Battle of Lapua facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Battle of Lapua |
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| Part of the Finnish War | |||||||
 Savolaksarnas framryckning, by Magnus Adlercreutz |
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| Belligerents | |||||||
 Sweden |
 Russian Empire |
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| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
| Carl Johan Adlercreutz |
Nikolay Nikolayevich Raevsky |
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| Strength | |||||||
| 4,700 18 guns |
4,000 15 or 17 guns |
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| Casualties and losses | |||||||
| 25 killed 133 wounded 11 missing |
200 killed, wounded or captured | ||||||
The Battle of Lapua was an important fight during the Finnish War. It happened on July 14, 1808, in a place called Lapua in Finland. This battle was between soldiers from Sweden and Russia. Sweden won this battle, which helped them continue their fight.
Contents
What Was the Finnish War?
The Finnish War was a big conflict that took place between 1808 and 1809. It was fought between Sweden and the Russian Empire. At that time, Finland was part of Sweden. Russia wanted to take control of Finland. The war ended with Russia winning. Finland then became a part of the Russian Empire.
The Battle of Lapua
The Battle of Lapua took place in the summer of 1808. Russian troops had set up strong defenses around the town of Lapua. They were ready to defend their positions.
Swedish Plan
The Swedish army, led by General Carl Johan Adlercreutz, had a plan. They wanted to surround the Russian forces. Their goal was to attack the Russians from different sides. This would make it hard for the Russians to defend themselves.
The Fight Begins
The battle started with the Swedish forces moving forward. One important group was the Björneborg Regiment. This regiment was led by Georg Carl von Döbeln. They fought very bravely during the battle. Their actions helped the Swedish plan succeed.
Russian Retreat
Even though the Swedes tried to surround them, the Russian soldiers managed to retreat. They were able to escape the trap. However, they had to leave their positions. Many Russian soldiers were killed, wounded, or captured.
Why Was This Battle Important?
The Battle of Lapua was a big victory for Sweden. Even though the Russians got away, the Swedish army achieved their main goal. This win allowed the Swedish forces to keep moving forward. It gave them confidence and helped them continue their attacks in Finland. It was a key moment in the early part of the Finnish War.
