Julius Kuperjanov was a school teacher who was commissioned into the Imperial Russian Army during World War I and served as a commander of partisan and reconnaissance units.

On 23 December 1918, Kuperjanov received permission from Colonel Ernst Limberg, commander of the 2nd Division, to form a special purpose partisan unit.

On 30 January 1919, the battalion reached Paju manor, where they met strong resistance from the Red Army.

[1] Having liberated Southern Estonia from the Soviets, the battalion moved south into Latvia against the Baltische Landeswehr.

[1] It currently forms the core of the 2nd Infantry Brigade which is the principle force being raised in what used to be called the Southern Defence District.