Kuperjanov's Partisan Battalion
Encyclopedia
The Kuperjanov Partisan Battalion, now the Kuperjanov Independent Infantry Battalion
is an elite Estonia
n military unit established during the Estonian War of Independence. The commando
-type unit composed of volunteers was established after the Estonian Provisional government
call for volunteers to the Estonian National Army. On December 23, 1918 Colonel Johan Laidoner
was appointed Commander in chief of the Estonian armed forces, and the same day Col. Ernst Limberg gave Lt. Julius Kuperjanov
the order to form the battalion.
Kuperjanov had been a school teacher who was commissioned in the Imperial Russian Army
. In 1917 he joined Estonian forces at the start of the War of Independence. In December 1918 he received permission to raise a ranger
battalion. School students were among the first recruits of the Tartumaa (that is, Tartu County
) Partisan Battalion, which was formed at Puurmani
manor. Due to a flow of young, but highly motivated volunteers, Kuperjanov's unit became an independent battalion
known for its high morale and daring tactics. The battalion played a crucial role in liberating the southern part of Estonia
.
After the death of Julius Kuperjanov on 2 February 1919 from wounds received at the manor of Paju
, the battalion was officially named Julius Kuperjanov Partisan Battalion by the Commander in Chief of the Estonian Defence Forces Gen. Johan Laidoner
.
In 1919 Kuperjanov's Battalion had a central part in destroying the imperialist German Landeswehr Army
and liberating Latvia
.
After victory in the War of Liberation and the Landeswehr War, the Kuperjanov Battalion acted as part of the peacetime Estonian Defence Forces.
The battalion was disbanded in 1940 after the Soviet occupation. The Kuperjanov Battalion was re-established on 9 March 1992 as the Kuperjanov Independent Infantry Battalion after Estonia regained its independence from the Soviet Union
.
The Kuperjanov Independent Infantry Battalion is based in Võru
in southeast Estonia and is now one of the largest battalions of the Estonian Defence Forces. It is known for high demands from its recruits and officers and a special esprit de corps uniting its members in service and in reserve.
Kuperjanov Battalion
The Kuperjanov Battalion is an Estonian Army infantry battalion of the Estonian Defence Forces...
is an elite Estonia
Estonia
Estonia , officially the Republic of Estonia , is a state in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by the Gulf of Finland, to the west by the Baltic Sea, to the south by Latvia , and to the east by Lake Peipsi and the Russian Federation . Across the Baltic Sea lies...
n military unit established during the Estonian War of Independence. The commando
Commando
In English, the term commando means a specific kind of individual soldier or military unit. In contemporary usage, commando usually means elite light infantry and/or special operations forces units, specializing in amphibious landings, parachuting, rappelling and similar techniques, to conduct and...
-type unit composed of volunteers was established after the Estonian Provisional government
Estonian Provisional Government
The Estonian Provisional Government was formed on February 24, 1918 by the Salvation Committee appointed by Maapäev the Estonian Province Assembly. The Provisional Government was led by Konstantin Päts...
call for volunteers to the Estonian National Army. On December 23, 1918 Colonel Johan Laidoner
Johan Laidoner
Johan Laidoner was a seminal figure of Estonian history between the world wars. His highest position was Commander-in-chief of the Estonian Army in 1918–1920, 1924–1925, and 1934–1940.-Education:Laidoner was born in Viiratsi , Governorate of Livonia, then part of the Russian Empire...
was appointed Commander in chief of the Estonian armed forces, and the same day Col. Ernst Limberg gave Lt. Julius Kuperjanov
Julius Kuperjanov
Julius Kuperjanov VR II/2 and II/3 was an Estonian military commander during the Estonian War of Independence and commanding officer of the Kuperjanov Partisan Battalion.-Life:Kuperjanov was a schoolteacher in the village of Kambja...
the order to form the battalion.
Kuperjanov had been a school teacher who was commissioned in the Imperial Russian Army
Imperial Russian Army
The Imperial Russian Army was the land armed force of the Russian Empire, active from around 1721 to the Russian Revolution of 1917. In the early 1850s, the Russian army consisted of around 938,731 regular soldiers and 245,850 irregulars . Until the time of military reform of Dmitry Milyutin in...
. In 1917 he joined Estonian forces at the start of the War of Independence. In December 1918 he received permission to raise a ranger
Ranger
-Law enforcement:* Arizona Rangers* California State Rangers* Colorado Mounted Rangers* Council ranger, a type of officer in Australia* Newfoundland Rangers* New Mexico Rangers* Pakistan Rangers, a Pakistani paramilitary force* Texas Ranger Division...
battalion. School students were among the first recruits of the Tartumaa (that is, 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....
) Partisan Battalion, which was formed at Puurmani
Puurmani
Puurmani is a small borough in Jõgeva County, Estonia. It is the administrative centre of Puurmani Parish....
manor. Due to a flow of young, but highly motivated volunteers, Kuperjanov's unit became an independent battalion
Battalion
A battalion is a military unit of around 300–1,200 soldiers usually consisting of between two and seven companies and typically commanded by either a Lieutenant Colonel or a Colonel...
known for its high morale and daring tactics. The battalion played a crucial role in liberating the southern part of Estonia
Estonia
Estonia , officially the Republic of Estonia , is a state in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by the Gulf of Finland, to the west by the Baltic Sea, to the south by Latvia , and to the east by Lake Peipsi and the Russian Federation . Across the Baltic Sea lies...
.
After the death of Julius Kuperjanov on 2 February 1919 from wounds received at the manor of Paju
Battle of Paju
The Battle of Paju was fought in Paju, near Valga, Estonia, on 31 January 1919 during the Estonian War of Independence. After heavy fighting, the Tartu–Valga group of the Estonian Army pushed the Red Latvian Riflemen out of the Paju Manor. It was the fiercest battle in the early period of war...
, the battalion was officially named Julius Kuperjanov Partisan Battalion by the Commander in Chief of the Estonian Defence Forces Gen. Johan Laidoner
Johan Laidoner
Johan Laidoner was a seminal figure of Estonian history between the world wars. His highest position was Commander-in-chief of the Estonian Army in 1918–1920, 1924–1925, and 1934–1940.-Education:Laidoner was born in Viiratsi , Governorate of Livonia, then part of the Russian Empire...
.
In 1919 Kuperjanov's Battalion had a central part in destroying the imperialist German Landeswehr Army
Baltische Landeswehr
Baltische Landeswehr was the name of the unified armed forces of the Couronian and Livonian nobility from 7 December 1918 to 3 July 1919.- Command structure :...
and liberating Latvia
Latvia
Latvia , officially the Republic of Latvia , is a country in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by Estonia , to the south by Lithuania , to the east by the Russian Federation , to the southeast by Belarus and shares maritime borders to the west with Sweden...
.
After victory in the War of Liberation and the Landeswehr War, the Kuperjanov Battalion acted as part of the peacetime Estonian Defence Forces.
The battalion was disbanded in 1940 after the Soviet occupation. The Kuperjanov Battalion was re-established on 9 March 1992 as the Kuperjanov Independent Infantry Battalion after Estonia regained its independence from 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....
.
The Kuperjanov Independent Infantry Battalion is based in Võru
Võru
Võru is a town and a municipality in south-eastern Estonia. It is the capital of Võru County and the centre of Võru Parish.-History:Võru was founded on 21 August 1784, according to the wish of the Empress Catherine II of Russia, by the order of Riga Governor general count George Browne, on the...
in southeast Estonia and is now one of the largest battalions of the Estonian Defence Forces. It is known for high demands from its recruits and officers and a special esprit de corps uniting its members in service and in reserve.