Erna ( German: Unternehmung Erna , Est. Erna luuregrupp ) is an Abwehr intelligence and sabotage group composed of Estonian emigrants in Finland in early 1941. The group was made up of Estonian citizens, dissatisfied with its entry into the USSR, and immigrated to Finland in 1939-40.
The profile of the group is reconnaissance and sabotage activities in the rear of the Red Army, based on part of the local Estonian population, hostile to the USSR, which has grown quantitatively after the deportation of the NKVD on June 14, 1941.
Content
Formation
In March 1941, the former Estonian military attaché in Finland, Major A. Christian, who lived after Estonia became part of the USSR in Finland, arranged for 18 Estonian emigrants to attend radio telegraph courses at a Finnish intelligence school in Rovaniemi . At the beginning of 1941, 15 emigrant volunteers from Estonia received training from German Abwehr officers.
As of June 24, 1941, there were 67 fighters in Erna, including 4 officers. The group was led by a former Estonian military attaché in France, Colonel Henn-Ants Kurg. Armament, uniforms and equipment were Finnish. On this day, Erna was sworn in Finland, which did not affect her status as a special unit of German military intelligence - Abwehr.
Landing on the territory of the Estonian SSR
On the night of July 10, 1941, the first 38 Erna fighters landed on the northern shore of the Estonian SSR near the village of Muuksi . They were dressed in Finnish military uniforms, but with the insignia of the German Army Group North . Other landings were carried out 07/23/1941 and 07/29/1941
Erna's base was created deep in the Kautla swamp.
Group Tasks
The task of all subgroups included tactical reconnaissance in the rear of the Red Army and informing the German Army Group "North", the destruction of Soviet soldiers and officers, damage to communication lines of the Red Army, etc.
Fighting
Erna took part in battles against the Red Army and fighter battalions in various places of the Estonian SSR. On her account there are many killed Red Army men and civilian personnel of the Soviet administration and activists.
Relations in Estonia since 1992
In Estonia, Erna’s activities are considered highly humane and heroic, directed exclusively against the “Soviet occupation” and the NKVD punitive forces. Erna's participation in the executions of communists, Soviet activists, organizing raids on the services of the Soviet civil administration and the retreating columns of the rear services of the Red Army is denied.
Links
- History of Erna www.erna.ee
- Julia Kantor. Erna Group: facts and propaganda histudies.ru