LERHOLM

(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)

22nd of September 1941 

- During a dark and stormy night 2nd Lieutenant Francke and Windmüller heads out to a patrol into Lerholm (Lerholmarna). They take Nilsson as a "cable ship". Nilsson is a good canoeist and that's why he always gets the hardest tasks. Laying out the phone cable with a unsteady canoe requires skill and nerves. 

- After five hours and 1,5 kilometers of fighting against wind and storm, Nilsson finally has managed to get the phone cable into Lerholm (Lerholmarna). This will enable more patrol missions behind the Russian lines and the fire can now be directed more accurately. 

- On the left side of Lerholm (Lerholmarna), is Kronholm (Stora Järpholmen), which is occupied by a strong Russian forces and fortified also very effectively. This time however there was no need to observe the Russian fortifications, but to destroy them. 2nd Lieutenant Francke was with the patrol to direct the fire accurately. Around 8 o'clock in the morning France finally gives order to start firing, as more and more Russians have awaken from their dugouts. 

- Few grenades land to the dugout, which is located on the north side of the island, but it isn't destroyed. The machine gun nest nearby receives also few hits. Russians are now warned and they run to the southern side of the island to where Francke tries to direct the fire, but the Russians spread out to the forest. Swearing Francke finally gives an order to cease the firing.

- Observation cupola, with the metal bars surrounding it.

- The door into one of the two embrasures.

- The bolt in the badly rusted door.

- General view to the area. In front of the picture, is the embrasure and on top of it, near the top left corner of the picture is the observation cupola.

- Observation cupola seen closer.

- Metal hook to which bushes and trees would have been attached, in order to camouflage the embrasure.

- Barbed wire still lies near the bunker.

- One of the two embrasures.

- The same embrasure as in the previous picture, seen from a distance.

- The field of fire for the second embrasure.

- Entrance with the number of structure written above it. I have a very hard time to come up the number 213 from it. Still there is no doubt that this wouldn't be the structure 213, as there is no other constructions visible in the area where the map indicates this structure to have been planned.

- Most of the entrances were additionally protected with the above like wooden door.

- Barbed wire in the door.