History of Smolensk: the day of liberation of Smolensk

Almost every Russian city has its owna unique heroic story, but today we will stop at Smolensk - one of the oldest Russian cities, located about 400 km from Moscow in the south-west direction. Before approaching the theme "The Day of the Liberation of Smolensk from the German Fascist Invaders", let us recall briefly the history of the main and central city of Smolensk, which is very rich in various events.

City-fortress

The first mention of Smolensk is found inThe Ustiug chronicle, dating from 862-865. Since 882 the city was a part of the Kiev state, Prince Oleg captured and transferred it to the reign of Prince Igor. He appeared on the ancient historical trade route. Smolensk was a major place of trade and handicraft, which became for the Slavic tribe of Krivichi a center and a military fortress.

In the question of what day is the day of liberationSmolensk region from the Nazis, in order to better understand this picture, it is necessary to get a little acquainted with several of the main events for the city. Gradually, developing economically, in the 12th century it grew to the administrative and cultural center of the Smolensk Principality. The population of the city led a lively trade, regulated by the treaty of 1229, with the Baltic peoples and Riga. In the period from 1404 to 1514 the city was part of the Grand Lithuanian Principality.

Battles for the city

In 1410 the Smolensk regiments, together with Polish and Lithuanian military detachments, took part in the Battle of Grunwald.

In the years 1596-1602. Smolensk was surrounded by a stone wall-fortress, the construction of which was occupied by the architect from Smolensk Fedor Kon. This fortress was then called a stone necklace of the Russian land.

In the years of the Smolensk defense, which dates from 1609-1611, the city was captured by the Poles, in 1654 it was again won by the Russians.

Day of liberation of Smolensk from the French

In the history of Smolensk, it is very important to mention 1812the year was the time of the Patriotic War, when the battle of the united Russian armies of Bagration and Barclay de Tolly with the Napoleonic army took place under the city. The liberation of Smolensk from the French conquerors occurred on November 4, 1812. The city of Smolensk at this time was badly damaged.

In the nineteenth century it became the nodal city of fiverailway lines, and therefore economically the city rose very quickly. At the beginning of the XIX century there were about 20 industrial and economic enterprises in it. In 1929, Smolensk was the center of the western region.

September 25 - the day of liberation of Smolensk from German invaders

When the Nazi invaders attacked the USSR, in some couple of weeks, or rather, on July 10, they were at the walls of Smolensk.

On the territory of Smolensk with the first and terribleweeks of the war, the most bitter battle took place, which later had a historical name - the Smolensk defensive battle. It was two months that delayed the German invasion of Moscow, which helped the capital to prepare and meet the enemy fully armed. This fact led to the collapse of the monstrous Hitlerite plan.

In the Battle of Smolensk, Soviet troops destroyed250,000 officers and soldiers of the Wehrmacht. Soviet troops of the 16th, 19th and 20th armies in the hardest and fierce battles of Smolensk in the districts of Solovyovaya crossing, Dukhovshchina, under Yelnya and Yartsevo bravely struggled to withstand the onslaught of the most powerful German army group, Center.

The day of liberation of the Smolensk region was still very far away. July 16, 1941 Smolensk was occupied by the Nazis, July 29 - the Zapovednik part of the Smolensk region fell.

Occupation and guerrilla warfare

Soviet troops could not restrain the superiorstrength of the opponent and were forced to surrender the Smolensk region. Cities and villages were occupied by the Germans. However, in local villages against the enemy, there were 120 partisan formations and detachments.

Later about 10 thousand soldiers and officers, partisansand the underground workers of the Smolensk region were presented to awards, honorary orders and medals, 56 people were awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union, among them the commander of the partisan detachment Grishin S. V. and the partisans Petr Galetsky and Vladimir Kurylenko.

Victory

It is generally believed that September 25, 1943 - the dayliberation of the Smolensk region (a photo of those times conveys all the terrible paints of terrible destruction and sorrows that have overtaken our land). If you follow the historical facts in detail, the operation to liberate the Smolensk region was held from August to October 1943 and was code-named "Suvorov."

Despite the fact that the Soviet troops did not have powerful technical equipment and sufficient manpower, Smolensk was still completely liberated from the enemy.

Smolensk region before the war was a blooming edge, after the war the cities of Roslavl, Gzhatsk, Vyazma, Yartsevo turned into solid ruins.
In Smolensk itself, out of 8,000 dwelling houses, 7,300 were burnt. Fascists brutally tortured and shot 350 thousand civilians, only 135 thousand of them died in Smolensk itself.

To the troops of the Western Front and to the 70 formationshave appropriated the honorary names "Smolensk", "Yartsevsky", "Roslavl". On the day of the liberation of Smolensk in Moscow, a salute was given out of 244 guns by the 20th artillery.

Awards

Captain of the Soviet Army PF Klepach above the building of the hotel "Smolensk," which was one of the few standing survivors, raised the Red Flag. The entire city was practically destroyed, but after a complete victory to us by the German fascist troops, the city was rebuilt and rebuilt within ten years.

In 1966, the city of Smolensk received the Order of the Patriotic War I degree, the Order of Lenin in 1983 and the title of Hero City May 6, 1985.

To better experience this topic, withvisiting Smolensk should visit the unique and one of the best museums of the Second World War. Smolensk, like the whole land of Smolensk, is strewn with communal graves and obelisks. Here zealously store the memory of the dead, the people can not forget those who stood to death in the fight against the invader.