History of Smolensk: the day of liberation of Smolensk

Almost every Russian city has its own unique heroic history, 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 in the 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 trade and handicraft center, which became the center and military fortress for the Slavic tribe of Krivichi.

In the question of what day the day of the liberation of Smolensk 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 the year 1812 - 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 XIX century it became the nodal city of five railway directions, 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 the German invaders

When the German fascist invaders attacked the USSR, in some couple of weeks, to be more exact, on July 10, they were at the walls of Smolensk.

On the territory of Smolensk from the first and terrible weeks of the war, the fiercest battle took place, which later had a historical name - the Smolensk defensive battle. It was for two months that it 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 Smolensk battle, Soviet troops destroyed 250,000 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, the "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 contain the superior forces of the rival 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, partisans and underground fighters from 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 day of liberation of Smolensk (photos of those times convey all the terrible colors of terrible destruction and sorrows that have befallen 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, of whom only 135 thousand died in Smolensk itself.

Parts of the forces of the Western Front and 70 formations were given the honorary names Smolensk, Yartsevsky, and Roslavlsky. 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 over the building of the hotel "Smolensk", which one of the few stood still, raised the Red Flag. The whole city was almost destroyed, but after a complete victory to us by the fascist German troops, the city was rebuilt and rebuilt for ten years.

In 1966 the city of Smolensk received the Order of the Patriotic War of the 1st degree, the Order of Lenin in 1983 and the title of Hero City on May 6, 1985.

To better experience this topic, when visiting Smolensk, you 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.