2014 he was among the historians who, during the centenary of the First World War, called for more research on Estonia's role in the conflict.[9] A University of Oulu study on the heritage of World War II sea mines referred to him as an "Estonian Juminda scholar", reflecting his association with research on the 1941 Juminda mine battle.[10]
According to a 2022 profile published by the City of Tallinn, Õun was active in the restoration of Estonia's defence forces and in 1988 was among the employees of the Estonian Maritime Museum who helped bring the icebreaker Suur Tõll back to Estonia.[5] The Estonian Maritime Museum has also listed him among the historians who contributed most to the maritime reference work Mereleksikon.[11]
Sport
Õun began weightlifting in 1959 under the coach Jaan Toome while studying at technical school.[2] After a back injury he turned to bodybuilding and helped organize competitions in the 1970s.[2] He was one of the figures who laid the groundwork for powerlifting in Estonia, chaired the powerlifting commission of the Estonian SSR Weightlifting Federation from 1980 to 1991, and was later named honorary chairman of the Estonian Powerlifting Federation.[2]
Honours
Õun received the Order of the White Star, 5th Class, in 2018.[12][13] On his 80th birthday in 2022, a bench bearing his name was unveiled in Nõmme, Tallinn.[5]
Death
Õun died on 21 December 2024, at the age of 82.[1]
Selected works
- 101 Eesti laeva (with Hanno Ojalo, 2015)[6]
- Eesti Wabariigi soomusvägi 1918–1941 (2017)[7]
- Teise maailmasõja lahingud õhus, maal ja vees (with Hanno Ojalo, 2018)[8]
- Juminda miinilahing 1941: kadalipp Soome lahel (with Hanno Ojalo, 2018)[14]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 "Suri sõjaajaloolane Mati Õun". ERR (in eesti). 22 December 2024. Retrieved 8 April 2026.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 "ÕUN, Mati (17. VII 1942 Tallinn – 21. XII 2024), jõutõstja ja sporditegelane". Eesti spordi biograafiline leksikon (in eesti). Retrieved 8 April 2026.
- ↑ "Meretund: Ajateenistusest NSVL mereväes ja raamatute kirjutamisest". Kuku raadio (in eesti). 30 July 2022. Retrieved 8 April 2026.
- ↑ "Eesti Teatri- ja Muusikamuuseum". Eesti Teatri Biograafiline Leksikon (in eesti). Retrieved 8 April 2026.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 "Sõjaajaloolane Mati Õun sai omanimelise pingi". Tallinn (in eesti). 18 July 2022. Retrieved 8 April 2026.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Õun, Mati; Ojalo, Hanno (2015). 101 Eesti laeva. Tallinn: Varrak. ISBN 9789985327555. Search this book on
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 Õun, Mati (2017). Eesti Wabariigi soomusvägi 1918–1941. Tallinn: Grenader. ISBN 9789949605194. Search this book on
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 Õun, Mati; Ojalo, Hanno (2018). Teise maailmasõja lahingud õhus, maal ja vees. Tallinn: Äripäev. ISBN 9789949624393. Search this book on
- ↑ "World War I Centennial Brings Calls for More Research into Estonia's Role". ERR News. 4 August 2014. Retrieved 8 April 2026.
- ↑ "The Cultural Heritage of WWII Sea Mines in the Baltic Sea" (PDF). University of Oulu repository. 2020. Retrieved 8 April 2026.
- ↑ "Merendusterminoloogia komisjonist merekeele nõukojaks". Estonian Maritime Museum (in eesti). 23 January 2023. Retrieved 8 April 2026.
- ↑ "Riiklike autasude andmine". Riigi Teataja (in eesti). 5 February 2018. Retrieved 8 April 2026.
- ↑ "President of Estonia to bestow state decorations on 166 individuals". ERR News. 5 February 2018. Retrieved 8 April 2026.
- ↑ Õun, Mati; Ojalo, Hanno (2018). Juminda miinilahing 1941: kadalipp Soome lahel. Tallinn: Ammukaar; Sentinel. ISBN 9789949724161. Search this book on
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