User:IrishRhino/sandbox
Boris Cirandi Nelke | |
|---|---|
| Born | 10 June 1899 Estonia |
| Died | Sweden |
| Allegiance |  Estonia |
| Years of service | 1919 – 1941 Soviet Navy 1941 |
| Rank | Captain |
| Commands | SS Harjurand (1936–1939)
Soviet Navy SS Eestirand (VT-532) (1941) |
| Battles / wars | World War II(Battle of Tallinn) |
Boris Cirandi Nelke (born 10 June 1899) was an Estonian sea captain. He is most notable for taking part in the Soviet evacuation of Tallinn during World War II, where he helped thousands of Estonian conscripts to revolt against Soviet troops aboard the SS Eestirand and flee to safety.
Early life and career
Nelke was the youngest of three sons to Karl and Anna Nelke. His father was a carriage maker and worked on the ceremonial carriage that was built for Queen Victoria when she visited Russia in 1894. He was born near the port city of Tallinn in Estonia. His older brothers, Waldemar and Alexander were both sailors and had already left home while Nelke was still a boy. Nelke attended the Käsmu Maritime School and graduated on 11 April 1919 and became an officer candidate.[1] In the early 1930s, the fishing industry in Estonia was just beginning to grow. Nelke, went to work with the Estonian Fishing Co. which was at the forefront of Trawl fishing. Nelke first assignment was as captain of the SS Harjurand fishing herring off the coast of Iceland.[2] The Harjurand was one of the smaller fishing vessels which would support the company flagship, the Eestirand, which Nelke would later command. The success of the expedition led to the beginning of the modern Estonian fishing trade.[2] Nelke would take command of the Eestirand in 1939.
SS Eestirand
Nelke was the flagship captain for a year when Soviet forces occupied Estonia on 16 June 1940. Soon after, the fishing fleet was pressed into service of the Soviet Navy. The largest of the ships was the Eestirand which was recommissioned into the Baltic Fleet as VT-532. As captain, Nelke was to support the Soviet war effort by transporting Soviet troops and war materiel in the heavily mined Baltic Sea.
In August of 1941, the Soviets began a mass evacuation of Tallinn as German forces surrounded the city. Nelke would be responsible for roughly 3,500 Estonian conscripts and military personnel to Kronstadt.[3]
The Eestirand was heavily damaged by German air attack on 24 August near the small island of Keri. Nelke was given a direct order from Soviet command to continue, which he ignored. Instead, Nelke set a course for Prangli Island, approximately 6 km to the south, beaching the sinking ship off the shore. Nelke and crew helped the 2700 surviving Estonian conscripts to disarm the Soviet military personnel aboard the ship and take control of the island and avoid mobilization to Leningrad.[4][5]
A memorial was built on Prangli Island to honor the bravery of the crew of the Eestirand, and those who had died in the attack. The actions of Nelke and his crew showed the extent to which Estonians esteemed their country's and their own freedom.[5] For his part in the revolt, Nelke was branded an "enemy of the people" by the Soviets and fled Estonia to live in exile.[1]
References
- ^ a b Vendla, George. "Käsmu Maritime School of the Republic of Estonia during the period". Käsmu Maritime Museum. Retrieved 12 December 2014.
- ^ a b Sammet, Jaak (1993). Estonian Herring Expeditions 1932-1937 (PDF). Stavanger Museum.
- ^ Kriss, Tiina (2009). Estonian Life Stories. Central European University Press. p. 130. ISBN 9789639776395. Retrieved 9 December 2014.
- ^ Taylor, Neil (2014). Bradt Travel Guide: Estonia. Bradt Travel Guides. p. 128. ISBN 9781841624877. Retrieved 9 December 2014.
- ^ a b Rikken, Kristopher (24 August 2011). "1941 Steamer Tragedy, Revolt Remembered". Estonian Public Broadcasting. Retrieved 13 December 2014.
{{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|website=(help)