| | Generalleutnant Kurt Pflieger |
 | | Generalleutnant Pflieger’s 416th Infantry Division and SS-Fallschirmjäger Battalion 500 commanded by SS-Hauptsturmführer Siegfried Milius were earmarked for Operation “Tanne West” (Fir West), the proposed German amphibious and airborne seizure of the Finnish Åland Islands. |
 | | On 3 September 1944, Hitler, however, cancelled “Tanne West” so as not to provoke Sweden into halting the supply of vital iron ore and ball bearings to Germany. |
 | | Although Hitler cancelled the plan to seize the Åland Islands, he ordered the capture of Suursaari, codenamed Operation “Tanne Ost” (Fir East), to commence on 15 September 1944. |
| www.bridgend-powcamp.fsnet.co.uk /Generalleutnant%20Kurt%20Pflieger.htm (1257 words) |