Capture of Tapa

Last updated
Capture of Tapa
Part of the Estonian War of Independence
Malestustahvel Tapa jaamahoonel.jpg
Plaque commemorating actions made by the armored trains and its men in the Capture of Tapa at the Tapa railway station.
Date9 January 1919
Location
Tapa, Estonia
59°16′N25°57′E / 59.267°N 25.950°E / 59.267; 25.950
Result Estonian Victory
Belligerents
Flag of Estonia.svg  Estonia Flag RSFSR 1918.svg  Russia
Commanders and leaders
Karl Parts Jaan Anvelt
Strength
448 men
48 machine guns
5 cannons
3 armored trains 		Unknown
Casualties and losses
4 wounded ~100 dead
78 captured

The Capture of Tapa (Estonian : Tapa vallutamine), sometimes known as the Battle of Tapa (Estonian : Tapa lahing), took place on 9 January 1919 in Tapa, Estonia, between troops of the Russian Red Army and Estonia. The goal of the Estonian troops was to capture and liberate the Tapa Railway Station from occupation by Russia. Three armored trains (soomusrong) were used in the engagement, led by Captain Anton Irv, Captain Oskar Luiga  [ et ], and Captain Jaan Lepp. [1]

Contents

Background

On 28 November 1918, the Red Army fought against the Estonian and German troops and captured Narva. [2] The Red Army continued to capture northeastern and southeastern Estonian territory. [3] On the Christmas Eve of 1918, the 6th Red Rifle Division captured Tapa and its railway junction. Russian troops reached within 34 kilometers of Tallinn, Estonia. [4] Estonian troops strengthened and advanced to liberate Soviet-occupied territory. The Red Army's advances were halted by the Estonian Army between the 2nd and 5th of January 1919, and the Estonian army continued the counter-offensive on January 7. [5] On 9 January the Estonian Army attempted a liberation of Tapa.

Course of the Battle

On 6 January 1919, A counter-offensive and an order for armored trains 1, 2, and 3 to capture the Tapa railway on 7 January was made. The order was postponed due to destroyed bridges leading towards Lehtse.

First Attempt

On the morning of 8 January 1919, three Estonian armored trains, numbers 1, 2 and 3, left Lehtse to travel to Tapa. Infantry of the Red Army was positioned near Pruuna Manor  [ et ], near the village of Pruuna. Soldiers from the armored trains advanced towards Pruuna Manor, and captured the manor 30 minutes later. Russian machine guns, horses, and around 9 soldiers were captured. [6] A bridge leading towards Tapa was destroyed, delaying the initial battle until January 9th. [7]

Battle

Armored Train nr. 1 (Later named "Kapten Irw") during the Capture of Tapa LRSR nr 1 Tapa.jpg
Armored Train nr. 1 (Later named "Kapten Irw") during the Capture of Tapa

Around 5 in the morning on 8 January 1919, three Estonian armored trains, numbers 1, 2 and 3, left Lehtse to travel to Tapa. [8] Armored train nr. 4 remained at Lehtse to protect the train station. [7] A surprise attack was planned by the Estonian troops, but the railway needed to be repaired further.

Around 7 a.m., while soldiers from the Estonian armored trains advanced towards Tapa, soldiers of the Red Army opened fire in the direction of the armored trains. [9] The Estonian soldiers returned fire and took cover. [8] Around 7:30 a.m., the Estonian soldiers continued to advance towards Tapa. Soldiers of the Red Army began to retreat towards a wooded area. The Red Army soldiers continued running into a field.

The firefight continued into Tapa, with Red Army soldiers defending the town. Armored trains were able to advance closer to Tapa due to repairs on the railway. Soldiers of the Red Army took cover in buildings of the town due to artillery being fired from the armored trains, while Estonian soldiers advanced into Tapa. Red Army soldiers retreated in the direction of the Valgejõgi river. Tapa was captured by the Estonians. [8]

Russian Prisoners of War taken during the Capture of Tapa, Karl Parts (right) is holding binoculars Tapa vangid.jpg
Russian Prisoners of War taken during the Capture of Tapa, Karl Parts (right) is holding binoculars

Estonian soldiers advanced toward the Valgejõgi river, capturing Red Army soldiers. A Red Army armored train fought against the advancing Estonian soldiers. [10] [11]

Estonian armored train no. 1 attacked a group of Red Army soldiers, and captured 40 Red Army soldiers. [8] [11]

Outcome

Estonian losses was only 4 injured with no deaths, while the Red Army was at least 100 fallen and 78 captured. [11] Tapa was captured by the Estonian army, giving the control of the strategically important Tapa railway to the Estonians, due to the railway providing rail access to major Estonian cities (Such as the country's capital, Tallinn, Narva, and Tartu), places in Latvia, and places in Russia. [12] The capture of the town would be important for further use of armored trains in later battles of the Independence War. [11] [8]

Commemorative Plaque

The plaque being unveiled on the Tapa Railway Station building by Johan Laidoner, in 1934. Tapa vabastamise 15. aastapaeval jaamahoonele asetatud malestustahvel ja selle avamine 09.01.34. Koneleb kindral Laidoner.jpg
The plaque being unveiled on the Tapa Railway Station building by Johan Laidoner, in 1934.

In 1934, a commemorative plaque was unveiled at the Tapa Railway Station for the 15th Anniversary of the Capture of Tapa. The plaque was unveiled on January 9, 1934, by Johan Laidoner. The plaque reads "9. Jaan 1919, murdsid soomusrongid punaste ikke Tapal" (English: On January 9, 1919, the men of the Armored trains broke through the Reds and captured Tapa") [13]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">TKS</span> Polish tankette

The TK (TK-3) and TKS were Polish tankettes developed during the 1930s and used in the Second World War.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Estonian War of Independence</span> War between Estonia and Soviet Russia in 1918–1920

The Estonian War of Independence, also known as the Estonian Liberation War, was a defensive campaign of the Estonian Army and its allies, most notably the United Kingdom, against the Soviet Russian westward offensive of 1918–1919 and the 1919 aggression of the pro–German Baltische Landeswehr. The campaign was the struggle of the newly established democratic nation of Estonia for independence in the aftermath of World War I. It resulted in a victory for Estonia and was concluded in the 1920 Treaty of Tartu.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Soviet westward offensive of 1918–1919</span> Invasion by the Russian SFSR

The Soviet westward offensive of 1918–1919 was part of the campaign by Soviet Russia into areas abandoned by the Ober Ost garrisons that were being withdrawn to Germany following that country's defeat in World War I. The initially successful offensive against the Republic of Estonia ignited the Estonian War of Independence which ended with the Soviet recognition of Estonia. Similarly, the campaigns against the Republic of Latvia and Republic of Lithuania ultimately failed, resulting in the Latvian–Soviet Peace Treaty and Soviet–Lithuanian Peace Treaty respectively. In Belarus, the Belarusian People's Republic was conquered and the Socialist Soviet Republic of Byelorussia proclaimed.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Johan Laidoner</span> Estonian general

Johan Laidoner was an Estonian general and statesman. He served as Commander‑in‑Chief of the Estonian Armed Forces during the 1918–1920 Estonian War of Independence and was among the most influential people in the Estonian politics between the world wars.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Johan Pitka</span> Estonian military personnel

Johan Pitka, VR I/1, was an Estonian entrepreneur, sea captain and a rear admiral (1919). He was the Commander of the Estonian Navy in the Estonian War of Independence.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Commune of the Working People of Estonia</span> Bolshevik government in Estonia

The Estonian Workers' Commune was a government claiming the Bolshevik-occupied parts of Republic of Estonia as its territories during the Estonian War of Independence and the Russian Civil War. It was recognised as an independent state only by Russian SFSR on December 7th, 1918.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Battle of Paju</span> 1919 military conflict in Estonia during Estonian War of Independence

The Battle of Paju was fought in Paju, near Valga, Estonia, on 31 January 1919 during the Estonian War of Independence. After heavy fighting, the Tartu-Valga group of the Estonian Army pushed the Red Latvian Riflemen out of the Paju Manor. It was the fiercest battle in the early period of war. Estonian commander Julius Kuperjanov fell in the fighting.

The Battle of Cēsis, fought near Cēsis in June 1919, was a decisive battle in the Estonian War of Independence and the Latvian War of Independence. After heavy fighting an Estonian force moving from the north, supplemented by Latvian units, repelled Baltic German attacks and went on full counter-attack.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mark V Composite tank in Estonian service</span> British heavy tank in Estonian Land Forces service

The British Mark V Composite tank, a development of the Tank Mark I saw service with the Estonian Army in the Estonian War of Independence from 1919 to 1920.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Estonian Olympic Committee</span> National Olympic Committee

The Estonian Olympic Committee (EOK) is responsible for the Estonia's participation in the Olympic Games.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Index of Estonia-related articles</span>

The following is an alphabetical list of articles related to the Republic of Estonia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Arsenal Crossley</span> Type of armored car produced in Estonia

Arsenal Crossley was an Estonian armored car that was operated between 1926 and 1940. At the time it was introduced the Arsenal Crossley was one of the most modern armored vehicles in the Estonian Army. The vehicle's name is the combination of the two factories that contributed to its production. The car was manufactured in Estonia's Arsenal factory, while the engine was provided by the British company Crossley Motors Ltd and the armored plates were ordered from Sweden.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Meredessantpataljon</span> Estonian military unit

The Meredessantpataljon, was a short-lived Estonian marine infantry battalion during the Estonian War of Independence of the Estonian Defence Forces subject to the Estonian Navy. The battalion was created from the crews of the Estonian surface warships, students and Finnish volunteer soldiers. The battalion was created and later disbanded in Tallinn after it had fulfilled its military objectives in 1919.

The 1st Division was one of the three Estonian divisions created during the Estonian War of Independence, which was active until the Soviet occupation of Estonia. Since the restoration of independence in 1991 there are no divisions currently among the Estonian Defence Forces.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Scouts Battalion</span> Estonian military unit

The Scouts Battalion is a battalion of the Estonian Land Forces. It is a part of the 1st Infantry Brigade and acts as its rapid response unit. The battalion is currently based at Tapa.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Viru Infantry Battalion</span> Estonian military unit

The Viru Infantry Battalion 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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">E-Arsenal</span> Estonian Arms manufacturing company

E-Arsenal was an Estonian arms manufacturing company operating in Tallinn from 1994 to 2012.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Battle of Narva (1918)</span> Conflict in the Estonian War of Independence

The Battle of Narva took place on November 28, 1918, in the city of Narva and Jaanilinn between troops from the Provisional Government of Estonia and the Russian Red Army. The battle is considered the beginning of the Estonian Independence War. The Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 405 of the German Imperial Army was also involved against the Red Army.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Armored Train Regiment (Estonia)</span> Former military unit of Estonia

The Armored Train Regiment was an armored regiment of the Estonian Defense Forces from 1934–1941. In 1939, the strength of the regiment was 544 men. The symbol of the regiment was a skull with wings on train wheels, symbolizing how armored trains fought in the Estonian Independence War. The symbol was nicknamed "Flying death on the railway".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Voldemar Karl Koht</span> Estonian military personnel

Voldemar Karl Koht VR II/3 was an Estonian soldier and commander of the Estonian Armored Train Regiment.

References

  1. ↑ Eesti soomusrongid ja soomusronglased : 1918-1941 (in Estonian). Mati Õun, Tiit Noormets, Jaak Pihlak. Tallinn: Sentinel. 2003. p. 18. ISBN   9985-9455-4-9. OCLC   165848337.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (link)
  2. ↑ "7. Russia/Estonia (1905-1920)". uca.edu. Retrieved 2023-03-29.
  3. ↑ "Narva rinne Eesti Vabadussõjas 1918–1920". riigi.arhiiv.ee.[ dead link ]
  4. ↑ Maide, Jaan (1933). Ülevaade Eesti Vabadussõjast (1918–1920) (PDF) (in Estonian). Vol. II. Tartu: Kaitseliidu kirjastus.
  5. ↑ Traksmaa, August (1992). Lühike Vabadussõja ajalugu (2. trükk ed.). Tallinn. ISBN   5-450-01325-6. OCLC   30364092.{{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help)CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  6. ↑ Parts, Karl (1928). Soomusrongide tegevusest Vabadussõja murrang-ajajärgul Põhja (Viru) rindel. Tapa vallutamine (in Estonian). Sõdur. pp. 225–226.
  7. 1 2 Õun, Mati; Noormets, Tiit; Pihlak, Jaak (2003). Eesti soomusrongid ja soomusronglased 1918-1941. Sentinel. p. 7. ISBN   9985945549.
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 Parts, Karl (1928). Soomusrongide tegevusest Vabadussõja murrang-ajajärgul Põhja (Viru) rindel. Tapa vallutamine. Sõdur. p. 228.
  9. ↑ Õun, Mati; Noormets, Tiit; Pihlak, Jaak. Eesti soomusrongid ja soomusronglased 1918-1941. p. 8.
  10. ↑ Viktor, J. (2008). Tapa vallutamine sõjalise operatsioonina ehk vabastamine punaste ikkest 9. jaanuaril 1919. Sõnumed.
  11. 1 2 3 4 Parts, Karl (1931). Tapa lahingu strateegiline tähtsus. Lääne Hääl.
  12. ↑ "About Estonian Railways: Corporate information: History". Eesti Raudtee. Archived from the original on 2006-04-27.
  13. ↑ "Tapa vabastamise mälestustahvel". Tapa Muuseum. Retrieved 2023-08-15.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.