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Battlefield 1’s in the Name of the Tsar DLC includes several new maps, including some set during the Brusilov Offensive, the battles for the Lupkow Pass, and the amphibious invasion “Operation Albion.â€
The latter battle may seem obscure, but Operation Albion actually played a significant role in the demise of the Russian Empire and the strengthening of German forces on the Western Front. For this video, I’ll examine some of the invasion’s historical details.
Operation Albion was a German effort to seize the Estonian Islands of Oesel, Dagoe, and Mohn (German spellings) near the Gulf of Riga in October 1917. Germany pulled off the invasion in two weeks, threatening then Russian capital and vital port of Petrograd. This military incursion proved a major impetus for the second Russian Revolution the following month. Russia had no choice but to sue for peace, and was effectively out of the war by December.
The German invasion included almost 25-thousand soldiers and nearly a dozen dreadnoughts. Russia fielded almost the same number of soldiers, but was completely outclassed at sea.
Key to defensive operations were the shore batteries at the Sworbe peninsula, which included the four 305mm guns of the Zerel Battery. The guns could launch a one-thousand pound projectile some 33 kilometers.
These guns appear in concept art for Battlefield 1’s In the Name of the Tsar DLC, and were originally developed as armament for battleships. The seas surrounding the Estonian archapelago were also heavily mined.
Nevertheless, Germany began the invasion in earnest on October 12th, landing on the northern coast of Oesel at Tagga Bay and Pamerort, later invading Dagoe and Mohn. Poor weather hampered visibility. German troops advanced quickly, with sturmtruppen leading the assault. German Naval support was well-positioned to support attacking infantry.
Based on the concept art for Battlefield 1’s In the Name of the Tsar DLC, the Zerel Battery will be featured in-game. This might take some creative liberties, since the battery was captured by land and not by sea. Still, it looks like it will make for an amazing map.
