BATTLE OF SOMMARÖARNA, PART II

(Hanko Cape in the Second World War, Niilo Lappalainen & From Hanko to Petsamo, Pertti Kilkki) 

23rd of October 1941

- The Finnish counter-attack started at 7:10 o'clock in the morning, when the first Finnish soldiers landed under the command of Lieutenant Kaikkonen to Stora Käringholmen. The attack was preceded by a heavy artillery fire to the island, which still contained Finns from the fighting during the night. The battle in the island was a heavy one, as the Russians refused to pull back and fought from every inch. At 9:30 o'clock the island of Stora Käringholmen however was cleared from Russian troops. The Russians tried once more to get the island back, when three armored motor boats closed the island, but these where driven off. 

- The Finnish attack to Lilla Käringholmen started at 17:30, after it was postponed for an hour, when own grenade killed three men. The fighting in Lilla Käringholmen was over quickly and the last Russian positions in the nearby scar were destroyed by artillery fire and with an assault, which was led by 2nd Lieutenant Kaukonen, using rowing boats. The battles in Sommaröarna were over at 18:00 o'clock. 

- The Finnish troops lost in this battle 4 officers and 14 non-commissioned officers and men. Additionally 30 were wounded. The Russians lost at least 91 men killed in action and 20 prisoners were captured. 

- The Hanko Group was indignant, that the men had pulled back from the islands during the night and ordered Major Karvinen to question all participants, even those who were wounded and were now lying in hospital. The answer from Major Karvinen was a short one: I won't obey that order as my military honour denies it. That was the end of the matter.

- Bunker number 460 is an accommodation bunker and today in a very bad shape. It contains two entrances, something that is quite unique in the defensive line. However the whole bunker is buried under incredible amount of garbage. The second entrance is completely covered and it is not possible to even see it anymore. Also the whole bunker is nearly invisible as garbage covers it so effectively. If you don't know the exact position of this, you cannot even see it from the nearby road, which can be seen in the picture.

- The second and only entrance, which is accessible.

- Trench line leading to the second entrance, but the garbage mountain can be seen starting already in the trench line.

- The trench line however has remained in excellent condition and is worth of seeing, as no other trench line in the Harparskog area has survived this well.

- Few of the ladders can lead you easily down into the trench line.