Battle of Utria ( et, Utria dessant) took place during the

Estonian War of Independence The Estonian War of Independence ( et, Vabadussõda, literally "Freedom War"), 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 Bolshevik westwa ...

on 17–20 January 1919 at

Udria Udria is a village in Narva-Jõesuu, Ida-Viru County in northeastern Estonia. (retrieved 28 July 2021) See also *Battle of Utria Battle of Utria ( et, Utria dessant) took place during the Estonian War of Independence The Estonian War o ...

beach.Jyri Kork (Ed.), ''Estonian War of Independence 1918–1920'', Esto, Baltimore, 1988 (Reprint from ''Estonian War of Independence 1918–1920''. Historical Committee for the War of Independence, Tallinn, 1938) It was amphibious landing of Estonian forces consisting mainly of Finnish volunteers.

Background

Estonian forces

The naval Taskforce was under the command of Admiral

Johan Pitka Johan Pitka, VR I/1, (also Juhan Pitka; 19 February 1872 – 22 November 1944) 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. Johan Pitka ...

, he was supported by the Swedish naval officer Martin Ekström and by Captain Aleksander Paulus and Captain Anto Nestori Eskola. The invasion force consisted of roughly 1,900 soldiers under the command of Colonel

Martin Ekström Martin Eugen Ekström (6 December 1887 – 28 December 1954) was a Swedish military adventurer who became the leader of the National Socialist Bloc, an umbrella organization for various fascist and National Socialist groups. Ekström was born ...

Soviet forces

Elements of the 6th Rifle Division defending the area were under the command of Nikolai Ivanov. In total the Soviets were able to muster a force of 2,700 men to defend the area from the Estonian military.

Aftermath

The successful landing undertaken by the Estonian military, enabled Estonian units to liberate the border town of

Narva Narva, russian: Нарва is a municipality and city in Estonia. It is located in Ida-Viru County, Ida-Viru county, at the Extreme points of Estonia, eastern extreme point of Estonia, on the west bank of the Narva (river), Narva river which ...

on 19 January 1919.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Utria, Battle Of Battles of the Estonian War of Independence Ida-Viru County 1919 in Estonia January 1919 events