Kuperjanov Battalion
Encyclopedia
The Kuperjanov Battalion (official name Kuperjanov Infantry Battalion) is an Estonian Army infantry battalion of the Estonian Defence Forces. The battalion has been previously known as the Kuperjanov's Partisan Battalion and as the Kuperjanov Single Infantry Battalion.
Ernst Limberg. The commando type unit composed of volunteers was established after the Estonian Provisional government
call for volunteers to the Estonian National Army.
had been a school teacher who was commissioned in the Imperial Russian Army
. In 1918 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 General
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.
.
in southeast Estonia and is now one of the largest battalions inside the armed forces of Estonia. 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.
After the Estonian Ministry of Defence army reform the unit was transformed into an infantry training facility. During the last few years, the development and renovation of the Kuperjanov Battalion’s infrastructure has been completed. The main concern of the unit now is the establishment of the Nursipalu Training Field which is necessary for high-quality training.
History
The Kuperjanov Infantry Battalion is an elite Estonia Army military unit which was established during the Estonian War of Independence on 23 December 1918 by the order of ColonelColonel
Colonel , abbreviated Col or COL, is a military rank of a senior commissioned officer. It or a corresponding rank exists in most armies and in many air forces; the naval equivalent rank is generally "Captain". It is also used in some police forces and other paramilitary rank structures...
Ernst Limberg. The commando 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.
During the War of Independence
Julius KuperjanovJulius 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...
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 1918 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
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 General
General
A general officer is an officer of high military rank, usually in the army, and in some nations, the air force. The term is widely used by many nations of the world, and when a country uses a different term, there is an equivalent title given....
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.
During the Soviet occupation
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 UnionSoviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
.
Present day
The Kuperjanov Infantry Battalion is based in VõruVõru
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 inside the armed forces of Estonia. 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.
After the Estonian Ministry of Defence army reform the unit was transformed into an infantry training facility. During the last few years, the development and renovation of the Kuperjanov Battalion’s infrastructure has been completed. The main concern of the unit now is the establishment of the Nursipalu Training Field which is necessary for high-quality training.
Links
See also
- Special Forces train in Baltics
- Estonian Defence Forces