[1] A joint German and Finnish naval task force had been assembled to cover the landings, which included the light cruisers Emden, Köln and Leipzig.

[3] During diversionary naval bombardments, on 13 September, the large Finnish coastal defence ship Ilmarinen sank when she struck a mine off Hanko.

On 14 September, the main assault commenced with a landing on Muhu, which is connected to the larger island of Saaremaa (German: Ösel) by a causeway.

The assault on the island of Hiiumaa (German: Dagö) commenced on 12 September; the defenders were forced back to the Takhuna Peninsula, where the survivors finally surrendered on 21 October 1941.

Due to local Axis naval and air superiority, none of the Soviet defenders were able to escape; their losses amounted to 4,700 killed and 19,000 captured.