Battle of Tehumardi
Encyclopedia
The battle of Tehumardi was one of the most brutal engagements during the fighting on the Estonian island of Saaremaa
(Osel) in 1944.
on the 29th of September 1944 had quickly gained ground. The smaller island of Muhu (Moon) was given up with little organized resistance, as was Hiiumaa
(Dago). On the 5th of October, the Russians landed on Saaremaa. In a reversal of the fighting in 1941, the Germans conducted a quick fighting withdrawal, and planned to make a stand on the easily defendable peninsula of Sõrve (Sworbe).
(Arensburg). They were a part of Kampfgruppe
Eulenburg, most of which already had taken up positions on the Sõrve peninsula. The first and second battalions were commanded by Hauptmanner (Captains) H. Ulrichs and K. Ritter, respectively. Together, the reduced battalions mustered about 700-750 men.
As they were unable to communicate with their parent unit and they felt increasingly isolated, towards midnight on the 8th the order was given to retreat to Sõrve.
Many of the soldiers in the Russian units were native Estonians, fighting fiercely for their land. Many of them received Hero of the Soviet Union, highest military decoration at the time, for their bravery.
Due to lack of reconnaissance, the Russians were unaware of the withdrawing German units, and the stage was set for a confused night battle when the forces met head-on.
Suspecting an enemy presence, the soldiers were ordered to keep as silent as possible, breaking through the enemy positions with a sudden attack. The two battalions split up, the 1st moving along the waterline, the 2nd moving along the main road in parallel, about 200 m distant.
Soon the 2nd found themselves marching along a Russian unit, who believing them to be fellow Russians, gave way. Flares fired gave the game away, and battle was joined.
The Russians, the 1st battalion of the 917th was quickly overwhelmed, but the Germans then ran into the anti-tank positions of the 370th. The battle degenerated into chaotic hand-to-hand combat in the darkness with heavy losses on both sides, but the Germans broke through. Their actions kept the Russians occupied, however, and the 1st battalion moving along the waterline took no part in the fighting and suffered no losses.
Most of the vehicles were also left behind, including the light tank and a self-propelled FlaK gun.
The Russians also suffered about 200 men killed, with an unknown number of wounded. The killed included the commander, Major V. Miller. At least one tank and several guns were also knocked out.
The action delayed the Russian attack on the peninsula, giving the Germans more time to improve their defences. But the hard-pressed German forces could ill afford losses in equipment and manpower at this stage of the war. After several weeks more of bitter fighting, the Sõrve peninsula, and thereby the entire island of Saaremaa
, was evacuated by the Germans on the 23/24th of November.
M.Varik. Several massive concrete slabs with names of the fallen soldiers, Russians and Estonians, are mounted nearby. Most of them were buried on the site.
Saaremaa
Saaremaa is the largest island in Estonia, measuring 2,673 km². The main island of Saare County, it is located in the Baltic Sea, south of Hiiumaa island, and belongs to the West Estonian Archipelago...
(Osel) in 1944.
Background
The Soviet Moonzund Landing OperationMoonzund Landing Operation
The Moonsund Landing Operation , also known as the Moonzund landing operation, was an amphibious operation and offensive by the Red Army during World War II, taking place in late 1944. It was part of the Baltic Offensive, and was designed to clear German forces of Army Group North from the islands...
on the 29th of September 1944 had quickly gained ground. The smaller island of Muhu (Moon) was given up with little organized resistance, as was Hiiumaa
Hiiumaa
Hiiumaa is the second largest island belonging to Estonia. It is located in the Baltic Sea, north of the island of Saaremaa, a part of the West Estonian archipelago. Its largest town is Kärdla.-Name:...
(Dago). On the 5th of October, the Russians landed on Saaremaa. In a reversal of the fighting in 1941, the Germans conducted a quick fighting withdrawal, and planned to make a stand on the easily defendable peninsula of Sõrve (Sworbe).
German forces
Two infantry battalions from the German 67th Potsdam Grenadier Regiment from the 23rd Infantry Division (Germany) had occupied a defensive position on the Nasva river, just West of the city of KuressaareKuressaare
Kuressaare is a town and a municipality on Saaremaa island in Estonia. It is the capital of Saare County. The current population is about 14,706 Kuressaare is a town and a municipality on Saaremaa island in Estonia. It is the capital of Saare County. The current population is about 14,706...
(Arensburg). They were a part of Kampfgruppe
Kampfgruppe
In military history and military slang, the German term Kampfgruppe can refer to a combat formation of any kind, but most usually to that employed by the German Wehrmacht and its allies during World War II and, to a lesser extent, in World War I...
Eulenburg, most of which already had taken up positions on the Sõrve peninsula. The first and second battalions were commanded by Hauptmanner (Captains) H. Ulrichs and K. Ritter, respectively. Together, the reduced battalions mustered about 700-750 men.
As they were unable to communicate with their parent unit and they felt increasingly isolated, towards midnight on the 8th the order was given to retreat to Sõrve.
Russian forces
Meanwhile, bypassing the German position on the Nasva, Russian units moved south to occupy positions astride the main road leading to the peninsula. These were elements of the 307th anti-tank Battalion from the Russian 249th Rifle Division, about 370 men commanded by Major V. Miller. Later that evening, they were joined by the 1st battalion of the 917th regiment, approximately 300 men commanded by Major G. Karaulnov, advancing down a secondary road leading to the small village of Tehumardi, right before the bottleneck of the peninsula.Many of the soldiers in the Russian units were native Estonians, fighting fiercely for their land. Many of them received Hero of the Soviet Union, highest military decoration at the time, for their bravery.
Due to lack of reconnaissance, the Russians were unaware of the withdrawing German units, and the stage was set for a confused night battle when the forces met head-on.
The battle
The Germans' fear of being stragglers soon proved correct, as the only road already had been cratered by other withdrawing German units. Bypassing this obstacle took some time, the vehicles were slowly pulled across with the help of a recently captured US-made M3 Stuart light tank.Suspecting an enemy presence, the soldiers were ordered to keep as silent as possible, breaking through the enemy positions with a sudden attack. The two battalions split up, the 1st moving along the waterline, the 2nd moving along the main road in parallel, about 200 m distant.
Soon the 2nd found themselves marching along a Russian unit, who believing them to be fellow Russians, gave way. Flares fired gave the game away, and battle was joined.
The Russians, the 1st battalion of the 917th was quickly overwhelmed, but the Germans then ran into the anti-tank positions of the 370th. The battle degenerated into chaotic hand-to-hand combat in the darkness with heavy losses on both sides, but the Germans broke through. Their actions kept the Russians occupied, however, and the 1st battalion moving along the waterline took no part in the fighting and suffered no losses.
Aftermath
The majority of the Germans were able to break through to join the defence of the Sõrve peninsula, but almost 200 men had been lost. Captured German soldiers were shot, as happened consistently during the fighting on the island.Most of the vehicles were also left behind, including the light tank and a self-propelled FlaK gun.
The Russians also suffered about 200 men killed, with an unknown number of wounded. The killed included the commander, Major V. Miller. At least one tank and several guns were also knocked out.
The action delayed the Russian attack on the peninsula, giving the Germans more time to improve their defences. But the hard-pressed German forces could ill afford losses in equipment and manpower at this stage of the war. After several weeks more of bitter fighting, the Sõrve peninsula, and thereby the entire island of Saaremaa
Saaremaa
Saaremaa is the largest island in Estonia, measuring 2,673 km². The main island of Saare County, it is located in the Baltic Sea, south of Hiiumaa island, and belongs to the West Estonian Archipelago...
, was evacuated by the Germans on the 23/24th of November.
After the war
To commemorate the battle, in 1967 a sword-shaped monument was raised, made of concrete and dolomite. Monument was designed by well known Estonian architects of the time, R.Kuld, A.Murdmaa,M.Varik. Several massive concrete slabs with names of the fallen soldiers, Russians and Estonians, are mounted nearby. Most of them were buried on the site.
External links
- Tehumardi - photographs of Soviet memorial at the battle site.