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[PRÄSTKULLA]  [LÅNGSTRAND]  [VIMONBÖLE]  [STORHOLMEN]  [SKOGBYTRÄSKET]  [HARPARSKOG]  [SPJUTBÖLE]

[BJÖRKKULLA]  [VITSAND]  [BJÖRNHOLMEN]  [ODENSÖ]  [SOMMARÖ]  [SKÅLDÖ]  [BAGGÖN]  [SITE MAP]

 

VIMONBÖLE

Vimonböle area

  Map symbols

- The above map shows the Vimonböle area of the Harparskog-line. Not much was completed in the area, when the construction job was finally cancelled after the Russians had evacuated their Hanko base. Also when the war started, the troops in this area abandoned these positions and moved to the area of Basaböle - Öby and Kamsholmen.

- However that does not mean that it is not worthwhile to visit the area. The trenches and dugout remains are easily visible from the main road in the area. The most important area seems to have been the narrow isthmus, which connects the Vimonböle area to the Tronsböleträsket area. It is the narrowest part in the whole area and has been a very easy place to close effectively with defensive structures. There is also a high hill in front of the isthmus, where trench line and fire positions are still visible, facing towards the road. On the left flank, there is also the structure 233, which could have fired the approaching enemy in the road before they would have even reached the isthmus. Also K.1 is located on the left flank and the structure was completed in 1940, even when no machine guns were apparently installed. 

- Structure 239 a, if it was ever completed in a planned way, would have been firing from the right flank and the structure is supported with a rather extensive trench line, which still today is visible in the area. There also seems to be an anti-tank ditch which has been dug across the peninsula. The firing direction for the structure 239, a, is to the foreground of the anti-tank obstacle line, which goes through the isthmus. The stones, which have been used in that anti-tank obstacle, are very modest one when compared to what can be found from the Hanko Cape area. The anti-tank obstacles are visible from the main road.

Barbed wire obstacles in an island west of Hanko Cape

- One of the most interesting structures is the 205, as Adolf Molnár most likely mentions this place in his book Teasing the encirclement of Hanko. Private Molnár had already volunteered for the Winter War, but never made it to the front, as the war ended before his training was completed. In the Continuation War, he was sent to the Hanko Front, along with other volunteers from around the world. In the chapter Kamsholm on fire, he mentions that they were being moved to reserve in the hutment of Gyttjeviken. So the remains and foundations from huts that are visible in the area today are remains from the reserve area for the frontline troops. The actual accommodation bunkers/dugouts 232 and 234 were never completed and today there is only a huge pits mined into a rock. Structure 238 would have seemed to be a accommodation dugout and the huge pit is still visible in the area.

- The only structure in Vimonböle area, which seems to have been completed and is still in a relatively good condition is the machine gun nest K.1. The position has been made from concrete, but is today full of water and it is impossible to visit the interiors due to this. The structure 233 is also located right next to K.1 and not behind of it, like the map would indicate. There seems to be a deviation of about 50 to 150 meters as a rule, from the place where the construction has been drawn to the fortification map and from where it can in reality found in nature. Not much was completed from 233, mainly just trenches and few very strong looking dugouts. The actual construction for the machine gun and gun bunker had only reached to the mining stage.

- 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.

Construction series 2xx

- The structures in the area of Vimonböle vary a lot, even when the numbering of those would seem to be quite consistent. There is accommodation bunkers/dugouts, machine gun nests and machine gun and gun bunkers/dugouts with observation cupolas. Not much was completed in this area, so basically all of the structures in Vimonböle area from the series 2xx are unfinished or have been destroyed or damaged after the war, to such a degree that it is hard today to see the exact structure in the area.

 

Number

Code name

Fortification card

Note

205

Tamma

No

 

232 Pääsky Yes

The mined structure is full of water.

233 Mato Yes

 

234 Kiiski Yes

The best preserved mined structure in the area.

235 Kotka Yes  
236 Killi Yes

Badly covered with dead branches and leafs.

238 Kuha No  
239, a & b Ori No  

 

Construction series Kx

- The only structure to be given a code like this in the whole Harparskog-line. The structure itself is also quite interesting, as it resembles more of a machine gun position from the First World War, than from the Second.

 

Code

Fortification card

Note

K.1

Yes

Interiors are full of water. No code name was given to K.1 apparently.

 

Other constructions in the defensive line

 

Name Note

Cable box remains

Similar structure, as in Vitsand area.

Two Dugouts

Concrete structure is badly damaged and covered.

Trench line  
Anti-tank obstacles

 

Copyright © 2005, 2006 Kimmo Nummela