The title "Hero City" was awarded in the USSR to cities whose residents showed massive courage and heroism during the Great Patriotic War. From 1965 to 1985, this title was awarded to 12 cities. Seven of them are located in Russia, one in Belarus, and four in Ukraine.
Instructions
Step 1
The title "Hero City" was approved on May 8, 1961, and on the same day it was awarded to Moscow, Kiev, Leningrad, Odessa, Stalingrad and Sevastopol. True, for the first time, Leningrad, Stalingrad, Odessa and Sevastopol were named hero cities as early as May 1, 1945. In subsequent years, this title was given to Novorossiysk, Kerch, Minsk, Tula, Smolensk and Murmansk. The hero cities were awarded the Gold Star medal and the Order of Lenin, and memorial obelisks were erected there. In Moscow, in the Alexander Garden, there are granite monuments on which the names of these cities are carved.
Step 2
The Battle of Stalingrad is the largest battle of the Second World War. Despite all efforts, Hitler's troops were never able to capture the city completely. About 250 thousand residents of the city worked in it during the battles, building fortifications, airfields, bridges, during the battle, literally next to the front line, factories continued to work, producing tanks and weapons for the Soviet Army. During the battle, 85% of city buildings were destroyed.
Step 3
In the fall of 1941, Germany carried out two major operations aimed at capturing Moscow. But the heroic defense of the city, in which not only the soldiers of the Red Army participated, but also the inhabitants of the city, ultimately led to the defeat of the Nazi troops.
Step 4
The Germans also failed to capture Leningrad, whose inhabitants spent 872 terrible days under siege. More than half a million people took part in the creation of the fortifications; an army of the people's militia was formed in the city.
Step 5
The defense of Sevastopol lasted 250 days, during which time the Germans attacked the city several dozen times. The city was abandoned only after the defensive resources were completely finished. During the occupation, underground activities did not stop in the city.
Step 6
The heroic defense of Odessa lasted 73 days. The civilian population of the city took part in the creation of anti-tank obstacles; the inhabitants dug more than 250 kilometers of ditches. During the defense of the city, workers did not stop making weapons in factories.
Step 7
Smolensk was one of the cities on the Moscow direction of the German offensive. The city, which the Germans were going to capture on the move, defended itself for two weeks, which significantly changed the plans of the fascist troops and made it possible to strengthen the Soviet defense in the Moscow direction.
Step 8
Novorossiysk also bravely defended itself in 1942, but was captured. This city was glorified by the heroic landing operation of the 43rd year, as a result of which it was completely liberated.
Step 9
The defense of Kiev lasted 72 days. During the first two weeks of the war, residents of the city created powerful defensive structures - more than 50 kilometers of anti-tank ditches, 1400 bunkers. The persistent defense of Kiev forced the Germans to transfer part of the troops from the Moscow direction to the Kiev one.
Step 10
Kerch was almost completely destroyed during the war. In 1943, one of the largest amphibious operations of the Second World War was carried out in the area of this city, in which more than 130 thousand people participated. Kerch is also glorified by the courageous defenders of Adzhimushkaya, who fought in the quarries for more than five months.
Step 11
Until 1944, the Germans tried to seize Murmansk, which was very important, since allied goods were supplied to the USSR through it. It was not possible to capture the city, so it was subjected to massive bombing, which can only be compared with the bombing of Stalingrad. As a result, only a few pre-war buildings remained in the city.
Step 12
Minsk was captured by German troops on June 28, 1941. A terrible occupation regime was established in the city, during which 400 thousand civilians were killed. But the Soviet people did not give up and constantly arranged successful sabotage.
Step 13
Tula was a very important defensive center on the southern approaches to Moscow, its defense lasted a month and a half, while the Germans surrounded the city, completely cut it off from communications, communications with other Soviet troops and Moscow, despite this, the defenders of the city managed to defend it.
Step 14
In addition to 12 hero cities, there is also a hero fortress in Belarus - the Brest Fortress.
