Estonia: The Soviet Tallinn Offensive, September 1944

Eastern Front

The Red Army launched the Tallinn Offensive into Estonia on 16 September 1944, occupying the city by the 22nd and the rest of the country by the 26th. The attack was launched from Tartu in the south and Narva in the north and 21 September hundreds of vehicles could be seen on roads in the northern sector. Although the Tallinn area was not imaged, the vehicular activity showed Soviets were at least 40 km east of the city. There was no indication of Soviet air activity, but at least five new Soviet airfields were identified by German photo interpreters in the southern sector. Two former German airfields had been rendered unserviceable, but at least three others were intact.

map of Tallinn Offensive Soviet Progress on 21 September 1944

aerial photo of Tallinn Offensive: Soviet Convoy at Para, Estonia on 21 September 1944

aerial photo of Tallinn Offensive: Soviet Convoy at Rakvere, Estonia on 21 September 1944

aerial photo of Tallinn Offensive: Defenses at Sauvälja , Estonia on 21 September 1944 just before the Battle of Porkuni

aerial photo of New Soviet Tactical Airfield at Tonja, Estonia

aerial photo oc Tallinn Offensive: Soviet Aircraft at Parnu, Estonia, October 1944.

Aerial photo of Demolition at Rakvere Airfield, Estonia on 21 September 1944.

aerial photo of Demolition at Poltsamaa Airfield, Estonia

aerial photo of Tallinn Offensive: Airfield Demolition and Evidence of Fighting at Narva, USSR USSR

Soviet vehicle convoys were spread out over roads leading to Tallinn, Tapa and Tamsalu. Progress had been slowed by the destruction of a few bridges, but there was little evidence of resistance. At the village of Pada, two bridges were out, causing Soviet vehicles to bypass one area and ford another stream (Graphic); probable defensive installations could be seen in two areas. The town of Rakvere, 20 km southwest of Pada, was a key road and rail junction and for that reason was taken on 20 September. On the 21st, a group of vehicles had been held up by another destroyed bridge east of town (Graphic). Vehicles were forced to bypass the bridge by using the intersecting railroad bed. Other convoys observed in central Rakvere and appeared to be heading south.

On the way to Tallinn, Soviet vehicles had nearly reached the town of Kuusalu 55 km west of Rakvere; a burning vehicle and farmhouse at Kahala showed the column must have met resistance. No other vehicles were observed for another 10 km, the limits of photographic coverage. Other convoys were travelling roads southwest of Rakvere in the direction of Tapa and Tamsalu. The one going to Tamsalu was 3 km east of Porkuni, where, on 21 September, elements of the Soviet 8th Estonian Rifle Corps encountered a small Estonian Waffen SS detachment. The battle itself was fought at Sauvälja 3.5 km southwest of Porkuni, and although there was no evidence of fighting, a hastily-dug trench could be seen between two farms covering the entrance to Tamsalu (Graphic).

The Soviets established at least five tactical airfields in the south, common practice before an offensive. It is not clear how many of these were ready by 16 September; two, at Anne and Ansla were under construction and on 20 September and others at Osula and Meemaste were being built late August. Only the airfield at Tonja appeared to be useable in August (Graphic).

Airfields at Rakvere and Poltsamma (Graphics) were rendered unserviceable by the retreating Germans. However, Parnu Airfield, a major base on the Gulf of Riga, was taken without damage on 23 September and by October was occupied by 225 aircraft. The airfield at Narva had been plowed on 9 September (Graphic)