Ruhnu landing operation 1941

Ruhnu landing operation 1941. Tactical navy landing operation of the Baltic Soviet navy from Saaremaa island to Ruhnu island 6–7. VIII 1941. The reason for the operation was the fact that Ruhnu islanders had captured 4 Red Army soldiers 9. VII 1941 (air observation post, also defenders of the local lighthouse) and restored the Republic of Estonia on the island 20. VII (see 1941 rebellion on Ruhnu), replacing the Soviet Executive Committee with a rural municipality government. Before the landing operation an airstrike on Ruhnu was carried out by Soviet planes on August 6. On August 7, the military landing party arrived. Over 500 men (mostly from 12th destruction battalion made up of Estonians), probably on 15 vessels, participated in the operation. Soviet power was re-established on the island, initiators of the rebellion (4 men, lead by Johannes Merend) were executed in Kudapje (on Saaremaa island) and buried at the local cemetery.

Created in 2013