During the Soviet Moonsund Landing Operation, the 23rd Infantry Division was backed by miscellaneous Kriegsmarine and army artillery troops. Its forces were considerably by the transfer of 12th Luftwaffe Division and 218th Infantry division. The 218th division started to land on the Island of Saaremaa (Ösel) on 30 September 1944 and marched north. The Soviets forces were not far behind and landed on the northern shores 5 days later. After some sharp clashes General Schörner, commander of Army Group Courland, ordered a withdrawal to the more defensible Sõrve Peninsula (Sworbe Peninsula.)