Battles in Choir and Zamyn-Üüd

The Battles in Choir and Zamyn-Üüd happened during March 1921, when Ungern successfully captured Choir and Zamyn-Üüd.

Battles in Choir and Zamyn-Üüd
Part of the Occupation of Mongolia and Russian civil war
Roman Ungern, the commander that lead his army in these battles
Date March 1921 Location Choir, Zamyn-Üüd, Mongolia Result Russian victory Ungern's troops capture Choir and Zamyn-Üüd Withdrawal of Chinese troops
Belligerents
White movement	Republic of China
Commanders and leaders
Roman von Ungern-Sternberg	Unknown
Units involved
Asiatic Cavalry Division	Unknown
Strength
900 soldiers	1,500 defenders In Choir Unknown in Zamyn-Üüd

Background

Main article: Battle of Urga

Russian soldiers in Urga after it's capture

After Ungern and his troops captured Maimaicheng, they attacked Chinese troops at the Consular Settlement. After Chinese troops counterattacked, Ungern's soldiers retreated. Ungern then launched another attack with support of a Cossack and Mongolian detachment, which came from the northeast and northwest while Ungern's troops moved westwards in Urga, pursuing retreating Chinese soldiers. The capital was finally captured on 4 February. Russian settlers who supported the Reds moved from Urga together with Chinese soldiers who were retreating. During Battle of Urga, Chinese suffered 1,500 killed while Ungern's forces suffered only around 60 casualties.^[1] After the capture of Urga, Ungern's troops started killing Russian Jews. Ungern personally ordered Jews to be killed. This pogrom effectively eliminated the Jewish community in Urga.^[2]

Capture of Choir and Zamyn-Üüd

Between 11 and 13 March, Ungern and his soldiers captured the Chinese base at Choir. Ungern's army had 900 troops while Chinese defenders had about 1,500. After Ungern successfully captured Choir, he returned to Urga. His detachments moved southward to Zamyn-Üüd, a frontier settlement that had another Chinese base. The defending Chinese soldiers abandoned Zamyn-Üüd without a fight.^[3][4]