Even if the walls of the fortress fall, behind themthere will certainly be people, and the future of the city, country and humanity will depend on them. The Second World War, like a hurricane, swept over Europe. Literally in a matter of months, Hitler subjugated a significant number of countries, but then he crossed the borders of the Soviet Union and learned what a real battle is. Where others surrendered, the Soviet soldiers did not even think about escaping. They fought for every meter of their native land, the cities were blockaded for months, but did not raise white flags. This put a lot of pressure on the invaders. After victory in the Great Patriotic War, the government of the country decided to award the title "Hero City" of the place, whose residents showed themselves well by fighting with the military. The heroic cities of the USSR are a powerful bastion defending their country.
About regulatory acts
In May of 1945, a decree was issued on conferring the status of a “Hero City” on the ground, which distinguished itself in the battle with the fascist invaders. According to this order, the first hero cities of the USSR were:
- Stalingrad;
- Odessa;
- Sevastopol;
- Leningrad.
In 1961, this title was assigned to Kiev.1965 The Presidency assured the status of the “Hero City” status. Almost immediately issued 7 orders. According to regulatory documents, all the city-heroes of the USSR received the Gold Star medal. In addition to this medal, Odessa, Stalingrad and Sevastopol were awarded an additional Order of Lenin. Also, according to the issued order, the immortal title of "Heroes" was awarded to Moscow and the Brest Fortress.
In 1980, the status of the "Hero City"a little corrected, now it is not a simple title, but the highest degree of recognition. As a memory of the heroism of the past, a series of badges with a local emblem were made in these cities. In the post-war years, traveling in places with the highest award, no one returned home without the “Hero City” badge of the USSR.
Hero Citys in alphabetical order
The status of “Hero City” is the most noble andhigh reward for numerous, social heroism. The war brought a lot of losses, but revealed such qualities as the valor and courage of each resident. One has only to recall the siege of Leningrad. For 900 long days the terrain was in the enemy's cordon, but no one was going to surrender. In total, the list of "Hero-Cities" of the USSR includes 12 places:
- Volgograd;
- Kerch;
- Kiev;
- Leningrad;
- Minsk;
- Moscow;
- Murmansk;
- Novorossiysk;
- Odessa;
- Sevastopol;
- Smolensk;
- Tula.
To this list, you can add on the Brest Fortress, which won the immortal title "Hero-Fortress". Each city is known for a great feat, which is not forgotten.
Leningrad
About this city-hero of the former USSR, for surewill be remembered for very long. Invaders intended to completely destroy the population. Brutal battle began on the way to the city 07/10/1941. The enemy had a numerical advantage, both in terms of weapons and in the number of soldiers. 09/08/1941 German troops began to control the Neva, and Leningrad was separated from the mainland.
The blockade of the city continued until January 1944.During these 900 days of occupation, more people died than the United States and Great Britain together lost in this war. 800 thousand people died from hunger. But every day, half a million residents worked on the construction of defensive obstacles. 35 km of barricades, more than 40 km of anti-tank structures, more than 4 thousand pillboxes. In addition, the Leningrad residents repaired and released weapons. Thus, 1.9 thousand tanks, 225.2 thousand automatic rifles, 10 million mines and blasting shells, 12.1 thousand mortars were transferred to the front-line zones. More than half a million people received military medals.
Stalingrad (Volgograd)
Hero-city of the USSR Stalingrad survived the mostlarge-scale confrontation of the Second World War, which went down in the history of military battles as the Battle of Stalingrad. 07/17/1942, the invaders stepped in the direction of present-day Volgograd with the intention of quickly winning the battle. But this battle lasted for 200 days, it involved both military and ordinary Soviet residents.
On August 23, 1942, the first attack oncity, and already 25.08 it was declared a state of emergency martial law. 50 thousand volunteers joined the Soviet army. Despite the constant shelling, local factories continued to operate, without slowing down, in order to supply the necessary military ammunition to the front. Close to the Germans came September 12. 2 months of fierce battles caused the enemy army significant damage. 11/19/1942 Leningraders launched a counterattack. 2.5 months later, the enemy was destroyed.
Odessa and Sevastopol
The forces of the Nazis in 5 times higher than the combat powerdefenders of Odessa, but the defense of the city still lasted for 73 days. During this period, soldiers of the Soviet army and volunteers from the people's militia were able to inflict significant damage to the invader army. However, the city still fell under the care of the Nazis.
Hero-Cities of the USSR in the Great Patriotic Warplayed their key roles, even if they were besieged, they were an example of endurance, strength and unshakable courage. The defensive tactics of Sevastopol are known in the pages of military history and in tactical exercises, as the standard of long and active defensive operations behind enemy lines. Protection of the seaside city lasted more than 8 months, starting from 10/30/1941. Only with the 4th attempt the Germans managed to capture it.
Brest Fortress
It was Brest that became the first city that facedface collided with the enemy army. On the morning of June 22, the Brest Fortress, where at that time there were about 7,000 Soviet soldiers, was under enemy fire. The fascist invaders planned to seize control of the fortress within a few hours, but were stuck for a whole month. The German army suffered significant losses, control over the fortress was taken a week later, but another month the Nazis suppressed individual centers of resistance. The time won by Brest allowed to mobilize the military forces of the Union and prepare to repel the attack.
Moscow and Kiev
Distinguished in the battle with the enemy and the capitaltwo great powers. The beginning of the war was marked by an air strike for Kiev. The city came under attack by the invaders in the first hours of the outbreak of the war, but two weeks later a committee was formed to protect the city. The 72-day defensive operation began. 33 thousand of Kievites joined the ranks of the Soviet troops. They were part of the fighter battalions and gave a decent battle to the enemy.
Вражеская атака была остановлена на первой линии urban fortification. It was not possible to capture Kiev from the march, but on July 30, 1941, another assault attempt was made. After 10 days, the enemies managed to break the defense in the south-west, but the defenders were able to counteract this. After 5 days, the invaders' forces retreated to their former positions. Kiev was no longer taken by direct assault. 17 fascist divisions long took part in the battles near Kiev. Therefore, the enemy was forced to withdraw the part of the offensive forces that were going to Moscow, and send them towards Kiev. Because of this, the Soviet troops retreated on September 19.
As for Moscow, the battle for it wasin two types of operations: defensive and offensive. The fascist command decided to go in the direction of Moscow. Her capture would have been a devastating blow to the allied army, so the main combat power was thrown at the capital. In turn, the Soviet army was not going to give up so easily. On December 5, the Germans were pushed aside from Moscow, and its defenders moved from the defense to the counterattack, this event was the culminating turn in the war.
Culmination
Due respect must be given to Kerch, Thule,Novorossiysk, Murmansk, Smolensk, who made a worthy contribution to the battle with the Nazis. The Soviet army fought to the last, and the locals fought with them. All human resources were involved in defense and offensive battles. Murmansk, Novorossiysk, Leningrad, Stalingrad - thanks to the titanic efforts, they were able to stop the advance of the enemy, and were not captured. The brutal siege in the Kerch quarries allowed to delay the advance of the Nazis, but the inhabitants suffered terrible losses. It was on the Kerch Peninsula that the Soviet Commission began to investigate the crimes of the fascists.
Twelve, that's how many hero cities were in the USSR. They were the indomitable spirit that remains after the walls of the fortress fall.
