Battle of Tartu (1919)
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| Battle of Tartu | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part of Estonian War of Independence | |||||
 Soldiers from the armored train near Tartu, in January 1919. | |||||
| |||||
| Belligerents | |||||
 Soviet Russia | |||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||
 Julius Kuperjanov Karl Parts Anton Irv |
Aleksander Remezov Gustavs Mangulis | ||||
The Battle of Tartu (Estonian: Tartu lahing) was fought between the 13th and 14th of January, 1919 in the Estonian War of Independence between the units of the Estonian 2nd Division and the forces of the Red Latvian Riflemen.[1] The battle was a significant battle in the Estonian War of Independence, allowing Estonian troops to liberate the rest of Southern Estonia from Soviet forces.
On January 9, the commander of the 2nd Division, Colonel Viktor Puskar, ordered the conquest of Tartu.[2] Anton Irv and Karl Parts, the commanders of the armored trains, met the Tartumaa Partisan Battalion who had reached the railway in Kaarepere and made a proposal to Julius Kuperjanov to go to Tartu together. Kuperjanov agreed and the partisans were accommodated on the train.
Before arriving in Tartu, engaged in smaller fights on the evening of January 13 in Voldi, Äksi and Kärkna.[1]
Arriving near Tartu, Armored train No. 1 sent out a group of men, which secured a bridge, allowing armored trains to safely cross the bridge and access the city. The Red Latvian Riflemen were unable to repel Estonian forces.
The city was cleared of the Soviet Forces on January 14, while the remaining Red Latvian Riflemen fled to the cities of Võru and Valga.