Battle of Cēsis (1919)

Battle of Cēsis
Part of Estonian War of Independence,
Latvian War of Independence
Date19–23 June 1919
Location57°18′47″N 25°16′29″E / 57.3131°N 25.2747°E / 57.3131; 25.2747
Result Estonian-Latvian victory
Belligerents
Estonia
Latvia
Baltische Landeswehr
Freikorps
Commanders and leaders
Ernst Põdder
Nikolai Reek
Jorģis Zemitāns
Krišjānis Berķis
Rüdiger von der Goltz
Alfred Fletcher
Units involved

3rd Division

Including

Baltische Landeswehr


Iron Division
Strength

6,509 infantry
65 cavalry
106 heavy machine guns
126 light machine guns
23 artillery pieces
3 armoured vehicles
3 armoured trains including

750 infantry
8 heavy machine guns
20 light machine guns
5,500–6,300 infantry
500–600 cavalry
50 heavy machine guns
90 light machine guns
42–48 artillery pieces
Casualties and losses
Estonia:
110 killed
295 wounded
Latvia:
13–40 killed
30–85 wounded
15 missing
274 killed
Cēsis
Location within Latvia

The Battle of Cēsis (Latvian: Cēsu kaujas; Estonian: Võnnu lahing, Battle of Võnnu; German: Schlacht von Wenden, Battle of Wenden), fought near Cēsis (Wenden) 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 a full counter-attack.