At midday of October 15th an officer of the General Staff arrived at Papensholm. He had disembarked that morning and found himself on the way to Arensburg. He inquired whether there was an opportunity for himself to procure a flight along the coast to survey the situation – most importantly over the Kleinen Sound and the Sworbe Peninsula.
‘Yes indeed, Herr Major,’ replied the Station Leader, Kptlt A, ‘I have a machine ready to take off and will gladly fly you myself’. As they passed he quickly showed the major the beautiful hanger, which remained undamaged, just as were five flying boats, some motors, cars and motorboats.
The propeller was swung and the two officers climbed aboard the seaplane. It was then launched into the water, whereon the propeller revolutions were brought up. With gathering speed the aircraft was showered and slowly it climbed away from the waters surface.
Soon the flyer took course northeast over the southern tip of Tagga Bay. There, there was still a mixed bag. The entire transport fleet still lay at anchor, although six empty transports were to return to Libau that evening. Easily recognizable were Moltke and the FMS Santa Elena. Further north lay two battleships, to the right of them a cruiser. On the landing position swarmed horses and vehicles. The bay formed a fascinating picture which quickly disappeared. During subsequent flight the coast remained in sight on the left, whilst below they passed over scattered woods, empty fields, small villages and numerous farms. The juniper hedges showed as a dark line which gave way to peaceful meadows and pastures. The rise of terrain was imperceptible and totaled only 50 metres – Ösel is a flat island that rises to the north and falls away steeply at the coast.
Before long the southern tip of Dago was visible. Before the Soelo Sound lay Emden, resembling a sheep dog on watch. The Pamerort Peninsula pointed north like a finger. There were no roads to see. Still, one did go south, to Arensburg. Over the last few months roads had been built from Arensburg to the northeast, north, northwest and southwest. Now the aircraft arrived on the southern shore of the Kassar Wiek. Small vessels were going in two directions, to the west and the east. ‘They belong to Flottille Rosenberg.’ Further out they could see a large number of torpedoboats running on a westerly course from the Moon Sound. ‘There appears to be something out of order’ remarked the pilot. Later we learned that B98 had at that time run onto a mine.
The increasing haze forced the aircraft to go lower in order to obtain a clear picture of the situation in the Kleinen Sound. ‘The village ahead of us is Orrisar. There lay Rosenberg with his A-boats. He seemingly shoots on Moon. However, on the stone dam there is no traffic’.
‘There, I can see the battle line,’ called the major, ‘they stretch right to the Kleinen Sound. Could we fly along it?’ Overall, movement in a southern direction was recognizable. ‘I see only two batteries firing, one near Thomel on the road. The western wing rests immediately on a marsh. Please, could you now fly along the road to Arensburg?’ – ‘There appears to be a considerable part of the Russians cut off from Moon. The road is indeed completely clogged with vehicles. And there, German troops attack both sides of the northward traveling Russians – that must be the 255! [255R Regt] No, the pocket is finished. It’s a pity we cannot see the finale. We must away.’
And now the aircraft flew along the old postal road to Arensburg. Single groups of horses and carts came trotting along. ‘That must be the baggage train of the 255th!’ To the left stood the blue, shimmering Riga Gulf, to the right another road that went from Arensburg to Pamerort was visible. Now the 65th Brigade came in sight. ‘What does that smoke ribbon to the left of Arensburg come from?’ questioned the major. ‘That is the Russian Fleet’. ‘Yes, then they can fairly shoot on Arensburg?’ furthered the major. ‘We cannot prevent them from doing so, Herr Major, so long as Admiral Behncke cannot break through the Irben Straits. Would that I had a couple of bombs with me!’ The aircraft cut a curved course over water towards Sworbe and steered towards Tehomardi. Clearly visible was a Russian battleship to the west of Abro Island, with a destroyer nearby. Other destroyers cruised a little further west near the coast. The aircraft flew along the west coast of Sworbe to the south. ‘I am curious’, said the major, ‘as to whether today the Russians are also finished here, as it would appear. It is so important for the Navy to breakthrough and cut off Moon. This morning we still had no report from Regiment 131’. ‘There is movement on the road. Is that the village of Ansekull? See our troops, they lay still. There appears to be no battle – Curious!’ Generally the area was wooded with a few small villages on the road, which our troops filled. A peaceful picture.
In the distance, to the right were several dark smoke ribbons and several times gunflashes could be seen. ‘That is the IV Squadron firing on Zerel’, said the pilot. ‘I must go higher now as near Lebara there are flak batteries. We have recently bombed the airstation there.’ On the landing ground near Cape Mento a small crowd was gathered. The air station was conducting a funeral.
The southern tip of the island came in sight. The IV Squadron had ceased fire. In the woods fires burned in several positions. Now the Zerel battery could be discerned – the giant, long 30.5cm barrels climbed towards the heavens. The flak battery did not shoot. In the area surrounding the battery the craters of the heavy shells fired by Souchon’s squadron could be seen – they left quite a mess. Had the Russians themselves blown up the battery?
Flames came from several positions, and the lighthouse burned – proof of the good shooting by Squadron Souchon. ‘No, it appears the finale is near here, also’, imparted the major, ‘but I do not understand why Regiment 131 do not advance’.
The aircraft turned in a great curve to the left. ‘The wreck there, right ahead of us is that of a Russian destroyer that one of my flyers from Windau hit with a 60kg bomb. And on Zerel a bomb caused a munition depot to explode.’ And now it was time to return. The weather had cleared and the sun shone. The aircraft was already quite low, below was the deep blue water of the Riga Gulf and to the west the green scattered woods of the peninsula and the dull, flat open sea. ‘Well, well! – there come the Russians towards us in their boats. Will they indeed rescue their brothers in arms before they are taken prisoners?’
The aircraft went lower, towards Ansekull. The 131 [Regt] still stood there, however, not in battle. They waved to the aircraft above.
‘Could you take me to Arensburg and land?’ inquired the major, ‘there is still an airstation and I wish to report as soon as possible.’ In the course of two hours the entire island had been overflown.
The situation on the narrow neck of Sworbe Peninsula that had confused the German fliers was as follows: by the morning of 15 October the German negotiator, Oberleutnant der Reserve von Oppen, had not returned. In fact he had been detained by the Russians and held overnight in a field hospital, guarded by no less than six sentries, which, as the Russians explained, were as much for his own protection as to prevent escape. Nonetheless, the broader German terms and conditions had become common knowledge on the batteries and amongst the Russian troops of the 425th and 472nd Infantry Regiments. After initial resistance, the knowledge of the terms served to undermine the Russian morale. The soldiers’ council, although not considering capitulation at first, had since come to agreement on just that, on the basis that Sworbe could no longer be held. About 0600hrs Oberleunant der Reserve von Oppen departed the Russian regimental headquarters, taking with him the Russian request for a cease fire and their terms for surrender. The Russian officers had wished to continue the fight, but the soldiers’ council had carried the argument.