A small Estonian-Finnish force of 220 men repulsed two Red Army regiments and armoured trains at Laagna, supporting the broader push toward Narva in January 1919.
Key Facts
- Date
- 17 January 1919
- Estonian-Finnish force size
- 220 men
- Red Army assets
- Two infantry regiments, two armoured trains, cavalry
- Estonian/Finnish killed
- 4 troops
- Estonian/Finnish wounded
- 21 troops
- Estonian/Finnish captured
- 3 troops
By the Numbers
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
During the Estonian War of Independence, Estonian and Finnish forces launched a wider operation against Narva. As part of this campaign, a combined force of Estonian marines and Finnish volunteers was tasked with striking Red Army positions at the village of Laagna using a surprise attack.
On 17 January 1919, 220 Estonian marines and Finnish volunteers under Martin Ekström seized Laagna village in a morning surprise assault, then held their positions against repeated Soviet counterattacks involving two infantry regiments, two armoured trains, and cavalry units.
The Red Army was driven back with heavy losses and failed to retake Laagna. The Estonian and Finnish defenders suffered only 4 killed, 21 wounded, and 3 captured, demonstrating that a small, well-positioned force could repel a numerically and mechanically superior Soviet counteroffensive.
Belligerents & Mobilization Analysis
Side A
1 belligerent
Martin Ekström.
Side B
1 belligerent