Operation Albion

Operation Albion
Part of World War I

Operation Albion amphibious operations 10–20 October
Date29 September-20 October 1917
LocationBaltic Sea
Coordinates: 58°30′N 23°0′E / 58.500°N 23.000°E / 58.500; 23.000
Result German victory
Belligerents
German Empire Russian Republic
United Kingdom United Kingdom
Commanders and leaders
German Empire Oskar von Hutier
German Empire Hugo von Kathen
German Empire Ludwig von Estorff
German Empire Ehrhard Schmidt		 Russia Mikhail Bakhirev
Russia Vasily Altvater
Strength

1 Battlecruiser
10 Dreadnought battleships
9 Light cruiser
1 Mine cruisers
50 Torpedo boats
6 U-boats
19 Transport ships
6 airships
102 combat aircraft
24,500 Soldiers
8500 Horses
2400 Vehicles
150 Machine guns
54 Guns

12 Mortars and ammunition

2 Pre-dreadnought battleships
2 Cruiser
1 Protected cruiser
3 Gunboats
21 Destroyers
3 submarines

about 24,000 soldiers
Casualties and losses

1 Torpedo boat destroyed
7 Minesweepers destroyed
9 Trawlers and auxiliary vessels destroyed
Many ships damaged by mines
5 aircraft shot down
156 Dead and 60 wounded (Navy)

54 Killed and 141 wounded (Army)

Battleship Slava destroyed
Destroyer Grom destroyed
Submarine HMS C32 destroyed
20,130 men captured
141 Guns (47 heavy) lost
130 Machine guns lost

40 aircraft lost
Panorama of the Tagalaht Bay, Saaremaa, Estonia. This was the location of the German landing on 11 October 1917.
The gun turrets of a battleship. A gray zeppelin flies overhead
German battleship Grosser Kurfürst photographed during Operation Albion in October 1917

Operation Albion was the German land and naval operation in September–October 1917 to invade and occupy the West Estonian Archipelago, then part of the Autonomous Governorate of Estonia, Russian Republic. The land campaign opened with landings at the Tagalaht, Saaremaa on 11 October 1917, after extensive naval activity to clear mines and subdue coastal artillery batteries. The Germans secured the island by 16 October. The Russian Army evacuated Muhu on 18 October.

After two failed attempts, the Germans managed to land on Hiiumaa on the 19th and captured the island on the following day. The Russian Baltic Fleet had to withdraw from the Suur Strait after major losses (see Battle of Moon Sound). The Germans claimed 20,000 prisoners and 100 guns captured during the Operation Albion from 12 October.

Strategic significance

At the beginning of World War I the islands were of little importance to either Imperial Russia or Germany. However, after the revolutionary turmoil in Russia during 1917, the German high command believed capturing the islands would outflank Russian defences and lay St. Petersburg vulnerable to attack.[1]

Order of battle

German units

Russian units[2]

British units

See also

References

Notes

  1. ↑ Barrett (2008), p8
  2. ↑ Operation Albion: The Attack On The Baltic Islands

Bibliography

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