Battle of Vilppula

Battle of Vilppula
Part of the Finnish Civil War

Whites by the Vilppula bridges, the image is staged and taken after the war.
Date31 January – 18 March 1918
(1 month, 2 weeks and 4 days)
Location
Vilppula and Ruovesi, Finland
Result

White victory

  • Red retreat
Belligerents
Finnish Whites Finnish Reds
Commanders and leaders
Martin Wetzer
Carl Nordensvan
Martin Ekström		 Erkki Karjalainen
Verner Lehtimäki
Mikko Kokko
Strength
900–1,050 1,500–2,300
Casualties and losses
60 125
Whites observing an enemy aircraft at the Vilppula train station

Battle of Vilppula was a Finnish Civil War battle fought in Vilppula and Ruovesi, Finland from 31 January to 18 March 1918 between the Whites and the Reds. Due to its location by the Tampere–Haapamäki railway, Vilppula was a gateway to the White-controlled Central Finland. The Reds were aiming to reach Haapamäki, 25 kilometres north of Vilppula, which was a vital junction of the east–west railways connecting the regions of Ostrobothnia, Häme and Karelia. From Haapamäki, the Reds would be able to reach the White stronghold in Southern Ostrobothnia, including their capital Vaasa. However, the attack along the railway was stopped in the beginning of February.[1] The Reds now turned their attention to the village of Väärinmaja in order to reach Vilppula from southwest by the road connecting Ruovesi and Vilppula. This offensive also failed, and finally on 15 March, the Whites launched their own offensive and the Reds retreated south to defend the city of Tampere.[2]

  1. ^ Smele, Jonathan D. (2016). The "Russian" Civil Wars, 1916–1926: Ten Years That Shook the World. Oxford: Oxford University Press. p. 59. ISBN 978-019-02330-4-4.
  2. ^ Hoppu, Tuomas. "Vilppulan rintama" (in Finnish). Suomen Sisällissotamuseo. Retrieved 8 May 2017.