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.
Date 31 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

Battle of Vilppula was a Finnish Civil War battle fought in Vilppula and Ruovesi, Finland in 31 January – 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 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 at 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]