Kuperjanov's Partisan Battalion
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The Kuperjanov Partisan Battalion was created on December 23rd 1918, when Col. Ernst Limberg gave Lt. Julius Kuperjanov the permission to establish a guerilla unit in order to fight the Soviet forces during the Estonian Liberation War. Due to a significant flow of often very young, but highly motivated volunteers, Kuperjanov`s unit soon became an independent battalion, known for its high morale and daring tactics. The battalion played a crucial role in liberating the southern part of Estonia.
After the death of Julius Kuperjanov at the manor of Paju on January 30th, the battalion was officially named Julius Kuperjanov Partisan Battalion by the Commander in Chief of the Estonian Defence Forces Gen. Johan Laidoner. In 1919 Kuperjanov`s Battalion had a central part in destroying the imperialist German Landeswehr Army and liberating Latvia. After victory in the War of Liberation and the Landeswehr War, Kuperjanov Battalion acted as part of the peace-time Estonian Defence Forces. The battalion was closed during the Soviet occupation in 1940.
The Kuperjanov Battalion was re-established on March 9th 1992, after Estonia had regained its independence from the Soviet Union. The Kuperjanov Battalion, now officially known as the Kuperjanov Independent Infantry Battalion, is situated in Võru in Southern Estonia and is nowadays one of the largest battalions of the Estonian Defence Forces. It is known for high demands towards the recruits and officers and a special battalion spirit uniting its members in service and in reserve.
