Janne wrote:
In the Finnish version only the MTBs of the 1st flotilla (based in Kotka) attacked the German ships off the northern tip of Suursaari: Taisto-boats 3, 5 and 6 and Viima-boats 2 and 3 (the engine of 1 refused to start), but the 2nd flotilla (based in a fishing harbour in Klamila E of Hamina in Virolahti; no idea of its boats) was only dispatched in the Hapenensaari area.
About 2nd flotilla I could find some info [see above] - is it 100% correct?
Yes, and I am sorry for incorrect translation of the complicated sentence. The same [seems to be] was mentioned in my source, direct translation - "Finns sent MTBs from the first flotilla from Kotka and from the second flotilla from Klamina (Hamina - thanks to Harri) to help the garrison of xxx, 5 MTBs attacked German ships....."
xxx on Russian is Âàíõàíêèëÿíìÿÿ. I have no good idea how to transliterate correctly this word into Finnish back, but as I know sounds of Finnish/Russian languages it could be the strange construction - Vanhankilänmää [may be ja instead of ä somewhere because of sound variations inside the word]. Harri will help me, I hope
As for communication between Finns and Soviets - I only read that Finns asked Red Banner Baltic Navy (KBF) HQ for air support, and the info from Finnish MTBs captains about enemy ships were transferred to the HQ of KBF aviation. No more info but I will try to find additional details in other sources.
I found a very detailed [day by day] research article [based on Russian and Finnish sources] about combat capture of Hogland by 161 Soviet infantrymen of colonel Barinov during WWII [02.01.1942], their service there [Finnish aviation tried to prevent the delivery of ammunition and additional men to colonel Barinov], Soviet counter-attack of recon Finnish group 17.03.1942 and hard combat with attacking Finns 26-28.03.1942 [237 Soviet soldiers were killed/wounded, 36 were captured, 191 reached Lavansaari; 161 Finnish soldiers were killed/wounded]. But there are no info about year 1944 in the article, only about 1942 :roll:
P.S. During 1 hour search in Runet I found only a few sources which mentioned some kind of Soviet-Finnish communications during the German operation "Tanne Ost" against Hogland/Suursaari. I think that the most correct and detailed info could be found in Russian special historical journals but I don't have them, of course. So what I could find online [I am posting only common info between sources about communications mainly, not the huge amount of info about the operation itself, this could be done using German sources also].
Janne wrote: FWIW the Finns found the two Soviet aerial attacks (which took place between 10 and 12 in the morning IIRC) rather unhelpful, which wouldn't be surprising because no co-ordination whatsoever was possible.
Many air attacks took place between 06:45 and 18:00, 481 sorties were made [see below].
"15.09.1944 the part of German ships moved towards south-west from the Island [Finns detected mine-sweeper, landing barge, 4 mine-sweeping motor-boats at 05:00, and ~ at 06:00 Finns detected 5 mine-sweepers and 5 landing barge in addition]. German landing unit captured area in the north-east coastline (4 x 1 km), but Germans could delivered only one 75mm gun and mortar platoon for support, and lost radiostation. The attack of two Ju88 against Finnish troops was unsuccessful and Finnish reserve (577 men) counterattacked Germans and encircled them in 3 areas. ~900 German soldiers and 2 field artillery batteries had no possibility for landing and stayed on their ships.
Finnish command had no possibility to help their counterattacked soldiers from the air so Finns asked HQ of Red Banner Baltic Sea Navy [KBF] for air support of Finnish units.
Soviet naval HQ quickly decided to attack German ships and landing troops using bombers and fighters, also several units of Soviet 6th separate regiment of marines received the order to prepare for landing operation to help Finnish allies.
06:45 36 Soviet aircraft attacked German ships, which already left island. 07:00 - 07:45: another group of 34 Soviet aircraft attacked the group of 12 German landing barges. Till 18:00 Soviet naval aviation performed 481 sorties [bombers sank 17 German ships (11 confirmed, unclear with other 6) and damaged 6 ships, fighters knocked down/damaged 15 enemy aircraft]. During air attacks Soviet aircraft groups tried to communicate with Finnish garrison of Hogland/Suursaari to understand which kind of air support and where exactly Finns needed, but radio communications were quite unsuccessful.....But it is mentioned that actions were coordinated before on high level - between Soviet and Finnish HQs.
In the evening two Soviet patrol motor-boats with marines on board came to Hogland/Suursaari and gave light signals to Finns: "Do you need any assistance?", but armistice took place at 21:00 already. German POWs [1231 including 175 wounded] were moved to Väksi (?), where they were interned in 3 days and were given to Soviets. Finnish garrison of Gogland/Suursaari was interned by Soviet troops in several days...."
About last days of Finnish garrison of Hogland/Suursaari - "according to the Peace Treaty HQ of KBF ordered to commander of Island naval base rear-admiral G. Zhukov to take the Hogland. Colonel Shramkov [commandant of Hogland] landed with artillery squadron, AA and MG units and 7th field hospital. The meetings between Finnish commandant lieutenant-colonel Miettinen and Soviet commandant colonel Shramkov were under strict control of NKVD officer. It was strictly prohibited for Soviet soldiers to meet, visit and talk with Finns, also walk along the island alone.
Two commandants agreed that Soviet officers would take the fortifications, equipment and armament of Hogland from South to the North, starting from 24.09.1944. Finns removed their soldires and their positions were taken by Soviet soldiers. Rear-admiral G. Zhukov asked colonel Shramkov to look for possible Finnish provocations and damages of leaving fortifications/equipment, but Shramkov replied that "Finnish officers are very correct and accurate, they left everything in good conditions". Soviet garrison received 36 houses of 2 Finnish villages, 12 warehouses, 43 another buildings, 6 trucks and 1 command car. Colonel Shramkov ordered to preserve everything in such good condition as Finns did, and that was done very carefully for some period of time, but later many things were damaged and stealed by Soviet recruit soldiers after WWII...."
These Russian sources cite the following literature mainly:
Naval historical research journal "Breeze" [on Russian], 1997, No.1
"War in east-european waters 1941-1945" by J. Meister, 1996
"Jatkosota kronikka". Jyvaskyla Helsinki, 1991
"Raising the blockade of Leningrad and liberation of Baltic states in 1944-1945" [reference-book, on Russian], 1991
Regards, BP
