Battle of Paju
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| Battle of Paju | |||||||
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| Part of Estonian War of Independence | |||||||
 Battle of Paju. Painting by Maximilian Maksolly |
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| Belligerents | |||||||
 Estonia Finnish volunteers |
 Soviet Russia |
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| Commanders | |||||||
| Julius Kuperjanov † Hans Kalm |
E. Vītols |
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| Strength | |||||||
| 683 men | 1,200 men | ||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||
| 156 | about 300 | ||||||
The Battle of Paju (Estonian: Paju Lahing) was fought near Valga, Estonia, on January 31, 1919 during the Estonian War of Independence. After heavy fighting, Estonians and Finnish volunteers pushed the Red Latvian Riflemen out of the Paju Estate. It was the fiercest battle in the early period of war. The Estonian commander Julius Kuperjanov fell in the fighting.
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[edit] Background
In early January 1919 Estonian forces had started a full scale counterattack against invading Soviets. Their main objective was liberating north Estonia including Narva, which was achieved by January 17. They then started to advance into south Estonia. On January 14, the Tartumaa Partisan Battalion, organised and led by Lieutenant Julius Kuperjanov, and armoured trains liberated Tartu.
At that time the only working railway connection to Riga, which the Red Army had captured on January 3, passed through Valga, so defending it had strategic importance for Soviet Russia.[1] Among other units, a large part of the elite Latvian Riflemen were sent to stop the Estonians.[2] Commander-in-chief, Johan Laidoner reinforced the Estonian advance in the south, including Finnish volunteers, The Sons of the North, led by colonel Hans Kalm. Finnish general Martin Wetzer became the commander of the southern front.[3]
[edit] Battle
To liberate Valga it was necessary to capture Paju Estate. On January 30 Estonian partisans had captured it, but were soon pushed out. With his 300 men, 2 guns and 13 machineguns, Kuperjanov decided to recapture Paju on January 31[4]. Armoured trains were unable to support, due to the destruction of Sangaste railway bridge. The Latvian Riflemen had about 1,200 men with 4 guns and 32 machineguns.[5] They were supported by an armoured train and armoured cars.
Tartumaa Partisan Battalion attacked the estate directly over open fields. At 400 metres Bolshevik troops opened fire inflicting heavy casualties. Kuperjanov led the attack personally[6], as usual, and was fatally wounded, dying two days later. Later Finnish Sons of the North units with about 380 men arrived, bringing with them 4 guns and 9 machineguns. They also assaulted the estate in a frontal attack which caused heavy losses.
In the evening the Estonians and Finns finally pushed into the park of the estate where heavy hand-to-hand combat started, which resulted in capturing the estate. Retreating Latvian Riflemen were taken under heavy fire. Next day the Estonians marched into Valga without resistance.[7]
[edit] Aftermath
The bloody Battle of Paju resulted in the liberation of Valga the next day. The victory cut off the Soviets’ railway supply line and denied them the use of armoured trains. Soon almost all southern Estonia was liberated and Estonian troops advanced into northern Latvia.
To honour Julius Kuperjanov who had died of wounds on February 2, Tartumaa Partisan Battalion was renamed Kuperjanov's Partisan Battalion.[8] Current Estonian Defence Force also has battalion named after Kuperjanov.[9]
The battle is commemorated by a granite monument on a three–step pyramid of earth, which was reopened by the Estonian President Lennart Meri in 1994 on the 75th anniversary of the battle.
[edit] See also
[edit] Footnotes
- ^ Traksmaa, August: Lühike vabadussõja ajalugu, page 102. Olion, 1992
- ^ Traksmaa, August: Lühike vabadussõja ajalugu, page 102. Olion, 1992
- ^ Traksmaa, August: Lühike vabadussõja ajalugu, page 105. Olion, 1992
- ^ Traksmaa, August: Lühike vabadussõja ajalugu, page 106. Olion, 1992
- ^ Kaevats, Ülo: Eesti Entsüklopeedia 7, page 146. Eesti Entsüklopeediakirjastus, 1994
- ^ Traksmaa, August: Lühike vabadussõja ajalugu, page 106. Olion, 1992
- ^ Traksmaa, August: Lühike vabadussõja ajalugu, page 109. Olion, 1992
- ^ Traksmaa, August: Lühike vabadussõja ajalugu, page 109. Olion, 1992
- ^ Eesti Kaitsevägi:Kuperjanovi Üksik-jalaväepataljon
[edit] References
- Traksmaa, August (1992). Lühike vabadussõja ajalugu. Olion. ISBN 5450013256.
- Kaevats, Ülo (1994). Eesti Entsüklopeedia 7. Tallinn: Eesti Entsüklopeediakirjastus. ISBN 5899000295.
- Eesti Kaitsevägi:Kuperjanovi Üksik-jalaväepataljon
