Battle of Hanko (1941)

The Battle of Hanko (also known as the Hanko front or the siege of Hanko) was a lengthy series of small battles fought on Hanko Peninsula during the Continuation War between Finland and the Soviet Union in the second half of 1941. As both sides were eager to avoid a major, costly ground battle, fighting took the form of trench warfare, with artillery exchanges, sniping, patrol clashes, and small amphibious operations performed in the surrounding archipelago. A volunteer Swedish battalion served with Finnish forces in the siege. The last Soviet troops left the peninsula in December 1941.

Battle of Hanko
Part of the Continuation War and Eastern Front

Map showing the borders of the leased area
Date22 June – 2 December 1941
Location
Hanko Peninsula, Finland
59°49′25″N 22°58′05″E
Result

Finnish victory

  • Soviet troops evacuated by sea
  • Finland retakes Hanko
Belligerents
 Finland  Soviet Union
Strength
22,000 (July 1941)
12,500 (Autumn 1941)		 25,300-30,000
Casualties and losses
297 killed
604 wounded
78 missing
Total:
961

797 killed

1,476 wounded

Estimated 3,000-5,000 killed during the evacuation from Hanko
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