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LÅNGSTRAND
- The area of Långstrand, despite of the fact that it is located rather far away from the borderline of the Soviet rental area of Hanko and is protected by the fortifications in the Pargas peninsula and in the area of Vimonböle, it still contains fortifications. Some of these fortifications have remained in the forest in an excellent condition for over sixty years. - The most interesting construction is the structure 249. The fortification map indicates a machine gun bunker/dugout with observation cupola to this area and observation and fire control nest. Both of the constructions can be still seen very near of the shoreline. The observation and fire control nest is perhaps the easiest one to notice from the area, just as long as you understand how the defensive line generally speaking has been constructed. - The area of the observation and fire control nest is dominated by a very tall hill, from where you could have observed easily towards the direction of the closest Russian held island. The nest itself has lost some of its shape, but is still very recognizable on top of the hill. Below the hill is the machine gun bunker/dugout with observation cupola. The structure was not completed exactly like the tactical map symbol would indicate. Still a clear accommodation dugout can be seen from which a communication trench leads to the machine gun position, which has a clear field of fire towards the sea. What is most interesting with this structure is that the accommodation dugout still contains the iron reinforcements to which the logs were tied. The logs itself have decayed a long time ago, but the iron reinforcements still remain. This is a very interesting find from the Harparskog-line, where otherwise the structures are now covered with moss, making it nearly impossible to see any interesting details. - The other interesting structure is the 248. What makes it interesting is its huge size. Unfortunately the whole structure is now covered with water, but it also makes it a much more easier to see the shape of the structure. Two entrances are clearly seen on both sides of the structure. This most likely has been the structure 248, which has been marked to the map as a machine gun nest with observation cupola. Behind of this structure are few dugout remains, which without a doubt have been accommodation dugouts. These remains together form the structure 248, a, which has been marked to the map as a accommodation dugout capable of accommodating twenty men and a anti-tank shelter. The structure 247 can be also found very close of these remains. - There is only one structure, which we were not able to locate, with a sufficient certainty. It is the structure 252, which according to the tactical map symbols was at least planned to be a similar bunker from which several examples can be found from the Harparskog area, meaning a bunker armed with a machine gun and anti-tank gun and additionally equipped with a observation cupola. The area to where structure 252 was planned to be constructed contains only one rocky hill formation near of the shoreline, to where the structures normally have been constructed. Walking back and forth this hill didn't result any findings, which could be considered to be the structure 252 or its remains. Extending our searches to south and north from the hill didn't either bring any results, so it must be assumed that either the structure was never constructed or then the numerous summer cottages in the area have damaged or destroyed the structure to the degree, that it cannot be found anymore. - From structure 246 there is only few unclear pictures, but still a very modest and shallow machine gun position can be found right next to the road. The remain just is so shallow that picture in this case wont tell much. The shape of the position however is very recognizable, with a parapet opening towards the sea. The field of fire has been also excellent from the position towards the Pargas peninsula. If the area has contained accommodation dugout it most likely has been destroyed under the summer cottages that now dominates the area. - The summer cottages and new roads are the real problem of finding the remains of Harparskog-line. Just take a look at the fortification maps and then compare those to the present day maps of the different areas and you can see how significantly all of the areas where the defensive line went have changed. The change in sixty years has been a huge one! - The code names for the bunkers are either Finnish man or female names or animals. - My own personal notes below are based on the situation in the defensive line, during the years 2005 and 2006.
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Copyright © 2005, 2006 Kimmo Nummela