Operation Beowulf

Companies Beowulf was the code name for the conquest of the Estonian island of Saaremaa ( German: Saaremaa ) in the Baltic Sea during Operation Barbarossa on 13 to 27 September 1941.

The 61st Infantry Division were collected and provided in the space around the place Virtsu (Werder ) on the west coast of Estonia for landing. For the landing of the troops of the Baltic Association testing was responsible with his landing craft. The troops landed on the east side of the island Muhu ( Moon ). From there, the transition was more assault boats to the island of Saaremaa.

Through several things to note of the Navy, the landing operation Beowulf was covered and diverted the Soviet resistance after the raging sea. For this purpose, made ​​the three dummy companies west wind, east wind and south wind, with the help of landings should be simulated by German - Finnish naval forces in other places.

On September 14, the first wave of the 61st Infantry Division landed on the island Moon. On September 16, a bridgehead on Osel was formed. From 25 to 27 September on the Sõrve Peninsula ( Sworbe ) were huddled Soviet defenders 11 fired by the light cruiser Leipzig, Emden and the torpedo boats T 7, T 8 and T.

On 27 September, the company ended with the unconditional surrender of the Soviet troops on the peninsula Sworbe.