Viru Infantry Battalion

Viru Infantry Battalion
Viru jalaväepataljon
Insignia of the Viru Infantry Battalion
Active	1917–1918 1918–1940 1992–present
Country	Estonia
Branch	Estonian Land Forces
Type	Infantry Anti-tank warfare
Size	Battalion
Part of	1st Infantry Brigade
Garrison/HQ	Jõhvi
Motto(s)	Eesti kodu kaitseks
Anniversaries	Formed: 6 December Restored: 22 May
Engagements	Estonian War of Independence
Commanders
Current commander	Lieutenant Colonel Arno Kruusmann
Notable commanders	Aleksander Seimann Jakob Vende

The Viru Infantry Battalion (Estonian: Viru jalaväepataljon) is a battalion of the Estonian Land Forces. It is a part of the 1st Infantry Brigade and its primary task is to train conscription-based infantry and anti-tank units. The battalion has been previously known as the 4th Infantry Regiment and as the 4th Single Infantry Battalion. The battalion is currently based at Jõhvi and is commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Arno Kruusmann.

On 6 December 1917, Lieutenant colonel Jaan Soots, acting commander of the 1st Division, ordered Captain Hendrik Vahtramäe to form the 4th Infantry Regiment (Estonian: 4. eesti polk) in Rakvere. Following the occupation of Estonia by the German Empire, the 4th Infantry Regiment was disbanded on 5 April 1918. After the German occupation ended, the unit was re-established in Narva on 21 November 1918.

On 28 November 1918, the 6th Division of the Red Army attacked the positions of the 4th Infantry Regiment at Narva. The regiment had just 595 men in 2 battalions, and together with few hundred Estonian Defence League members, the regiment was forced to leave Narva and retreat west. On 4 January 1919, units of 4th Infantry Regiment managed to stop the advancing Red Army at Valkla. The regiment took part in the following counter-offensive and liberated Narva on 19 January 1919. By the end of the war, the regiment had 53 officers, and 1476 NCOs and soldiers in its ranks, and was commanded by Colonel Jakob Vende.