Operation Albion



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.

German units

 * 42nd Division
 * 2nd Infanterie Cyclist Brigade
 * Special Task force: "Vizeadmiral' Ehrhard Schmidt
 * Flagship: SMS Moltke
 * Squadron III: Vizeadmiral Paul Behncke in command of dreadnought battleships SMS König, SMS Bayern, SMS Grosser Kurfürst (1913), SMS Markgraf, and SMS Kronprinz
 * Squadron IV. Vizeadmiral Wilhelm Souchon in command of dreadnought battleships SMS Kaiser (1911), SMS Friedrich der Grosse (1911), SMS Kaiserin, SMS Prinzregent Luitpold, and SMS König Albert
 * II Aufklarungsgruppe: Konteradmiral Ludwig von Reuter in command of cruisers SMS Königsberg (1915), SMS Karlsruhe (1916), SMS Danzig (1905), SMS Frankfurt, and SMS Nürnberg (1916)
 * VI Aufklarungsgruppe: Konteradmiral Albert Hopman in command of cruisers SMS Kolberg, SMS Strassburg, SMS Augsburg, SMS Nautilus, and SMS Blitz
 * Torpedoboats Flagship: SMS Emden (1916)
 * II Flottille (10 boats)
 * VIII Flottille (11 boats)
 * VI Flottille (11 boats)
 * X Flottille (11 boats)
 * 7th Half-Flottille (7 boats)
 * U-Flottille Kurland (6 boats)
 * Sperrbrechergruppe.
 * II Minesweeper Flottille
 * 3rd Half-Flottille
 * 4th Half-Flottille
 * 8th Half-Flottille
 * 3rd S-Half-Flottille
 * S-Flottille of the Baltic
 * Netbarrier Unit of the Baltic

Russian units

 * Battleships: RUSSIAN BATTLESHIP Tsesarevich, RUSSIAN BATTLESHIP Slava
 * Armored cruiser: RUSSIAN CRUISER Admiral Makarov
 * Destroyers: RUSSIAN DESTROYER Desna, RUSSIAN DESTROYER Novik, RUSSIAN DESTROYER Pobeditel, RUSSIAN DESTROYER Zabijaka, RUSSIAN DESTROYER Grom, RUSSIAN DESTROYER Konstantin
 * Gunboats: RUSSIAN GUNBOAT Chivinetz, RUSSIAN GUNBOAT Grozyashchi
 * Blockship: Lavwija
 * Minelayer: RUSSIAN MINELAYER Pripyat

British units

 * Submarines: HMS C26, HMS C27, HMS C32