Battle of Määritsa explained

Conflict:Battle of Määritsa
Partof:low-intensity conflict between the Soviet Union and Estonian Forest Brother partisans
Date:31 March – 1 April 1946
Result:Soviet victory
Combatant2: Estonia
Strength1:About 300
Strength2:7
Casualties1:None
Casualties2:7 dead
Casualties3:Farmhouse destroyed

The Battle of Määritsa (Estonian: Määritsa lahing), or the Battle of Osula (Estonian: Osula lahing), took place in Osula village, at that time in Võru County, Estonia. It began on the night of 31 March 1946, involving members of the Forest Brothers and Soviet occupation forces.[1] Seven Estonian fighters based at the Hindrik farmhouse were besieged by up to 300 Soviet soldiers. The battle lasted about seven hours before the farmhouse caught fire and the Soviets demanded that the rebels surrender. Only two fighters managed to escape alive from the farmhouse, but were subsequently killed in battle with the besiegers.

Notes and References

  1. News: Six Forest Brothers to Be Laid to Rest. Tammik. Ott. 2012-08-21. ERR. Estonian Public Broadcasting. 22 August 2012.