RECONNAISSANCE MISSION TO SYSSLAN, PART I

(Teasing the encirclement of Hanko, Adolf Molnár & History of the Hanko Group, T-22005, Military Archives of Finland) 

(If there is differences in the name of the places in 1941 and today, italic text inside the closures has been used to indicate the name of the place today)

7th of September 1941 

- In the evening, Sudquist and Johnny heads out to the island of Sysslan (Sysslungen). It is located 200 meters from Bengtsår and in the middle of the Russian defensive triangle, which is formed from the islands of Kilboholm (Killboholmen), Bengtsår and a peninsula, which sticks out far into the sea. Lieutenant Nordlund and 2nd Lieutenant Francke will accompany the men. Three boats leave from Basaböle around 10 o'clock in the evening. 

- These three boats are lucky, as they are not spotted from the three Russian held islands. If they had been spotted, they would have been in the cross-fire from the machine gun positions located in those islands. The Russians don't know, that death arrives with these boats, death which draws their dugouts and machine gun positions to the map and then contacts the Finnish artillery and corrects their fire on top of the Russian positions. 

- The boats remain near Sysslan (Sysslungen) island for a long time, the question is whether or not the islands are occupied. They must be, as the place is so close to Bengtsår. Even one man with a sub-machine gun can destroy the whole patrol. One boat closes slowly the island and the rest wait, if fire is opened from Sysslan (Sysslungen). Everything is silent as Sundquist and Johnny move to the island. Nordlund and Francke starts to head out back to Basaböle, but before that they make a small excursion to the waters of Takvedsholm (Takvedaholmen) and Kilboholm (Killboholmen) and finally rowing close to Prästön (Bengtsår Prästön) and Bockholmen. After that they finally head out to Basaböle and to the Finnish positions.

- Some shallow pits can be found from the structure 209 right next to a narrow path.

- One of the pits, which might be a dugout remains. The Björknäs sub-section staff has been located also nearby of the structure 209. The staff has been located in a mill, from which only ruins remain.

- Aprroaching the staff area. Beside the road are few stones from anti-tank obstacle line.

- Old basins edge the road and in a way have prevented effectively a straight attack towards the staff area.

- The staff building which back then was a mill. The staff of II/JR13 (Second Battalion from the Infantry Regiment 13) moved into the building on 26th of June 1941. Major Lindman commanded the II/JR13. The war for the battalion started on 26th of June 1941 when the heavy mortar squad moved to a firing positions 300 meters north from this mill. At 17:00 o'clock the mortars opened fire against Russian observation tower, which was located at Borgras hill.

- The same staff building in 1941. (Picture: The Finnish Defence Forces. Published 1942 in a book Kampen om Hangö)

- The interiors in the staff building. (Picture: The Finnish Defence Forces. Published 1942 in a book Kampen om Hangö)

- Cooking. (Picture: The Finnish Defence Forces. Published 1942 in a book Kampen om Hangö)

- Eating in front of the staff building. (Picture: The Finnish Defence Forces. Published 1942 in a book Kampen om Hangö)

- Unfortunately the mill is in ruins.

- Some rusted parts from the machinery lie in the middle of the ruins.

- Rust.

- I think it would be appropriate to attach a plaque to the old staff building, which would inform the importance of the place during the war. Someday the stone walls will collapse and after that time will erase all memories from the place.