.mw-parser-output .hidden-begin{box-sizing:border-box;width:100%;padding:5px;border:none;font-size:95%}.mw-parser-output .hidden-title{font-weight:bold;line-height:1.6;text-align:left}.mw-parser-output .hidden-content{text-align:left}You can help expand this article with text translated from the corresponding article in Estonian. (August 2023) Click [show] for important translation instructions. Machine translation, like DeepL or Google Translate, is a useful starting point for translations, but translators must revise errors as necessary and confirm that the translation is accurate, rather than simply copy-pasting machine-translated text into the English Wikipedia. Do not translate text that appears unreliable or low-quality. If possible, verify the text with references provided in the foreign-language article. You must provide copyright attribution in the edit summary accompanying your translation by providing an interlanguage link to the source of your translation. A model attribution edit summary is Content in this edit is translated from the existing Estonian Wikipedia article at [[:et:Porkuni lahing]]; see its history for attribution. You should also add the template ((Translated|et|Porkuni lahing)) to the talk page. For more guidance, see Wikipedia:Translation.
Battle of Porkuni
Part of World War II
DateSeptember 21, 1944
Location
Porkuni, 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 Union
Commanders and leaders
Juhan Vermet Soviet Union August Feldman
Strength
1,500 10,000
Casualties and losses
500 dead,
700 captured[1]		 ~unknown

Battle of Porkuni (Estonian: Porkuni lahing) was the largest engagement between Estonians serving in the Red Army and Estonian pro-independence and Waffen-SS units. It took place on 21 September 1944[2] between Lake Porkuni and the Sauvälja village about seven kilometres northeast of the town of Tamsalu[3] during the Leningrad Front's Tallinn Offensive Operation (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

  1. ^ "Porkuni vennatapulahing niitis eesti sõjamehi" (in Estonian). Postimees. 11 September 2004. Archived from the original on 2009-01-04. Retrieved 2009-06-14.
  2. ^ Naan, Gustav (1980). Soviet Estonia: Land, People, Culture. Valgus Publishers. p. 104.
  3. ^ [1] location of the lake


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