Battle of Porkuni

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Battle of Porkuni
Part of Viru County, Estonia 59°10′40″N 26°09′37″E / 59.17778°N 26.16028°E / 59.17778; 26.16028
Result	Soviet victory

Belligerents Estonian conscripts  Soviet UnionCommanders and leaders Juhan Vermet August FeldmanStrength 1,500 10,000Casualties and losses 500 dead,
700 captured^[1] ~unknown

Battle of Porkuni (

(17 September 1944 – 26 September 1944).

The 249th Rifle Regiment of the 8th Estonian Rifle Corps had heavy machine guns and mortars and were supported by artillery and tanks. Soldiers of the Estonian Waffen Grenadier Division had only light arms and antitank weapons in the form of German panzerfausts.

The 8th Rifle Corps surrounded about 1,500 Estonians retreating from the Tannenberg line in the Sinimäed Hills. In the ensuing battle, more than 500 surrounded Estonians were killed. Around 700 were captured.

Several groups of Estonians led by Obersturmführer Hando Ruus managed to break out the Soviet encirclement and escape towards west. However, on September 22, the largest group was taken by surprise in a forest near Ambla and most of the men were taken prisoner or killed.

Villagers buried 273 dead Estonians in German uniform. The Soviet Rifle Corps lost 73 men killed, of whom 57 had Estonian names.^{[citation needed]}

References