Battle of Wenden

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Battle of Wenden
Part of Latvian War of Independence, Estonian War of Independence
Date June 19 - June 23, 1919 Location Cēsis, Latvia Result Decisive Estonian-Latvian victory
Belligerents
Estonia Latvian Northern Brigade	Landeswehr Iron Division
Commanders
Ernst Põdder Nikolai Reek Jorģis Zemitāns	Rüdiger von der Goltz
Strength
8000 men 37 Cannons 270 Machine guns	6000 men 52 Cannons 350 Machine guns
Casualties and losses
405, 110[1] 43, 13 [1]	Unknown

The Battle of Wenden (Latvian: Cēsu kaujas, Estonian: Võnnu lahing) fought near Cēsis in June 1919 was a decisive battle in the Latvian War of Independence. After heavy fighting Estonian-Latvian forces repelled German attacks and went on full counter-attack.

Contents 1 Background 2 Battle 3 Aftermath 4 See also 5 Footnotes 6 References

[edit] Background

Latvia had declared independence in 1918, but was unable to stop the advance of the Red Army, resulting in the loss of Riga. The advance of the Red Latvian Riflemen was finally stopped by joint German-Latvian forces^[2]. German forces under general Rüdiger von der Goltz consisted of the Baltic-German Landeswehr and the German Freikorps Iron Division. On 16 April 1919 the Latvian government of Kārlis Ulmanis was toppled by the Germans, who installed a puppet government headed by Andrievs Niedra.

After recapturing Riga from Red Army, the Landeswehr continued its advance north. At the same time, the Estonian Army, having pushed the Russians out of south Estonia, was advancing into Latvia from the north. Estonia continued to recognise the Ulmanis government, and neither side was ready to back down. On 5 June, fighting started, with the Landeswehr capturing Cēsis the following day^[3]. On June 10, with the mediation of the Allies a ceasefire was declared, but talks failed, and on 19 June fighting recommenced.

[edit] Battle

On 19 June, fighting resumed with an Iron Division attack on Estonian positions near Limbaži^[4]. At that time the Estonian 3rd Division led by Ernst Põdder, including the Latvian Northern Brigade under Jorģis Zemitāns had 6200 men. The Landeswehr and the Iron Division had 5200 men, but a strong advantage in cannons, machine guns and mortars. German forces achieved some limited success under Limbaži, but were soon pushed back. The Landeswehr main attack started on 21 June, succesfully breaking through positions of the 2nd Latvian Cēsis Regiment at Rauna River. The situation became critical for the Estonians, but the German assault was stopped by Estonian armoured trains and Kuperjanov's Partisan Battalion.^[5]

The Landeswehr continued attacking at several parts of the front, and more Estonian forces were sent into battle. By 22 June, Estonian and Latvian forces had 8000 men against 6000 Germans. Estonian commander-in-chief Johan Laidoner ordered a counter-attack to start^[6]. After stopping the last German attacks, Estonian-Latvian forces started a full counter-attack on June 23, resulting in the recapture of Cēsis^[7], German units started a general retreat toward Riga.

[edit] Aftermath

The Battle of Wenden was a decisive victory for Estonian forces in the war against the Landeswehr. Estonian-Latvian forces continued their successful advance towards Riga. On 3 July, the Estonian-Latvian forces were at the outskirts of Riga, a ceasefire was made on the demand of the Entente and the Ulmanis government was restored in Riga. German forces were ordered to leave Latvia, and the Baltic-German Landeswehr was put under command of the Latvian government and sent to fight against the Red Army. However, to circumvent Entente's orders, many German soldiers instead of leaving, were incorporated into the West Russian Volunteer Army. Fighting in Latvia and Lithuania restarted in October and continued until December 1919.

In Estonia the anniversary of the battle is celebrated as "Victory Day", a national holiday.

[edit] See also

Latvian War of Independence
Estonian War of Independence
Baltische Landeswehr
Freikorps in the Baltic

[edit] Footnotes

[edit] References

• Traksmaa, August (1992). Lühike vabadussõja ajalugu. Olion. ISBN 5450013256. 
• Pētersone, Inta (1999). Latvijas Brīvības cīņas 1918-1920 : enciklopēdija. (in Latvian). Riga: Preses nams. ISBN 9984003957. OCLC 43426410. 
• Kaevats, Ülo (1998). Eesti Entsüklopeedia 10. Tallinn: Eesti Entsüklopeediakirjastus. ISBN 5899000546.