ARTILLERY ACTIVITY IN SNALO SECTION, PART I

(History of the Hanko Group, T-22005, Military Archives of Finland)

July 1941

- Our own and the enemy artillery was very busy during the July 1941. From our part the results were good. The Russian eight-inch railroad artillery fired Björnholmen, where two barracks were set on fire. In Halsholmen in Elgö there was a forest fire, which destroyed about four hectares of forest. There were also several forest fires in the enemy side, in Hermansö, Björkskär, Koö and in Glässkär. Our strong artillery fire started these forest fires.

Corporal H. Hartella and Major L. Henriksson.

- The first view when approaching the structure 412. A massive hill of stones and a lot of fallen trees.

- Nearby right in the shoreline is an interesting looking defensive position, which is shaped like a letter U.

- The communication trench line into the position is filled with water. There is also a lot of fallen trees on top of the trench line, which makes it hard to see.

- On top of the communication trench line is a lot of stones, which have come from the mining job performed in the structure 412.

- Some slight depressions are nearby, like a second trench line.

- The very deep mined structure 412. Like everywhere else, here also it seems that the mining job is completed.

- Rusted memories from the past on the edge of the structure.

- The edge of the construction. Sea and the island of Vedaholmen can be seen in the background.

- Imagine mining these structures and then one day the Captain has arrived to the construction site, telling that the Russians have left from Hanko and that these structures are not needed anymore...

- On the opposite side of the place from where the communication trench line leads into the structure, is something, which looks like second entrance. That entrance is visible as a depression on the left side of the picture. It cannot be the sector, as it is pointing to the wrong direction.

- Till the next time...