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TheSinimäed Hills (orBlue Hills;Estonian:Vaivara Sinimäed) are three linked hills in northeasternEstonia. The heights which are aligned west–east, consist of Tornimägi, Põrguaugu mägi (also known as Grenadierimägi) and Pargimägi (also known as Lastekodumägi). They lie inNarva-Jõesuu municipality near the coastal town ofSillamäe inIda-Viru County.
The hills are best known as the location of theBattle of Tannenberg Line, fought inWorld War II on July 26–August 12, 1944. There, theGermanWaffen-SS defeated aSoviet offensive.
The Sinimäed hills are gently sloping mounds rather than mountains. Nevertheless, the hills are a dominant landform in the area - the height of the surrounding limestone plateau is on average 30 m above sea level, while the hills are up to 50 m higher.[1] Pargimägi and Põrguaugu mägi are the two higher hills - 85 and 83 m, respectively, while Tornimägi is somewhat lower, 70 m. The ridge is about 3 km long.
The location of the hills on a 5 km wide strip between theFinnish Gulf and the woods and bogs ofAlutaguse is the origin of their strategic importance.[2] Tallinn-Narva highway (E20) passes the hills from the north andTallinn-Tapa-Narva railway from the south.
The hills have at their core huge blocks oflimestone, but their geological origin is not clear.[3] They are believed to be formed either by continental glacier (terminal moraine) or by claydiapirs, or by the combination of both factors.[3]
The western hill, Tornimägi, had an outpost during theGreat Northern War.
DuringWorld War I, Pargimägi with its defensive structures was part ofSaint Petersburg's preliminary defence line.
The Blue Mountains saw fighting in 1919 inEstonian War of Independence.
Extensive battles took place at the Sinimäed towards the end ofWorld War II. (seeBattle of Tannenberg Line). After defending the Narva bridgehead against theRed Army for six months, the Germanarmy detachment "Narwa" fell back to the Tannenberg Defensive Line on the hills. In two ferocious battles lasting for 25–31 July and 2–10 August 1944 with a break of a single day, the vastly outnumbered German army group held out under the pressure of the Estonian Operation of the SovietLeningrad Front.
In German, the eastern hill was known as Kinderheimhöhe, the central hill was Grenadierhöhe and the westernmost known as Liebhöhe. There is a memorial site to commemorate the fallen on the hill of Põrgumägi.
59°22′30″N27°52′00″E / 59.37500°N 27.86667°E /59.37500; 27.86667