Battle of Auvere

Part of World War II, Battle of Narva (1944)

Date	July 20–25, 1944
Location	Auvere, Estonia Coordinates: 59°21′02″N 27°55′50″E / 59.35056°N 27.93056°E / 59.35056; 27.93056
Result	German defensive victory

Belligerents

Germany

Estonian conscripts

Soviet Union

Commanders and leaders

Felix Steiner

Filip Starikov

Strength

17,100 personnel
4–6 batteries
49 dive bombers

46,385 personnel
30–50 batteries
546 bombers

Casualties and losses

200 dead
600 wounded

3000 all causes
17 fighters
29 tanks

Germany

Battle of Auvere was a battle in Estonia, starting on July 20, 1944 and ending on July 25. It was a part of the World War II campaign in Narva.

The Soviet 8th Army started attacking the Auvere Station on July 20 with artillery fire. The defenders had some losses. The Estonians and Germans (of the 11th (East Prussian) Infantry Division) had built trenches and dug themselves into foxholes. In the morning of July 24, the Soviet assault commenced with 30-50 batteries firing 17,000 shells and grenades (2,000 tons), inflicting significant casualties to the Estonian 45th Regiment in Auvere and the 44th Infantry Regiment in the borough of Sirgala.

After two hours of preparatory artillery fire, the two regiments were attacked from the air. Three German and eight Soviet bombers were shot down in air combat. Under artillery cover, the Soviet 122nd Rifle Corps and a tank brigade pierced to the German positions, while the 117th Rifle Corps encircled the Estonian regiment, which reformed themselves in circular defence.

Relieved by Paul Albert Kausch's Kampfgruppe (the "Nordland" Tank Battalion with additional units) and three rocket artillery launchers, the Estonians went on for a counterattack. The 44th Regiment was saved by the swift movement of artillery behind them clearing their previous positions of Soviet troops. The 117th Rifle Corps reached the headquarters of the Estonian I Battalion, who resisted by heavy machine-gun fire in circular defence. The support by the anti-tank weapons of the 14th Company and Kausch's Kampfgruppe helped to seize the main frontline back to the control of the "Narwa".

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