AAMULEHTI REPORTS, PART I:

THE ISLANDS WEST OF HANKO HAVE BEEN CLEARED. 

GRAVE OF A SOVIET PILOT IS LOCATED IN HANKO

8th of December 1941

- From the minesweepers, when looking towards north-east, one can observe the rental area of Hanko over the vast sea. During the few nights, which preceded the evacuation of the Russian forces from Hanko, the artillery guns illuminated the sky. Suddenly during one night, all that changed. The artillery fire seemed non-existing, but few fires were burning here and there. Those fires continued through the night and now and then, heavy explosions trembled the ground. Already in the morning it was clear, that the profile of Hanko had changed, the water tower had disappeared. The situation was very clear, the things that had happened during the few previous days gave a clear indication, that the enemy had left from Hanko. At the same time as our forces had started to occupy the area from east, the islands west of Hanko were also occupied. When getting to the shore, it was already clear that the island would be heavily mined. The trip-wires were all over the shore that even the bow of the boat, touched these. The harbour, barracks, batteries and other positions were mined and all of the guns were made unusable, some just barely. Our troops captured a lot of ammunitions for the guns, as the Russians hadn't had the time to transport those away.

TK - Leo Schulgin

- Structure 458 can be still found near of the gun position 74, a & b. The structure however has not been build according to the plan, but despite of this it has offered some shelter for the gun crew.

- There is several remains side by side. Some are rather small and some are a bit bigger.