#1054
Post
by Janne » 08 Aug 2006, 13:01
And the winner is...JTV!
However, a few points must be omitted for the typo "Autumn 194_2_" and for probably relying a little too much on the version of the story Aake Jermo gave in his (IIRC) "Siiranmäen miehet".
The bigger picture is that in early September 1941 the regiments of 2.D had advanced to Soviet territory but stopped at roughly abround the pre-1939 border. Some of the forward positions of the fortifiend defense zone before Leningrad were captured and recce patrols ventured further for intelligence purposes. When the order to take up defensive positions reached the regiments and the battalions, the commanders were reluctant to give up any of the ground they'd captured, and so the defense line came to be drawn pretty much where the companies had been at the moment, and little regard was given to the local features. If it was absolutely necessary, certain Soviet positions could be taken or demolished.
Thus the HQ of III/JR28 and its companies were housed in captured Soviet bunkers, positions were taken using Soviet strongpoints and trenches were dug in only about 60m away from a Soviet bunker wich had four sectors of fire and probably housed two anti-tank guns. Something clearly had to be done about it.
The mind of the battalion's acting commander was preoccupied with it. Captain Aimo Ojanen was a 32-year-old career officer and he was of "small build, but with the look of a man not to be f-ed with". The division commander had kindly left a few bottles of alcohol during his visit to the fornt line on Sptember 5th and according to some sources someone had had time to fetch more. Therefore the sound of Capt Ojanen's voice hadn't been entirely sober on the field telephone line when he'd tried to order one of his company commanders to join him on an assault on the annoying bunker.
Anyway, early on the morning of September 9th the regiment commander was told that Captain Ojanen had been killed "during reconnaissance of enemy positions", but while no one could know what Ojanen and the arty officer who'd joined him had had in mind, everyone knew Ojanen had got himself killed. His dead body lay visible to the Finnish lines, caught in barbed wire and "hanging like a dead bird". Several nighttime attempts to retrieve the body were made without any success, so Ojanen was left where he was.
The fire from what was henceworth known as "Ojanen's bunker" or "Captainkiller" continued to cause casualties, but despite anti-tank guns firing straight into its loopholes, heavy artillery on its roof and demolition assault attempts. it remained unconquered. According to Soviet POWs, it was called an "Istrebetel", a "destroyer", with more than two meters of reinforced concreteto protect also its roof, thich steel doors and other features to protect it against demolition attempts. It was supposed to be permanently manned by a force of 1+30 dedicated soldiers.
However, in the end of March 1942, as JTV tells, a succesful nighttime assault was made: this time on skis and without an artillery barrage. A Jaeger Platoon supported ny 13 pioneers (sappers?) managed to demolish it with 250kg of explosives during an action that took over an hour. The rear half of the bunker collapsed and fire shot out of the loopholes. Three men were killed and five wounded, mostly in the rearguard during the retreat to own lines.
However, that wasn't the end of the Istrebetel...
But it's time for the next question!
Attached is photo from "Bunkkerimuseo" (Bunker Museum) showing 45-mm placement.
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