Operation Albion
Operation scheme
Opponents
Commanders of the forces of the parties
Strengths of the parties
Operation Albion(12 - 20 October 1917) - a joint operation of the German Navy and ground forces during the First World War to capture the Moonsund archipelago in the Baltic Sea. The operation was aimed at the destruction of Russian naval forces in the Gulf of Riga with a subsequent attack on Petrograd. We won German troops and the fleet.
General information
In the autumn of 1917, German troops were already close to collapse, but they still remained a formidable force. The High Seas Fleet, which had already recovered from the Battle of Jutland and was not taking active action, needed a shake-up. In addition, the inaction of the English fleet allowed the German command to concentrate 2/3 of its fleet in the eastern part of the Baltic Sea. And that is why the operation to capture the Moonsund archipelago in the Gulf of Riga was carried out. The operation was named “Albion”.
Kaiser Wilhelm II gave the following order:
Preparing for surgery
German troops in the port of Libau.
Following the appropriate order, German troops and navy began preparations for the operation on September 21, 1917. In Libau, the formation of the 131st Airborne Corps and the loading of equipment and equipment onto sea transports began. Simultaneously with loading, trawling work began. But both of these actions were hampered by bad weather. Throughout the second half of September, strong storms raged in the Baltic Sea, which led to a shift in the start of boarding transports from September 27 to October 9, 1917.
On the evening of October 10, 1917, the transports were loaded and ready to leave Libau. The cruisers of the 2nd Reconnaissance Group and some of the destroyers were also located in the port. Early in the morning of October 11, a battle cruiser arrived at Libau SMS Moltke with Vice Admiral Erhard Schmidt on board, accompanied by the 3rd and 4th battleship squadrons. At the same time, the 6th Reconnaissance Group, consisting of three light cruisers, was in Vindava, ready to leave at any moment. Without delaying the start of the operation any longer, all German ships set off.
Composition of forces
German troops and navy
For the operation, the German command allocated 10 battleships, 1 battlecruiser, 9 light cruisers, 68 destroyers and destroyers, 6 submarines, 90 minesweepers and other ships. There are more than 300 ships in total. More than 100 aircraft and airships were also involved, as well as a 25,000-strong landing force with 125 guns and mortars and 225 machine guns. The operation was led by Vice Admiral Erhard Schmidt.
The main German forces allocated to capture the Moonsund Islands
Main forces
- Flagship SMS Moltke(Vice Admiral Erhardt Schmidt)
- 3rd Battleship Squadron SMS König(Vice Admiral Paul Behnke) SMS Bayern , SMS Großer Kurfürst , SMS Kronprinz , SMS Markgraf
- 4th Battleship Squadron SMS Friedrich der Grosse(Vice Admiral Wilhelm Souchon), SMS König Albert , SMS Kaiserin , SMS Prinzregent Luitpold , SMS Kaiser
- 2nd Reconnaissance Group SMS Königsberg(Rear Admiral Ludwig von Reuther), SMS Karlsruhe , SMS Nürnberg , SMS Frankfurt , SMS Danzig
- 6th Reconnaissance Group SMS Kolberg(Rear Admiral Albert Hopman), SMS Augsburg , SMS Straßburg
Mine forces
- Flagship SMS Emden(Commodore Paul Heinrich)
- 2nd destroyer flotilla - SMS B-98 , SMS G-101 , SMS V-100, SMS G-103, SMS G-104, SMS B-109, SMS B-110, SMS B-111, SMS B-97, SMS B-112
- 6th Destroyer Flotilla - SMS V-69, SMS V-43, SMS S-50, SMS V-44, SMS V-45, SMS V-46, SMS V-82, SMS S-64, SMS S-61, SMS S-63, SMS V-74
- 8th Destroyer Flotilla - SMS V-180, SMS V-183, SMS V-185, SMS V-181, SMS V-182, SMS V-184, SMS S-176, SMS S-178, SMS G-174, SMS S-179, SMS V-186
- 11th Destroyer Flotilla - SMS T-56, SMS T-170, SMS T-169, SMS T-172, SMS G-175, SMS T-165, SMS V-78, SMS G-89, SMS S-65, SMS S-66
- 7th semi-flotilla of destroyers - SMS T-54, SMS T-158, SMS T-157, SMS T-151, SMS T-160, SMS T-145, SMS T-143, SMS T-140, SMS T-139
Russian troops and navy
On the part of the Russian troops they were opposed by 2 battleships, 3 cruisers, 33 destroyers and destroyers, 3 minelayers, 3 gunboats, 3 submarines and other ships. There are 116 ships in total. The garrison on the archipelago numbered 12,000 people, who had 64 field guns and 118 machine guns. The defense was commanded by Vice Admiral M.K. Bakhirev.
Progress of the operation
On October 11, 1917, almost immediately after leaving, the German squadron was divided into detachments. Two battleships SMS Friedrich der Grosse And SMS König Albert, whether they went to shell the Svorbe Peninsula. Transports and cover ships arrived by the morning of October 12 at the specified start point of the operation.
Landing at Taga-Lakht Bay
German transport ships in the harbor of the island of Ezel, a steamer in the foreground Batavia("Batavia")
At 4 a.m. on October 12, 1917, German warships began to anchor at given points. Battleship SMS Bayern and cruiser SMS Emden steel at the entrance to the Soelosund Strait in order to suppress the coastal batteries at Toffrey and Pamerort. 7 battleships were supposed to fire at batteries in the Taga-Lakht Bay area.
Due to the rush, the battleships went ahead of the minesweepers and when anchoring the battleships SMS Bayern And SMS Großer Kurfürst were blown up by mines. But at that moment this did not affect their combat effectiveness.
At 13:40, the Brave was sent to inspect the coast of Ezel Island. In 5 minutes SMS Kaiser opened fire on the patrol ships and hit the destroyer Grom with one of the first salvos. The hit was in the engine room and disabled both turbines. “Brave” immediately came to the rescue, took the damaged destroyer in tow and took it to Moondzund. At this time, the falling fog covered the German ships, and under its cover they made a breakthrough.
SMS B-98 being towed by the destroyer Grom.
At 15:30 they entered Soelosund. Ran aground in the strait SMS G-101 and three more destroyers touched the ground with their screws and also went out of action. Due to the narrowness of the strait's fairway, the German destroyers were forced to sail in a long column, keeping an interval of about one and a half cable lengths. When leaving the strait, Russian ships opened fire on them. Two German destroyers were immediately damaged. The “winner” was hit by a third salvo from a German destroyer SMS G-103 from the southern group.
However, Russian ships were also damaged. The Zabiyak's stern gun was smashed, and Pobeditel and Konstantin received minor damage. At 15:40, when they were passing by the “Brave” and “Thunder” at high speed, a large wave raised the gunboat and rocked it. The mooring lines burst. At the same time, several more shells hit the Thunder and a fire started on it. The team switched to "Brave".
At the same time, twelve destroyers of the 5th and 6th divisions were sent from Kuivastu to help the Russian ships.
At 17:40 the German ships began to retreat to Soelosund. Before that the destroyer SMS B-98 approached the Thunder and disembarked an officer and 5 sailors. They took the documents and tried to take the damaged ship away, but they failed and abandoned it. During this battle, German destroyers SMS T-130, SMS T-142, SMS T-144 fired at the Orissara dam, but without much damage to it.
On the night of October 14-15, the Pripyat minelayer laid minefields. And on the morning of October 15, a German destroyer was blown up on these barriers near Kassarsky Reach SMS B-98. The explosion tore off his nose. But the ship itself was preserved and subsequently restored. Destroyers SMS B-110 And SMS B-112 ran aground. The German forces decided not to engage in battle with the Russian ships and retreated.
Crossing the Irben Strait
German minesweepers began passing through the Irben Strait on October 11, 1917. On October 12, they sent battleships to neutralize the coastal batteries that threatened to fire at Cape Tserel and the Svorbe Peninsula SMS König Albert And SMS Friedrich der Grosse.
On the morning of October 15, the battleship Citizen and three destroyers came to the aid of the coastal batteries, but they could not do anything and retreated back. By evening the batteries gave up. The path was clear for the German ships.
On October 16, Vice Admiral Behnke entered the Gulf of Riga with battleships SMS Kronprinz And SMS König, light cruisers SMS Kolberg And SMS Straßburg, 16th and 20th half-flotillas of destroyers and 3rd minesweeper division.
On the same day, German troops captured Ezel and reached the Orissary dam. However, only patrols crossed to Moon. At the same time, from the Kassarsky reach, a group of German destroyers, destroyers and minesweepers fired at the dam and Moon Island. In turn, the battleship Slava and the armored cruiser Admiral Makarov opened fire on this group of German ships and damaged two of them. Also on this day, a German destroyer was struck by a mine and sank. SMS T-56.
Battle of Moonsund
Cape Tserel. Battery No. 43 (4 guns 305/52).
On October 17, German troops crossed the Orissary dam to Monn and went on the offensive. The resistance of the Russian troops was quite insignificant.
At the same time, Admiral Behnke's minesweepers began work on the approaches to Moonsund. At 8 o'clock in the morning they were discovered from the patrol destroyers "Active" and "Daring". Admiral Bakhirev ordered the battleships and cruisers to move to the Kuivastu roadstead, and all other ships to leave the battle area.
At 9:30 a.m., German ships opened fire on the patrol Russian destroyers.
At 9:50 a.m., a coastal 254-mm battery from Moon Island opened fire on the German minesweepers. A little later, the battleships Slava and Citizen began firing at the minesweepers.
At 10:50 a.m., German battleships opened fire on the old Russian battleships. The shootout between them continued until approximately 11 o'clock in the afternoon. But none of the ships received any damage.
At about 11 o'clock in the afternoon, one German minesweeper was sunk by fire from Russian ships and two more were damaged. This forced them to stop trawling and retreat.
At 11:30 a.m. the cruiser SMS Kolberg And SMS Straßburg with the support of a group of minesweepers, they landed troops on Moon to help the infantry advancing through the Orissara dam. And on the approaches to Soelozund, during the landing on Dago, a German destroyer hit a mine and sank SMS S-66.
Around the same time, the main caliber bow turret on the Slava failed.
At 12 hours 4 minutes, “Slava” and “Citizen” again opened fire on the enemy minesweepers. They were joined by the armored cruiser Bayan and destroyers
7th company of the 1st Czechoslovak rifle regiment in the trenches near Zborov
Victory for Russia
| Russian empire | Austria-Hungary |
Memorial to the Czechoslovak legionnaires who fell near Zborov, Kalinovka village, Ukraine
Monument To the heroes of Zborov in Blansko (Czech Republic)
Battle of Zborov(German) Schlacht bei Zborow, Czech, Slovak Вitva u Zborova) - the battle between the Russian and Austro-Hungarian armies on July 1-2 (June 17-18, standard style) 1917 during the June offensive (the so-called Kerensky's offensive). what happened near the city of Zboriv, in Galicia, on the territory of Austria-Hungary (now in the Ternopil region, Ukraine). For the first time, units of the Czechoslovak Legion, formed from captured Czechs and Slovaks, took part in this battle on the Russian side. The battle ended with an unconditional victory for Russian troops, the only major victory for Russia during Kerensky's offensive. The victory at Zborov also contributed to the rise of Czech national consciousness.
Story
Due to the fact that as a result of increasing Russian army revolutionary propaganda, many military units were unreliable when going on the offensive; in the Zborovsky direction, a newly formed group of Czechs and Slovaks was involved Czechoslovak Rifle Brigade (Československá střelecká brigáda), consisting of three rifle regiments:
- 1st Infantry Regiment St. Wenceslas(later - Yana Hus).
- 2nd Infantry Regiment George from Poděbrady
- 3rd Infantry Regiment Jana Zizka from Troknov
The Czechoslovak brigade, numbering 3,500 bayonets, was poorly armed and insufficiently trained, especially lacking machine guns. In addition, near Zbarazh, it took part in hostilities for the first time as a separate military unit. The brigade was commanded by Russian Colonel V.P. Troyanov. The brigade was sent to the front sector near Zborov, the areas adjacent to it were occupied by the 4th and 6th Russian divisions. They were opposed by:
- 32nd Hungarian Infantry Division consisting of
- 86 infantry regiment(from Subotica)
- 6th Infantry Regiment (from Budapest)
- 19th Czech Infantry Division consisting of:
- 35th Infantry Regiment (from Pilsen)
- 75th Infantry Regiment (from Jindřichov Hradec)
The Austro-Hungarian units numbered about 5,500 people and were quite well equipped and armed.
The general offensive began on July 1. At dawn on the second day, after an intensive artillery barrage that began at 5:15, small groups of Czechoslovak legionnaires attacked the enemy positions. After they overcome the line of barriers from barbed wire Larger forces entered the battle. By 15:00, parts of the legionnaires had advanced deep into the Austro-Hungarian front to a distance of 5 kilometers, thus breaking apart the enemy defenses. More than 3,300 Austrian military personnel, including 62 officers, were captured. 20 guns were captured and a large number of ammunition and weapons. Losses Russian side amounted to 184 killed and mortally wounded, about 700 wounded and 11 missing.
The victory in the Battle of Zborov did not have a significant impact on the outcome of the July Offensive, which was generally unsuccessful for Russia, but served to increase patriotic feelings among the population of the Czech Republic and Slovakia. After the success at Zborov, the Provisional Government lifts all restrictions on the formation of Czechoslovak units on Russian territory. After this battle, the population of the Czech Republic and Slovakia, which belonged to the Habsburg Empire, also learned for the first time about the existence of Czechoslovak military units fighting against Austria-Hungary on the territory of the Entente countries (despite the fact that Austrian censorship ensured that such information did not penetrate the press).
Curious facts
- Two future presidents of Czechoslovakia took part in the Battle of Zborov - Klement Gottwald on the side of Austria-Hungary and Ludwik Svoboda on the side of Russia.
- For military merit in this battle, the 1st Czechoslovak Regiment Jan Hus received an honorary title from the Russian command Regiment 18 June and order ribbons of St. George on the banner of the regiment.
- The Czech writer Jaroslav Hasek took part in the Battle of Zborov.
see also
Notes
Literature
- Rudolf Medek, Vojtěch Holeček: “Bitva u Zborova a československý odboj” ( Schlacht von Zborov und der Tschechoslowakische Widerstand), 1922
- Jan Galandauer: “2. Juli 1917 Bitva u Zborova - Česká legenda" ( 2. Juli 1917 Schlacht von Zborov - eine tschechische Legende), 2002, ISBN 80-86515-16-8
Battle of Marasesti 1917, fighting in July - August 1917 on the Romanian front during the 1st World War 1914-1918, component summer offensive of the Russian-Romanian troops in 1917 (see June offensive of 1917), By the beginning of June, in the Focsha direction of the Romanian Front, the 2nd Romanian (4 infantry and 1/2 cavalry divisions) and the 4th Russian (8 infantry . and 2 cavalry divisions) armies were opposed by the army of General. Geroka (6 German infantry divisions, 2 Austrian infantry and 1 cavalry divisions) and the 9th Army of General. E. von Falkenheim (3 infantry and 2 cavalry German divisions and 1 Austrian infantry division). July 7(20) Russian-Rom. the troops went on the offensive. July 11(24), 2nd room. army in cooperation with units of the 4th Russian. The army with a sudden blow broke through the herm, fortified. positions in the Marasesti region. Having freed approx. 30 inhabitants, points, Russian-rum. troops captured St. 4 thousand prisoners and 85 guns. However, on July 12 (25), their further offensive was suspended due to the unfavorable situation on other fronts by order of Kerensky. July 24 (Aug. 6) German command in order to capture the entire territory. Romania and access to the south. borders of Russia with forces of 12 infantry. divisions struck back at Focsani, Marasesti, and Ajud. Despite stubborn resistance, Russian-Roman. the troops were forced to abandon a number of occupied points. By 6(19) Aug. German-Austrian troops created a threat of encirclement. troops at Marasesti. The stubborn defense of this area rum. the command gained time, removed the forces from under attack and took them to a new line. By 13(26) Aug. the front stabilized and active hostilities ceased. Herm, plan to defeat the room. troops, the capture of the unoccupied part of Romania and the breakthrough to the south of Russia was thwarted. German-Austrian losses. troops in M. With. amounted to approx. 47 thousand killed and wounded. Russian and Romanian troops suffered no less losses in this battle.
Yu. F. Sokolov.
Used materials from the Soviet Military Encyclopedia in 8 volumes, volume 5
Literature:
Strategic outline of the war of 1914-1918. Romanian front. M., 1922, p. 115-126.
Read here:
World War I(chronological table)
MOONSUND OPERATION 1917
operation germ. fleet to capture the Moonsund Islands during the 1st World War 29 September. (12 Oct.) - 6(19) Oct. with the aim of destroying the Russian mor. forces of Riga Hall. and occupying starting positions for the subsequent attack on the revolution. Petrograd. M. o. was the first stage of military-political. international promotions imperialism to suppress the revolution in Russia. Taking advantage of the inaction of the English. fleet, german For the first time in the entire war, the command concentrated in the east. parts of the Baltic metro station 2/3 of its fleet. Mor. squad special purpose for Operation Albion (code name M. o.) consisted of more than 300 warships and auxiliary. ships (including: 10 battleships, 1 battlecruiser, 9 cruisers, 68 destroyers and destroyers, 6 submarines, about 100 minesweepers), 94 aircraft, 6 airships and 25 thousand. airborne corps under general command. vice adm. Schmidt. Rus. The forces defending the Moonsund Islands consisted of 2 obsolete battleships, 3 cruisers, 33 destroyers, 3 gunboats, 3 submarines, etc., 30 aircraft, approx. 10 thousand infantry and 2 thousand cavalry. Moonsund mine art. the position consisted of minefields, 9 coastal batteries (37 guns) and 12 anti-aircraft batteries (37 guns). Naval Commander. by the forces of the Riga Hall. vice adm. M.K. Bakhirev and the beginning. defense of the Moonsund archipelago, rear adm. Sveshnikov, who were counter-revolutionaries, did not take effective measures to organize counteraction to the Germans. to the fleet.
The defense was led by the Bolshevik Baltic organizations. fleet. Commissioners of Tsentrobalt joint. carried out directly with the ship's equipment. leadership of combat operations. 29 Sep. (Oct 12) German The fleet began the operation with a landing in Taga-Lakht Bay (Ezel Island). Using the number superiority, germ. troops 3(16) Oct. mastered about. Ezel, 5(18) Oct. - O. Moon and 6(19) Oct. - O. Dago. Germ. the fleet repeatedly tried to break through to the strait. Moonsund to destroy the Russians who were there. ships, but the Baltic sailors were heroic. resistance, especially in the battle at Kassarsky Reach 4 (17) Oct. The crews of the battleship "Slava", the destroyer "Grom" and the gunboat "Brave" were the most distinguished. Engine foreman A. G. Vezdenev (one of the leaders of the Bolshevik organization of the destroyer "Grom"), mine operator of the destroyer "Grom" F. E. Samonchuk, commander of the 305-mm battery on the Svorbe Peninsula, Lieutenant Bartenev, fought heroically with the Germans. prev battery miner Savkin and many others. Dr. Germ. the fleet lost 12 destroyers and destroyers and 3 minesweepers; 3 battleships, 13 destroyers and destroyers were damaged. Russian losses - 1 battleship, 1 destroyer; damaged: 1 battleship, 1 cruiser, 3 destroyers, 2 gunboats. Selfless revolutionary actions The sailors foiled the German plan. command, which refused to continue the operation due to heavy losses and 7(20) Oct. withdrew its linear forces from the Riga Hall.
Lit.: Lenin V.I., Works, 4th ed., vol. 26, p. 120; Dybenko P.E., From the depths of the royal fleet to Vel. October, M., 1958; Fleet in the 1st World War, vol. 1, M., 1964; Rukhov A. S., Battle of Moonsund, Leningrad, 1957; Kosinsky A.M., Moonsund operation Balt. fleet 1917, L., 1928; Chishvints A. von, Capture Balt. islands by Germany in 1917, trans. from German, M., 1937.
B.I. Zverev. Moscow.
Soviet historical encyclopedia. - M.: Soviet Encyclopedia. Ed. E. M. Zhukova. 1973-1982 .
See what "MOONSUND OPERATION 1917" is in other dictionaries:
Operation Albion, German offensive operation. fleet to capture the islands of the Moonsund Archipelago (See Moonsund Archipelago) September 29 (October 12) October 6 (19) during the 1st World War 1914 18. The goal of the Moscow O.: to capture the islands, ... ...
Moonsund operation is the name of military operations to capture or defend the Moonsund archipelago. First World War Defense of the Gulf of Riga (1915) Battle of Moonsund (1917) Second World War Moonsund defensive operation... ... Wikipedia
29.9 (12.10) 6 (19).10.1917, during the 1st World War. The German fleet tried to capture the islands of the Moonsund archipelago. and break into the Finnish Hall. to Petrograd. The resistance of the sailors of the Baltic Fleet, despite their abandonment of the Moonsund arch., ... ... Big Encyclopedic Dictionary
MOONSUND OPERATION, 29.9 (12.10) 6 (19).10.1917, during the 1st World War. The German fleet tried to capture the Moon Islands of the Sunda archipelago and break into the Gulf of Finland to Petrograd. Resistance of the sailors of the Baltic Fleet, despite... ... Russian history
September 29 (October 12) October 6 (19), 1917, during the 1st World War. The German fleet tried to capture the islands of the Moonsund archipelago and break into the Gulf of Finland to Petrograd. The resistance of the sailors of the Baltic Fleet, despite the abandonment... encyclopedic Dictionary
This term has other meanings, see Albion (meanings). Operation Albion World War I ... Wikipedia
1917.10.12 - The Moonsund operation of 1917 began, or Operation Albion, the operation of the German fleet to capture the Moonsund archipelago, carried out on September 29 (October 12) October 6 (19) ... Chronology world history: dictionary
An imperialist war between two coalitions of capitalist powers for the redivision of an already divided world, the redistribution of colonies, spheres of influence and investment of capital, the enslavement of other peoples. First, the war engulfed 8 European countries: Germany and... Great Soviet Encyclopedia
Imperialist, an unjust war that began in Europe between the Austro-Germans. bloc and coalition of England, France, Russia; Subsequently, many people entered the war. state of the world, military actions also took place on D. and Bl. East, Africa, Atlantic,... ... Soviet historical encyclopedia
- ("Glory",) battleship Russian Baltic Fleet. Entered service in 1905. Displacement 13,516 tons, speed 18 knots (32 km/h), armament: 4,305 mm guns, 12,152 mm, 20,75 mm, 20,47 mm, 2,37 mm guns, 2 landing guns, 8… … Great Soviet Encyclopedia
The Moonsund archipelago occupies a strategic position in the Baltic Sea. Because of this, it often became the scene of battles in the 20th century. It includes four large islands, each of which today belongs to Estonia - Vormsi, Muhu, Saaremaa and Hiiumaa.
Battle of 1917
During the First World War, the Battle of Moonsund took place, which took place in September - October 1917. Another common name is Operation Albion.
It was an attack by the German squadron and ground forces. The command set the task of capturing the archipelago, which belonged to Russia. The German landing force began on October 12. Before this, the fleet managed to suppress Russian batteries: the personnel were captured. At the same time, several German ships were damaged by mines off the coast (battleship Bayern, etc.).
Many did not survive the Battle of Moonsund. 1917 was one of the last chords in the confrontation on eastern front. A month later, the Bolsheviks came to power in Petrograd, who later signed
Two days later, the rival squadrons clashed tete-a-tete. The destroyer of the Russian fleet "Grom" received serious damage during the battle with the German "Kaiser". A fire on board led to the failure of the guns and the sinking of the ship. The Battle of Moonsund flared up especially fiercely in the Irben Strait, where cruisers and dreadnoughts clashed.
On October 16, German ships cleared out several Reich battleships and cruisers. In order to protect ships from mines, the squadron also had minesweepers. Another danger for German ships was fire from Russian artillery. They defended themselves from attack using smoke screens around the minesweepers.
When it became clear that the Russian squadron would not be able to hold the archipelago, the order was given to send the surviving ships to the north. In turn, the Germans captured Moon Island (October 18) and Hiiumaa (October 20). Thus ended the Battle of Moonsund in 1917 during the First World War.
Battle of 1941
During World War II, the Moonsund archipelago witnessed two military operations. They came here in 1941 Nazi troops. Offensive was named the Reich headquarters "Beowulf". This was the next (second) Moonsund battle.
On September 8, troops were landed on the island of Vormsi, which fell into German hands after three days of stubborn fighting. A week later, the main forces were sent to Mukha, whose garrison held out for a week.
Saremaa fell next. Here the battle lasted two weeks. The Soviet command managed to evacuate the remnants of the army to Hiiumaa. However, this piece of land soon came under the control of the Reich.
Bottom line
The Soviet army tried with all its might to stay on the archipelago and delay the attack on Leningrad. In a sense, this goal was accomplished. Full annexation did not occur until October 22, after nearly two months of fighting. The fleet was also active and detained the enemy in the Gulf of Riga. Defenders of the islands converted local tractors into improvised analogues of tanks (machine guns were attached). When the Battle of Moonsund ended, the surviving personnel were finally evacuated to the Hanko Peninsula.
Airborne landing in 1944
The third Battle of Moonsund is also known in historiography. The year 1944 was marked by the fact that German troops retreated en masse from the occupied territories. Units of the Leningrad Front were sent to the islands, from which the 8th Rifle Corps was specially formed.
The operation began with the landing of troops on the shores of Vormsi Island on September 27. Further, other parts of the archipelago followed. The last was the island of Saaremaa: it was the largest and most important in this region. Late in the evening of October 8, a major battle broke out at Tehumardi. Against Soviet troops barrage fire was carried out. In addition, the army's position was complicated by the lack of space for effective maneuver.
The defense was broken through only a month later on November 23, when aviation joined the battle. Previous attempts ended in failure. The most tragic was the landing at Vintry, when about 500 people died. One way or another, after the final surrender the Germans lost 7 thousand dead. About a hundred more ships were sunk or damaged.
