Battle of Paju

Infobox Military Conflict
conflict=Battle of Paju


caption=Battle of Paju. Painting by Maximilian Maksolly
partof=Estonian War of Independence
date=January 31, 1919
place=Paju Estate, near Valga
result=Estonian victory
combatant1=
combatant2=
commander1=
commander2=
strength1=683 men
strength2=1,200 men
casualties1=156
casualties2=about 300|The Battle of Paju ( _et. 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.

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. [Traksmaa, August: "Lühike vabadussõja ajalugu", page 102. Olion, 1992] Among other units, a large part of the elite Latvian Riflemen were sent to stop the Estonians. [Traksmaa, August: "Lühike vabadussõja ajalugu", page 102. Olion, 1992] 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. [Traksmaa, August: "Lühike vabadussõja ajalugu", page 105. Olion, 1992]

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 [Traksmaa, August: "Lühike vabadussõja ajalugu", page 106. Olion, 1992] . 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. [Kaevats, Ülo: "Eesti Entsüklopeedia 7", page 146. Eesti Entsüklopeediakirjastus, 1994] 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 [Traksmaa, August: "Lühike vabadussõja ajalugu", page 106. Olion, 1992] , 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. [Traksmaa, August: "Lühike vabadussõja ajalugu", page 109. Olion, 1992]

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. [Traksmaa, August: "Lühike vabadussõja ajalugu", page 109. Olion, 1992] Current Estonian Defence Force also has battalion named after Kuperjanov. [ [http://www.mil.ee/uusmil/?menu=maavagi&sisu=kuper Eesti Kaitsevägi:Kuperjanovi Üksik-jalaväepataljon] ]

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.

See also

*Estonian War of Independence
*Heimosodat
*Latvian Riflemen
*Latvian War of Independence

Footnotes

References

*cite book |last=Traksmaa |first=August |title=Lühike vabadussõja ajalugu |year=1992 |publisher=Olion |isbn=5450013256
*cite book |last=Kaevats |first=Ülo |title=Eesti Entsüklopeedia 7 |year=1994 |publisher=Tallinn: Eesti Entsüklopeediakirjastus |isbn=5899000295
* [http://www.mil.ee/uusmil/?menu=maavagi&sisu=kuper Eesti Kaitsevägi:Kuperjanovi Üksik-jalaväepataljon]

External links

* [http://home6.inet.tele.dk/ron/Estonia/Pohjan_Pojat.htm Pohjan Pojat]
* [http://www.kool.ee/?5760 Kool.ee: Paju Lahing]
* [http://www.hot.ee/is2004/photos/photo_85.html Paju lahingu monument]
* [http://www.hot.ee/vabadussoda/teema.htm Vabadussõda: Uue hooga rünnakule]