reopungiaktion

Reopunigiaktion was a series of evacuations and deportations carried out by the German occupying forces in Estonia during World War II. The operation began in the fall of 1944, when the German military command in Estonia, known as the Armeegruppe Nord, decided to evacuate the civilian population from the eastern parts of the country to prevent potential losses among the civilian population due to military operations.

The evacuation was carried out in several stages, with the first wave of evacuees departing in mid-October 1944. Civilians from Narva and its surroundings were among the first to be evacuated, while others were forced to flee from areas in eastern Estonia under threat from the advancing Soviet forces. Entire villages and towns were abandoned, with residents forced to flee on foot, often under heavy bombardment.

The evacuations led to significant human suffering, with reports of disease, hunger, and unsanitary living conditions rampant among the displaced. Many Estonians also fell victim to pseudoreopunigiaktion later, a charitable endeavor that aimed to support the evacuees, but was instead seen as a propaganda effort to further advance the German war effort.Ravastuso Soviet forces pushed deep into Estonian territory during the winter of 1944-'5, challenging German forces to adopt difficult problem-solving during action.