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Operation "Tanne Ost"

Discussion in 'Winter and Continuation Wars' started by Kai-Petri, Mar 19, 2003.

  1. Kai-Petri

    Kai-Petri Kenraali

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    Operation "Tanne Ost"


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    The islands that Russia demanded and got from Finland. Pietari=St Petersburg=Leningrad

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    28 Sep 1943 Hitler gives General Order #50 which includes plans Tanne Ost and Tanne West, the taking of Aland and Suursaari if Finland makes a separate peace.

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    The operation Tanne Ost

    German troops try to capture Suursaari Island from the Finns. Germans expect only slight resistance from their former allies but the attack is repulsed with strong force.

    According to the Armistice of 4 September 1944, German forces had to leave Finnish territory by midnight 14.9.1944. This was possible for units in south, but not for the large Army in the north. Based on false assumptions, the German high command decided to capture the island Suursaari from Finns. It was hoped that by holding this strongpoint in the middle of Gulf of Finland, the advance of Soviet naval units to west, areas vital to Germany, could be prevented.

    Despite sceptical opinions the operation was launched 14.9. A naval detachment sailed from Tallin and landed troops in village of Suurkylä and north from the village. The island was defended only by Finnish units, the largest being 12th Coastal Artillery Regiment under command of Lt.-col. Martti Miettinen. German commander tried to negotiate and persuade Finnish commander to give up island. Miettinen refused and the attack was met with stiff resistance. Germans managed to gain a three kilometer long beachhead, that had mostly less than one kilometer in depth. Germans managed to land very little heavy armament and had difficulties to maintain communication between island, naval units and Tallinn. Finnish MTB's attacked early in the morning, sinking tugs and damaging M-class minesweepers.

    When the attack had failed and dawn was coming, German naval units leaved the battle area between 5 and 7 o'clock. While sailing to Tallinn they were attacked by Soviet planes. Finnish counterattacks began after six o'clock in the morning. Soviet planes attacked the island twice. The first attack prevented a Finnish attack and the second attack concentrated on sunken ships in Suurkylä harbour. German units surrendered at 21.00 and the remaining 1200 men were taken prisoner. Later they had to be handed to Soviet Union, about 800-900 of them died. The last of these "Hochlandkämpfer" returned home in 1955, among them commander of the landing troops, commodore Mecke.

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    Suursaari and a dead German soldier

    The second part of this would have been "Tanne West", the taking of Ahvenanmaa. This never took place:

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    The Ahvenanmaa island(s) to the west of Turku.

    http://www.hut.fi/~jaromaa/Navygallery/Background/Wartime/cont44.htm#Tanneost
     
  2. De Vlaamse Leeuw

    De Vlaamse Leeuw Member

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    Yeah, a very interesting story!

    It's amazing that the Finish could stop the Germans. Not that the Finish couldn't fight, but still ...
     
  3. Kai-Petri

    Kai-Petri Kenraali

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    As well a sad story as "alte kameraden" had to fight each other...

    :(
     

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