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== Service in World War II == |
== Service in World War II == |
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[[File:II maailmasõjas hukkunute ühishaud-"Eesti rand".JPG |''Eestirand'' Memorial site on [[Prangli]] Island, [[Estonia]]|thumb]] |
[[File:II maailmasõjas hukkunute ühishaud-"Eesti rand".JPG |''Eestirand'' Memorial site on [[Prangli]] Island, [[Estonia]]|thumb]] |
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[[File:"Eesti rand"-II maailmasõjas hukkunute ühishaud.JPG |''Eestirand'' Memorial site on [[Prangli]] Island, [[Estonia]]|thumb]] |
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During World War II, the ''Eestirand'' was pressed into service to the occupying Soviet Navy and was recommissioned ''VT-532'' in 1941. The ship's primary role was transporting troops and war materiel in the heavily mined [[Baltic Sea]]. As German troops advanced on Tallinn in August of 1941, the Soviets began preparations for evacuation. The ''Eastirand'' would be part of a convoy or ships responsible for the evacuation of Russian military personel and Estonian conscripts to [[Kronstadt]] help lift the German [[siege of Leningrad]].<ref name=kriss>{{cite book |url=http://books.google.com/books?id=Fg_ED4icdu8C&pg=PA130&lpg=PA130&dq=eestirand+tallinn&source=bl&ots=52LSCTr_Y0&sig=_4JYOIoyl1xSgyyp0MnqGziHtdc&hl=en&sa=X&ei=DwiHVIqLGIymyASpmoG4DA&ved=0CC8Q6AEwBA#v=onepage&q=eestirand%20tallinn&f=false |title=Estonian Life Stories |page=130 |first=Tiina |last=Kriss |publisher=Central European University Press |date=2009 |isbn=9789639776395}}</ref> |
During World War II, the ''Eestirand'' was pressed into service to the occupying Soviet Navy and was recommissioned ''VT-532'' in 1941. The ship's primary role was transporting troops and war materiel in the heavily mined [[Baltic Sea]]. As German troops advanced on Tallinn in August of 1941, the Soviets began preparations for evacuation. The ''Eastirand'' would be part of a convoy or ships responsible for the evacuation of Russian military personel and Estonian conscripts to [[Kronstadt]] help lift the German [[siege of Leningrad]].<ref name=kriss>{{cite book |url=http://books.google.com/books?id=Fg_ED4icdu8C&pg=PA130&lpg=PA130&dq=eestirand+tallinn&source=bl&ots=52LSCTr_Y0&sig=_4JYOIoyl1xSgyyp0MnqGziHtdc&hl=en&sa=X&ei=DwiHVIqLGIymyASpmoG4DA&ved=0CC8Q6AEwBA#v=onepage&q=eestirand%20tallinn&f=false |title=Estonian Life Stories |page=130 |first=Tiina |last=Kriss |publisher=Central European University Press |date=2009 |isbn=9789639776395}}</ref> |
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Once grounded, the captain and crew members of the ''Eestirand'' helped the 2700 surviving Estonian conscripts to disarm the Soviet military personnel aboard the ship and escape onto the island and avoid mobilization to Leningrad. |
Once grounded, the captain and crew members of the ''Eestirand'' helped the 2700 surviving Estonian conscripts to disarm the Soviet military personnel aboard the ship and escape onto the island and avoid mobilization to Leningrad. |
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=== Memorial === |
=== Memorial === |
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The memorial includes a large wooden cross with the inscription "''Eestirand'' 24-08-41, adorned with an original life preserver from the ship. White [[dolomite]] crosses stand for those killed in the attack. |
The memorial includes a large wooden cross with the inscription "''Eestirand'' 24-08-41, adorned with an original life preserver from the ship. White [[dolomite]] crosses stand for those killed in the attack. |
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== References == |
== References == |
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Revision as of 03:24, 10 December 2014
The SS Eestirand (Estonian Coast), built in 1910, was an Estonian steel-bodied steam ship freighter. During World War II it served as a Russian Navy transport vessel and was subsequently sunk in 1941 near Prangli Island during the Soviet evacuation of Tallinn in 1941.
History
The ship was built in 1910 by A. McMillan & Son Ltd. in Dumbarton, Scotland. It was originally named Starthardle and served the Burell & Son Steamship Line[1] in Glasgow for six years before it was sold to Scottish-American shipping magnate Robert Dollar in 1916, where it served the Dollar Steamship Lines as the Harold Dollar, ferrying trade goods between New York and the Asia.[2]
In 1932, it was sold to an Estonian fishing company in 1932 and was renamed Eestirand operating out of the port of Tallinn, Estonia and was refitted for the fishing trade. At the time, it was the largest ship in the Estonian merchant fleet.
Service in World War II
During World War II, the Eestirand was pressed into service to the occupying Soviet Navy and was recommissioned VT-532 in 1941. The ship's primary role was transporting troops and war materiel in the heavily mined Baltic Sea. As German troops advanced on Tallinn in August of 1941, the Soviets began preparations for evacuation. The Eastirand would be part of a convoy or ships responsible for the evacuation of Russian military personel and Estonian conscripts to Kronstadt help lift the German siege of Leningrad.[3]
On 24 August, 1941 the Eestirand came under attack by German planes as it neared the Keri Lighthouse on Keri Island.[4] 44 men perished in the bombardment, and many more drowned after falling overboard.[3] The captain of the Eestirand, Boris Nelke was given orders to continue on to Kronstadt by the commander of the evacuation fleet, Vladimir Tributs. Nelke instead chose to defy Russian command and sail to Prangli Island and ground the badly damaged ship off the coast of the island.
Once grounded, the captain and crew members of the Eestirand helped the 2700 surviving Estonian conscripts to disarm the Soviet military personnel aboard the ship and escape onto the island and avoid mobilization to Leningrad.
Memorial
The memorial includes a large wooden cross with the inscription "Eestirand 24-08-41, adorned with an original life preserver from the ship. White dolomite crosses stand for those killed in the attack.
References
- ^ "The The Ships List: Burrell & Son, Glasgow 1850-1939". Retrieved 9 December 2014.
- ^ Greater New York: Bulletin of the Merchants' Association of New York, Volume 9. New York: The Association. 1920. p. 12. Retrieved 9 December 2014.
- ^ a b Kriss, Tiina (2009). Estonian Life Stories. Central European University Press. p. 130. ISBN 9789639776395.
- ^ Taylor, Neil (2014). Bradt Travel Guide: Estonia. Bradt Travel Guides. p. 128. ISBN 9781841624877.