Furuskär

- The island of Furuskär is located north-east of Hanko. The distance from Furuskär to Hanko is about 8 kilometers. Distance from Tammisaari, which is located north-east from Furuskär is about 26 kilometers. The island of Furuskär is a very small island. The length of the island is only about 190 meters and from its widest point the island is a bit over 100 meters wide. The island is nearly identical in its shape and size, with the island of Grönskär, which is located in the north-west side of Furuskär. The distance between these two islands is only about 200 meters.

- The island is covered by a thick forest and the interiors of the island is not visible from the sea. There is a summer cottage in the island and because of that, it is not possible to investigate the island.

Furuskär, Picture 1
- The island of Furuskär seen from the island of Grönskär.

- However it is most likely, that there is no structures from the war time in the island. Most likely few foxholes and remains from fire positions can be found, like from Grönskär, but it is highly unlikely that any bigger structures has been build to the island.

- What makes it unlikely, is that the Russians controlled the island of Horsön in west and from that island Furuskär could have been also controlled with fire. The Finns on the other hand didn't really need to occupy Furuskär, as the troops held the island of Björnholm in north-east. The distance between Björnholm and Furuskär is a very short one.

- The map of the Russian rental area of Hanko, which was drawn by the Finnish in 1943 doesn't also show any defensive structures in Furuskär. According to the map, the island has been completely booby-trapped with mines. No structures are shown in the map.

Men from the Infantry Regiment 13 in the Hanko Front

- It is also important to note, that the name of the island has changed since the war. Several different published sources make mistakes in the name of the islands, when they describe the Battle of Grönskär and Furuskär in October 1941.