Viru Infantry Battalion

Viru Infantry Battalion
Viru jalaväepataljon

Insignia of the Viru Infantry Battalion
Active 1917–1918
1918–1940
1992–present
Country  Estonia
Branch Estonian Land Forces
Type Infantry
Anti-tank warfare
Size Battalion
Part of 1st Infantry Brigade
Garrison/HQ Jõhvi
Motto(s) Eesti kodu kaitseks
Anniversaries Formed: 6 December
Restored: 22 May
Engagements Estonian War of Independence
Commanders
Current
commander		 Lieutenant Colonel Arno Kruusmann
Notable
commanders		 Aleksander Seimann
Jakob Vende

The Viru Infantry Battalion (Estonian: Viru jalaväepataljon) is a battalion of the Estonian Land Forces. It is a part of the 1st Infantry Brigade and its primary task is to train conscription-based infantry and anti-tank units. The battalion has been previously known as the 4th Infantry Regiment and as the 4th Single Infantry Battalion. The battalion is currently based at Jõhvi and is commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Arno Kruusmann.

History

Formation

On 6 December 1917, Lieutenant colonel Jaan Soots, acting commander of the 1st Division, ordered Captain Hendrik Vahtramäe to form the 4th Infantry Regiment (Estonian: 4. eesti polk) in Rakvere. Following the occupation of Estonia by the German Empire, the 4th Infantry Regiment was disbanded on 5 April 1918. After the German occupation ended, the unit was re-established in Narva on 21 November 1918.[1]

Estonian War of Independence

On 28 November 1918, the 6th Division of the Red Army attacked the positions of the 4th Infantry Regiment at Narva. The regiment had just 595 men in 2 battalions, and together with few hundred Estonian Defence League members, the regiment was forced to leave Narva and retreat west. On 4 January 1919, units of 4th Infantry Regiment managed to stop the advancing Red Army at Valkla. The regiment took part in the following counter-offensive and liberated Narva on 19 January 1919. By the end of the war, the regiment had 53 officers, and 1476 NCOs and soldiers in its ranks, and was commanded by Colonel Jakob Vende.[1]

1920–1940

After demobilization the unit was renamed 4th Single Infantry Battalion, and was based at Narva-Jõesuu. On 1 April 1924, the battalion was added to the 5th Infantry Regiment at Narva. On 1 October 1928, most units of 4th Single Infantry Battalion were moved to Jõhvi and Kurtna, while one infantry and one machine gun platoon took positions at Vasknarva. After the Soviet occupation in 1940 the battalion was disbanded.[2]

1992–present

On 22 May 1992, the unit was restored as Viru Infantry Battalion in Jõhvi. The battalion participates in training conscripts for infantry and anti-tank units.[1] The battalion is currently equipped with MILAN 2, MAPATS and FGM-148 Javelin anti-tank missiles.[3]

Current structure

Viru Infantry Battalion:[4]

List of commanders

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Viru jalaväepataljon" (in Estonian). Estonian Defence Forces.
  2. ↑ Õun, Mati. 2001. Eesti sõjavägi 1920-40. Tallinn: Tammiskilp, page 23
  3. ↑ "Kaitsevägi alustas suurkolimisega" (in Estonian). Postimees.
  4. ↑ "Viru jalaväepataljoni põhimäärus" (in Estonian). Riigi Teataja.
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