- Kuperjanov Battalion
Infobox Military Unit
unit_name=Kuperjanov Single Infantry Battalion
caption=Shoulder Sleeve Insignia of the Kuperjanov Battalion
dates=02.12.1918 - 21.06.1940 [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Estonia#Soviet_Occupation]
09.03.1992 - present
country=Estonia
allegiance=Estonian Army
branch=Infantry
type=Partisan infantry
role=Guerrilla warfare
size=Battalion
command_structure=1st Brigade
current_commander=Major Toomas Möls [ [http://www.mil.ee/?menu=maavagi&sisu=toomasmols Eesti Kaitsevägi - Toomas Möls ] ]
garrison=Võru , South-Estonia
ceremonial_chief=
colonel_of_the_regiment=
nickname="Partisans"
patron=
motto=
colors=
march=
mascot=
battles=War of IndependenceBattle of Paju Rauna operation
Krasnaya Gorka
notable_commanders=Lieutenant Julius Kuperjanov [ [http://www.hot.ee/vabadussoda/kuper.htm Eesti Vabadussõda ] ]
anniversaries=23 December
decorations=
battle_honours=
identification_symbol=
identification_symbol_label=Distinctive Unit InsigniaThe Kuperjanov Battalion (official name "Kuperjanov Single Infantry Battalion") is anEstonian Army infantry battalion of theEstonian Defence Forces . The battalion was previously known as the Kuperjanov's Partisan Battalion.History
The Kuperjanov Independent Infantry Battalion is an elite
Estonia Army military unit which was established during theEstonian War of Independence on23 December 1918 by the order ofColonel Ernst Limberg . [cite book |last= Miljan |first= Toivo |title= Historical Dictionary of Estonia |publisher= Scarecrow Press |year= 2004 |isbn= 0810849046 |page= pp. 494 |url = http://books.google.com/books?id=XKWRct15XfkC] The commando type unit composed of volunteers was established after theEstonian Provisional government call for volunteers to the Estonian National Army.During the War of Independence
Julius Kuperjanov had been a school teacher who was commissioned in theImperial 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 atPuurmani manor. Due to a flow of young, but highly motivated volunteers, Kuperjanov's unit became an independentbattalion known for its high morale and daring tactics. The battalion played a crucial role in liberating the southern part ofEstonia .
After the death of Julius Kuperjanov on2 February 1919 from wounds received at the manor of Paju, the battalion was officially named Julius Kuperjanov Partisan Battalion by theCommander in Chief of theEstonian Defence Forces General Johan Laidoner . In 1919 Kuperjanov's Battalion had a central part in destroying the imperialist German Landeswehr Army and liberatingLatvia . After victory in the War of Liberation and theLandeswehr 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 Union . [ [http://www.mil.ee/uusmil/?menu=maavagi&sisu=kuper Eesti Kaitsevägi:Kuperjanovi Üksik-jalaväepataljon] ]Present day
The Kuperjanov Independent Infantry Battalion is based in
Võru 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 theNursipalu Training Field which is necessary for high-quality training.References
ee also
* [http://www.fas.org/irp/news/1998/02/a19980225sftrain.html Special Forces train in Baltics]
*Estonian Defence Forces
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.