Nevertheless, in the absence of news from the negotiator the regimental commander of the German 131 Regt, Oberstleutnant Fischer, had decided to continue the attack. He ordered the bombardment of the Russian fortifications near Ansekull, from which the Russians now retreated. Resistance on the west coast was also suppressed. At 1330hrs, after twenty-eight hours, the negotiator returned and said that the Russians were willing to surrender, but desired an armistice to allow time to discuss terms and conditions. Oberstleutnant Fischer, through his regimental Adjutant Oberleutnant Dormagen and Oberleutnant der Reserve Oppen, refused the armistice but said, nevertheless, that he could offer honorable conditions.
A meeting occurred about 1630hrs in a village 5 kilometres south of Ansekull. It was strongly put that no armistice existed. The Russians requested that their capitulation be delayed until the following day (16 October) at 0800hrs. Towards 1800hrs the two dispatched officers returned with the news that the Russians were ready to capitulate. Nevertheless, the negotiations had consumed a great amount of time, over thirty-two hours, and this had allowed the Russians on Sworbe great freedom of action, including allowing many of the garrison to escape. In addition, the unclear situation had delayed the minesweeping in the Irben Straits, and thus the advance towards the southern Moon Sound, the next serious Russian obstacle.
Towards 2000hrs, the III Battalion, 131 Regt, reported that they had taken 28 officers and 1,200 men captive, together with 40 machine guns. During the night, at about 0200hrs, a Russian negotiator finally arrived and confirmed the conditions for the capitulation. In the meantime the commanding general of the Landing Corps, Generale der Infanterie von Kathen, together with Prince Joachim von Preussen, arrived at the headquarters of 131 Regt, to be personally briefed about the situation. General von Kathen then announced: ‘I bring good news: still tonight a heavy battery will arrive here, and we have intercepted a Russian wireless message that states, “situation desperate, send ships!” Therefore the drama here is almost concluded! Preferably the battery at Zerel will be taken undamaged, and the ships can quickly go through.’
On 15 October the battle at Orrisar and Thomel was reaching a climax. During the night the heavy battery at Woi kept up a sporadic fire on the Germans and the Russian Death Battalion launched three unsuccessful attacks across the stone dam. The night passed quickly for the II, IV and V Cyclist Battalion.
The Germans were disposed with the II Cyclist Battalion on the western flank, the IV Cyclist Battalion in the centre and the V Cyclist Battalion on the eastern flank. This line occupied the entire front from the Kleinen Sound in the east to the Tagaffer Swamp. A reserve was formed in the west by 138 Regt, whilst 17 Regt formed a reserve in the east. The stormtroops of Sturmkompanie 18 held the base of the stone dam. The Russian regiments were arranged against this German line, but to the south of the Russians was the German 255R Regt. However, the situation during the morning of 15 October was still uncertain, and the regiments to the north were uncertain about the position of 255R Regt.
During the morning the Russians twice attacked the German line at Lewwal, but they were forced back under the fire of the II Cyclist Battalion. Then the V Cyclist Battalion was attacked by 200 Russian cavalry, supported by machine guns and artillery. This attack also failed under the fire of the cyclists.
With dawn the commander of 42nd Division, Generalleutnant von Estorff, arrived on the battlefield in a GAZ car. He feared that substantial Russian forces would be able to escape across the water to Moon or the mainland and therefore he ordered a general attack for 1100hrs.
At the appointed time, 138 Regt attacked on the right flank, advancing to the west of Kazust and Lewwal and then swinging to the east behind Peude across the main road to Arensburg. The II and IV Cyclists also attacked, supported by the 4th Battery. There was a lively firefight to the south of Thomel. After a short battle Kazust was taken, and then at about 1500hrs Lewwal was captured by the Germans. Apparently the accurate fire of the German battery seriously demoralized the Russian infantry. The right flank was broken and the 138 Regt turned east and continued to advance to Artle. On the eastern flank, the V Cyclist Battalion also attacked towards midday and advanced through Maikiul and Artle toward Velta, whilst 17 Regt advanced from Turna through Mezarro and Ulla. They met no resistance. Sturmkompanie 18 secured the base of the stone dam, preventing reinforcements from coming from Moon Island.
To the south, at around 1100hrs, the 255th Reserve Infantry Regiment also mounted an attack but had to halt near Hoppi because their shortage of ammunition would not allow them to participate in a lively exchange. However, towards midday the sound of artillery fire was heard in a northerly direction and Oberst Berring, commander of 255R Regt, took it to mean that 42nd Division approached. He therefore ordered an attack along both sides of the road to Peude. At this moment 2nd Battery arrived from Arensburg to support the attack.
Soon afterwards, the Russian fire was observed to weaken and confused shouting could be heard. At 1430hrs, 255R Regt launched an all-out attack and as the Russians recognized the advancing 65th Infantry Brigade they began to show the white flag. Towards 1500hrs the commander of the Russian 107th Division, General Ivanov, with two brigade commanders, sixty officers, the 426th and 472nd Infantry Regiments, and several field batteries all capitulated. Over 5,000 men, fourteen field guns and many machine guns and mortars were surrendered. There were many casualties, and in one position alone there were 100 Russian cadavers, whilst in one village lay 400 wounded. Only a few hundred Russians had escaped in boats across to Moon during the morning of 15 October. By evening that day the greater part of Ösel was in German hands and the majority of the Russians had been made prisoner.
CHAPTER SIX
16 October: The Russians Falter
Early on the morning of the following day, 16 October, the attack on Dägo began again. At about 0800hrs SMS Kaiser began an hour-long bombardment of the bridgehead area, so that towards 0900hrs Landing Corps Ahlefeld could begin disembarking, according to plan. The steamer Coburg moved close inshore near Toffri to act as a breakwater to facilitate an easier landing. The German patrols pushed forward and between 1300hrs and 1400hrs skirmished with the Russians. The Germans did not know it but the only Russians in the immediate area were a few officers and thirty soldiers and sailors. Shortly before 1500hrs the landing corps re-embarked and thereon Emden moved inshore to undertake the planned bombardment.
The command of the Special Unit advised that a cyclist battalion would be embarked to support Landing Corps Ahlefeld on 17 October, whilst the remaining troops would be ready for the assault on Dägo on 18 October. A jetty, being constructed at Murrika, would be completed by the 18th and would assist in embarking the troops. Fregattenkapitän von Schlick completed the necessary arrangements for the transport of troops and stores.
In Mento on the morning of 16 October the situation at Zerel and condition of the batteries was completely unknown. At a meeting between the officers present Michman Larosh suggested that he, with Leitenant Bartinev and some others, should return to Battery No 43 and if there were no Germans present, they would destroy it. Leitenant Bartinev put this to Captain 1st Rank Knüpfer, who agreed, and the group set off. Leitenant Bartinev wrote: ‘We went through Lebara and Mandu. The peasants we met on the road told us that the Germans were in Torkino and Gengi, and apparently were not present at Zerel’.