Location: Pukinmäki In Helsinki (FINLAND)

N60°14.91'

E024°58.83'

Base XII, Position 6, Picture 1- This was a very difficult place to find and after I had found the right place, to be sure that this is the position six from the XII base.

- Finding the actual hill is not hard, as it's located right next to a quite busy road, but finding the remains of Viapori from the hill, was a rather frustrating job. The inventory did provide some help, by stating that part of the position has disappeared and generally speaking, the whole position six, was mentioned with two lines.

- The length of the description is relative to how much you actually can find from this hill. Although the inventory states that the trenches have been build to the ground, without any notes of them being reinforced with concrete or with stones, I was able to find only a small piece of stone/concrete reinforced trench, which is overgrown with vegetation.

- Additionally the left side picture shows you a depression in the rock, which could have been a observation position or a firing position. That is hard to estimate anymore, as the depression has been filled nearly completely with soil, but at least the trench line starts from here and continues along the edges of the steep hill. The position shown in the picture, is facing towards West and the trench line continued on the hill, facing towards North. So at least those directions are correct.

- As can be seen from the picture, the view from this hill has been great and still is, despite the trees and changed landscape. The Vantaanjoki (River of Vantaa) is within few hundreds of meters towards West and the river also marks the end of the I Eastern Defensive Zone. So the Base XII and position six along with rest of the positions, are the last ones in the I Eastern Defensive Zone. On the other side of the Vantaanjoki, comes the positions from the Base XV and from XXI.

 

- The trench line is completely overrun with vegetation. Visiting the place during Autumn probably would not result any more interesting picture, as the pieces which have survived from this position, are really modest.

 

Base XII, Position 6, Picture 2

 

I Eastern Defensive Zone (1915 - 1918)

Krepost Sveaborg (Viapori)

©kimmo.nummela@kolumbus.fi