Torpedo boats V 106 and V 108

Ruhnu landing operation 1915. On the night of May 1, 1915 the German navy entered the waters around Saaremaa island for the first time and a landing party was sent to Ruhnu as well. They landed near the northernmost point of the island around 3 am by rowing boats from torpedo boats V 108 and V 109. The Germans’ hopes to find Russian soldiers and a radio station on the island were not fulfilled. So the Germans tore down the upper part of the light house along with the light and destroyed the kerosene reserves. When leaving in the morning, Germans took took 4 lighthouse keepers with them. The rest of the men military service eligible men  were saved from being taken by minister August Zetterqvist. He managed to convince the Germans that Ruhnu Swedes were not obliged to serve in the Russian army. On the way back, lighthouses at Kolka cape and at Sõrve cape were fired at. The destroyed Ruhnu lighthouse was not restored until 1921.

Created in 2014