What does the city of military glory mean? You should know the hero cities of Russia. What is hidden under such a rather honorable title?

Read also: Khabarovsk was awarded the honorary title “City of Military Glory” Title “Hero City”

The title was established by decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR on May 8, 1965 and was timed to coincide with the 20th anniversary of the victory over Nazi Germany and its allies.

The honorary title of hero city was awarded in the USSR to cities whose residents showed “mass heroism and courage in defending the Motherland in the Great Patriotic War of 1941 - 1945.”

Hero cities were awarded the Order of Lenin, the Gold Star medal and a diploma from the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR. Commemorative obelisks were erected in cities, and their banners had to display an order and medal.

There are thirteen hero cities in total on the territory of the former USSR. Of these, four are located in Ukraine - Kyiv, Odessa, Sevastopol, Kerch. Two are in Belarus (Minsk and Brest).

There are seven hero cities in Russia - Moscow, St. Petersburg (Leningrad), Volgograd (Stalingrad), Novorossiysk, Tula, Murmansk, Smolensk.

The title of hero city was brought to the capital of the country by the famous battle for Moscow. The fighting near Moscow lasted from September 30, 1941 to April 20, 1942. German troops came close to Moscow, but the resistance of the Soviet troops exhausted them, which allowed the Red Army to launch a counteroffensive and push the enemy away from the capital of the state.

Leningrad received the title of hero city for the courage shown by its defenders during the siege. The siege of Leningrad began on September 8, 1941. On January 18, 1943, the blockade ring was broken, and on January 27, 1944, Soviet troops finally liberated the city. Despite severe famine, harsh winters and constant shelling, the city's residents held out for about 900 days and did not surrender.

Stalingrad was awarded the title of hero city for the heroism of the participants in the Battle of Stalingrad, which lasted from July 17, 1942 to February 2, 1943. During the battle, German troops tried to capture the city, but as a result of the counter-offensive of the Red Army they were surrounded and defeated. The Battle of Stalingrad became a turning point in the Great Patriotic War; the Wehrmacht troops never got further than Stalingrad.

In the early years of the war, during the Battle of the Caucasus, German troops almost completely captured Novorossiysk, but were stopped by the Red Army, suffered heavy losses and went on the defensive until Soviet troops managed to liberate the city in 1943.

Tula became a hero city thanks to the courage of the soldiers who defended the city from October 24 to December 5, 1941. The city was under siege and was practically surrounded, but did not surrender to the Germans, despite shelling and tank attacks. Thanks to the retention of Tula, the Red Army did not allow the Wehrmacht troops to break through to Moscow from the south.

During the Second World War, the port city of Murmansk was of strategic importance for the USSR - Lend-Lease supplies from allied countries passed through it. Hitler understood this, and therefore made two attempts to capture the city, but both of them failed. But German aircraft continued to bomb the city for several years, due to which most of the buildings were destroyed. The threat to Murmansk was lifted only in 1944.

Smolensk was one of the last to be awarded the title of Hero City, but it was one of the first to come under attack during the Second World War. The Battle of Smolensk began on July 10, 1941 and ended on September 10. Although the Soviet troops failed to defeat the Germans, their advance into the interior of the country slowed down, which resulted in the breakdown of the Wehrmacht's "blitzkrieg" strategy.

The title “City of Military Glory” is awarded today; it did not exist in the USSR. The federal law “On the honorary title of the Russian Federation “City of Military Glory” was signed by Vladimir Putin in 2006.

According to this law, the title of city of military glory is awarded to cities “on the territory of which or in the immediate vicinity of which, during fierce battles, the defenders of the Fatherland showed courage, fortitude and mass heroism.”

In the city that received this title, a special stele is installed. On February 23, May 9 and City Day, festive events and fireworks are held. In addition, local government bodies of the city “may be vested with the rights and responsibilities to preserve the military-historical heritage and develop measures aimed at the patriotic education of citizens.”

The title of city of military glory can be awarded to a hero city, this does not contradict the law.

Today in Russia there are 40 cities of military glory. These are Belgorod, Kursk, Orel, Vladikavkaz, Malgobek, Rzhev, Yelnya, Yelets, Voronezh, Meadows, Polyarny, Rostov-on-Don, Tuapse, Velikiye Luki, Veliky Novgorod, Dmitrov, Vyazma, Kronstadt, Naro-Fominsk, Pskov, Kozelsk , Arkhangelsk, Volokolamsk, Bryansk, Nalchik, Vyborg, Kalach-on-Don, Vladivostok, Tikhvin, Tver, Anapa, Kolpino, Stary Oskol, Kovrov, Lomonosov, Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, Taganrog, Maroyaroslavets, Mozhaisk. This title was last awarded to Khabarovsk on November 3, 2012.

Although the law does not directly state that the title is awarded to cities specifically for the heroism of their defenders during the Second World War, most cities of military glory experienced fierce battles in 1941-1945. Residents of some cities that German troops did not reach fought on the war fronts and worked in the rear.

On May 8, 2010, a stela in honor of the cities of military glory was unveiled in the Alexander Garden in Moscow. The stela is located next to the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and the pillars of the hero cities and is part of the National Memorial of Military Glory.

So, as of 2017, in the Alexander Garden, near the walls of the Kremlin, there are steles of 12 Hero Cities and 1 Hero Fortress, as well as 45 Cities of Military Glory.

As a state award, the title of “hero city” was established on May 8, 1965 by decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR. This event was timed to coincide with the 20th anniversary of the victory over Nazi Germany and its allies.

However, the first hero cities in the Soviet Union appeared earlier. On May 1, 1945, this title was awarded to Leningrad (St. Petersburg), Stalingrad (Volgograd), Sevastopol and Odessa.

Why is the title “hero city” awarded?

The honorary title of hero city was awarded in the USSR to cities whose residents showed “mass heroism and courage in defending the Motherland in the Great Patriotic War of 1941–1945.”

For which the cities of the USSR / Russia received the title “hero city”, as well as a list of hero cities of the USSR and Russia.

Moscow

The title of “hero city” was brought to the capital by the Battle of Moscow in 1941–1942. It consisted of three stages:

defensive operation (from September 30 to December 5, 1941);
offensive operation (from December 6, 1941 to January 7, 1942);
Rzhev-Vyazemsk offensive operation (from January 8 to April 20, 1942).

The offensive in the Moscow direction was of decisive importance. For a crushing blow to the Soviet troops, the fascist command concentrated 77 divisions (more than 1 million people), almost 14.5 thousand guns and mortars and 1,700 tanks. The ground forces were supported from the air by 950 combat aircraft.

In these harsh days, the efforts of the entire country were aimed at solving one task - to defend Moscow. On December 4–5, the Soviet Army drove the Nazis back from Moscow and launched a counteroffensive, which developed into a general offensive of the Red Army along the entire Soviet-German front. This was the beginning of a radical turn in the course of the Great Patriotic War.

Died in the Battle of Moscow from September 30, 1941 to April 20, 1942, more than 2,400,000 Soviet citizens.

Leningrad

The Nazis wanted to completely destroy Leningrad, wipe it off the face of the earth and exterminate its population.

Fierce fighting on the outskirts of Leningrad began on July 10, 1941. Numerical superiority was on the enemy’s side: almost 2.5 times more soldiers, 10 times more aircraft, 1.2 times more tanks, and almost 6 times more mortars. As a result, on September 8, 1941, the Nazis managed to capture Shlisselburg and thus take control of the source of the Neva. As a result, Leningrad was blocked from land (cut off from the mainland).

From that moment on, the infamous 900-day blockade of the city began, which lasted until January 1944. The number of its victims exceeds the losses of the United States and Great Britain combined during the entire Second World War.

The data were first made public at the Nuremberg trials, and in 1952 they were published in the USSR. Employees of the Leningrad branch of the Institute of USSR History of the USSR Academy of Sciences came to the conclusion that at least 800 thousand people died of hunger in Leningrad during the fascist blockade.

During the blockade The daily norm of bread for workers was only 250 g, for employees, dependents and children - half as much. At the end of December 1941, the bread ration became almost twice as heavy - by this time a significant part of the population had died.

More than 500 thousand Leningraders went to work on the construction of defensive structures; they built 35 km of barricades and anti-tank obstacles, as well as more than 4,000 bunkers and pillboxes; 22,000 firing points are equipped. At the cost of their own health and lives, the courageous Leningrad heroes gave the front thousands of field and naval guns, repaired and launched 2,000 tanks, produced 10 million shells and mines, 225,000 machine guns and 12,000 mortars.

On December 22, 1942, the medal “For the Defense of Leningrad” was established, which was awarded to about 1,500,000 defenders of the city. On May 8, 1965, Leningrad was awarded the title of Hero City.

Volgograd (Stalingrad)

In the summer of 1942, fascist German troops launched a massive offensive on the southern front, trying to capture the Caucasus, the Don region, the lower Volga and Kuban - the richest and most fertile lands of our country. First of all, the city of Stalingrad came under attack.

On July 17, 1942, one of the greatest and largest battles in the history of World War II began - the Battle of Stalingrad. Despite the Nazis' desire to capture the city as quickly as possible, it continued for 200 long, bloody days and nights, thanks to the incredible efforts of the heroes of the army, navy and ordinary residents of the region.

The first attack on the city took place on August 23, 1942. Then, just north of Stalingrad, the Germans almost approached the Volga. Policemen, sailors of the Volga Fleet, NKVD troops, cadets and other volunteer heroes were sent to defend the city. That same night, the Germans launched their first air raid on the city, and on August 25, a state of siege was introduced in Stalingrad. At that time, about 50 thousand volunteers - heroes from among ordinary citizens - signed up for the people's militia. Despite the almost continuous shelling, the Stalingrad factories continued to operate and produce tanks, Katyushas, cannons, mortars and a huge number of shells.

On September 12, 1942, the enemy came close to the city. Two months of fierce defensive battles for Stalingrad caused significant damage to the Germans: the enemy lost about 700 thousand people killed and wounded, and on November 19, 1942, the counter-offensive of our army began.

The offensive operation continued for 75 days and, finally, the enemy at Stalingrad was surrounded and completely defeated. January 1943 brought complete victory on this section of the front. The fascist invaders were surrounded, and their commander, General Paulus, and his entire army surrendered. (By the way, Paulus only agreed to hand over his personal weapons.)

During the entire Battle of Stalingrad, the German army lost more than 1,500,000 people.

During the 143-day battles, Nazi aviation dropped about 1 million bombs weighing 100 thousand tons on Stalingrad (5 times more than on London during the entire war). In total, Nazi troops rained down more than 3 million bombs, mines and artillery shells on the city. About 42 thousand buildings (85% of the housing stock), all cultural and everyday institutions, industrial buildings were destroyed. enterprises, municipal facilities.

Stalingrad was one of the first to be called a hero city. This honorary title was first announced in the order of the commander-in-chief dated May 1, 1945. And the medal “For the Defense of Stalingrad” became a symbol of the courage of the city’s defenders.

Novorossiysk

After Soviet troops thwarted the German plan to carry out aggressive operations in the Caucasus direction, Hitler’s command launched an attack on Novorossiysk. Its capture was associated with a gradual advance along the southern coast of the Black Sea and the capture of Batumi.

The battle for Novorossiysk lasted 225 days and ended with the complete liberation of the hero city on September 16, 1943.

September 14, 1973 In honor of the 30th victory over the Nazis, during the defense of the North Caucasus, Novorossiysk received the title of Hero City.

Tula

Tula became a hero city thanks to the courage of the soldiers who defended the city from October 24 to December 5, 1941. The city was under siege, but did not surrender to the Germans, despite shelling and tank attacks. Thanks to the retention of Tula, the Red Army did not allow the Wehrmacht troops to break through to Moscow from the south.

December 7, 1976 Tula received the title of Hero City and was awarded the Gold Star medal.

Murmansk

During World War II, the port city of Murmansk was of strategic importance for the USSR - supplies from allied countries passed through it.

The Germans made several attempts to capture the city, but without success.

Murmansk is one of those cities that became front-line from the very first days of the war. Following Stalingrad, Murmansk becomes a leader in sad statistics: the amount of explosives per square meter of the city's territory exceeded all conceivable limits: 792 air raids and 185 thousand bombs dropped - however, Murmansk survived and continued to operate as a port city.

Under regular air raids, ordinary citizens-heroes carried out the unloading and loading of ships, the construction of bomb shelters, and the production of military equipment. During all the war years, the Murmansk port received 250 ships and handled 2 million tons of various cargo.

The hero fishermen of Murmansk did not stand aside either - in three years they managed to catch 850 thousand centners of fish, supplying both city residents and soldiers of the Soviet army with food. The townspeople who worked at the shipyards repaired 645 combat ships and 544 ordinary transport ships. In addition, another 55 fishing vessels were converted into combat vessels in Murmansk.

In 1942, the main strategic actions developed not on land, but in the harsh waters of the northern seas. The main task of the Nazis was to isolate the coasts of the USSR from access to the sea. However, they failed: as a result of incredible efforts, the heroes of the Northern Fleet destroyed more than 200 warships and about 400 transport ships. And in the fall of 1944, the fleet expelled the enemy from these lands and the threat of capturing Murmansk passed.

In 1944, the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR established the medal “For the Defense of the Soviet Arctic.” The city of Murmansk received the title “Hero City” May 6, 1985. The most famous monument dedicated to the events of the Great Patriotic War in the hero city of Murmansk is the memorial “Defenders of the Soviet Arctic,” which is located in the Leningrad district of the city. It was opened in honor of the 30th anniversary of the defeat of the Nazi forces on October 19, 1974 and is dedicated to all the fallen heroes of those years. The monument is popularly known as “Alyosha”.

Smolensk

With the beginning of the Great Patriotic War, Smolensk found itself on the path of the main attack of the fascist troops towards Moscow. The city was first bombed on June 24, 1941, and 4 days later the Nazis launched a second air attack on Smolensk, as a result of which the central part of the city was completely destroyed.

On July 10, 1941, the famous Battle of Smolensk began, in which the Red Army tried to stop the advancing Germans with constant counterattacks. The “Battle of the Smolensk Bulge” lasted until September 10.

In this battle, the Red Army suffered heavy losses - more than 700 thousand people, but the delay near Smolensk did not allow the Germans to reach Moscow before the onset of the autumn thaw and the onset of cold weather, and ultimately to the failure of the entire Barbarossa plan.

Sevastopol

By the beginning of the Great Patriotic War, the city of Sevastopol was the largest port on the Black Sea and the main naval base of the country. His heroic defense against Nazi aggression began on October 30, 1941. and lasted 250 days, going down in history as an example of active, long-term defense of a coastal city deep behind enemy lines. The Germans managed to capture Sevastopol only on the fourth attempt.

If the defense of Sevastopol lasted 250 days, the liberation took only a week. The battles for the liberation of Sevastopol began on April 15, 1944, when Soviet soldiers reached the occupied city. Particularly fierce battles were fought in the area adjacent to Sapun Mountain. On May 9, 1944, soldiers of the 4th Ukrainian Front, together with sailors of the Black Sea Fleet, liberated Sevastopol. Sevastopol received the title of Hero City May 8, 1965

Odessa

Already in August 1941, Odessa was completely surrounded by Nazi troops. Its heroic defense lasted 73 days, during which the Soviet army and militia units defended the city from enemy invasion. From the mainland side, Odessa was defended by the Primorsky Army, from the sea - by ships of the Black Sea Fleet, with the support of artillery from the shore. To capture the city, the enemy threw forces five times larger than its defenders.

Thanks to the dedication of the Soviet troops and the heroes of the people's militia, more than 160,000 German soldiers were killed, 200 enemy aircraft and 100 tanks were destroyed.

But the city was still taken on October 16, 1941. A partisan war began. Odessa was liberated on April 10, 1944, and on May 1, 1945, in the order of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief, it was named the Hero City for the first time. Odessa was officially awarded the title City Hero May 8, 1965

Summing up the defense of Odessa, the newspaper Pravda wrote:

“The entire Soviet country, the whole world followed with admiration the courageous struggle of the defenders of Odessa. They left the city without tarnishing their honor, maintaining their combat effectiveness, ready for new battles with the fascist hordes. And no matter what front the defenders of Odessa fight on, everywhere they will serve as an example of valor, courage, and heroism.”

Brest Fortress

Central Museum of the Armed Forces. Part of the wall of one of the casemates in the northwestern part of the Brest Fortress. Caption: “I'm dying, but I'm not giving up. Goodbye, Motherland. 20/VII-41". Lev Polikashin/RIA Novosti

Of all the cities of the Soviet Union, it was Brest that had the fate of being the first to face the aggression of the Nazi invaders. In the early morning of June 22, 1941, the Brest Fortress was bombed by the enemy, in which at that time there were approximately 7 thousand Soviet soldiers and members of the families of their commanders.

The German command expected to capture the fortress within a few hours, but the 45th Wehrmacht division was stuck in Brest for a week and, with significant losses, suppressed individual pockets of resistance of the heroic defenders of Brest for another month. As a result, the Brest Fortress became a symbol of courage, heroic fortitude and valor during the Great Patriotic War.

The decree conferring the honorary title “Hero Fortress” on the Brest Fortress was signed on May 8, 1965.

Kyiv

Destroyed Independence Square in Kyiv in a photograph from 1942

German troops launched a surprise attack on the city of Kyiv from the air on June 22, 1941 - in the very first hours of the war, and on July 6 a committee for its defense had already been created. From that day on, the heroic struggle for the city began, which lasted for 72 days.

Kyiv was defended not only by Soviet soldiers, but also by ordinary residents. Huge efforts were made for this by militia units, of which there were nineteen by the beginning of July. Also, 13 fighter battalions were formed from among the townspeople, and in total, 33,000 people from the city’s residents took part in the defense of Kyiv. In those difficult July days, the people of Kiev built more than 1,400 pillboxes and manually dug 55 kilometers of anti-tank ditches.

The courage and courage of the defenders’ heroes stopped the enemy advance on the first line of the city’s fortifications. The Nazis failed to take Kyiv in a raid. However, on July 30, 1941, the fascist army made a new attempt to storm the city. On the tenth of August, she managed to break through the defenses on its southwestern outskirts, but through the joint efforts of the people's militia and regular troops they managed to give a worthy rebuff to the enemy. By August 15, 1941, the militia drove the Nazis back to their previous positions.

Enemy losses near Kiev numbered more than 100,000 people. The Nazis did not undertake any more direct assaults on the city; seventeen fascist German divisions were “stuck” in battle for a long time under it. Such prolonged resistance by the city’s defenders forced the enemy to withdraw part of the forces from the offensive in the Moscow direction and transfer them to Kyiv, due to which the Soviet soldiers were forced to retreat on September 19, 1941.

The Nazi invaders who occupied the city inflicted enormous damage on it, establishing a regime of brutal occupation. More than 200,000 Kiev residents were killed, and about 100,000 people were sent to Germany for forced labor.

Kyiv was liberated on November 6, 1943. In honor of the feat of Soviet citizens, the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR in 1961 established a new award - the medal “For the Defense of Kyiv.”

In 1965 Kyiv was awarded the title of Hero City.

Kerch

Soviet marines install a ship's jack on the highest point of Kerch - Mount Mithridates. April 1944. Photo by E. A. Khaldei.

During the fighting in Kerch, more than 85% of the buildings were destroyed, the liberators were met just over 30 residents of the city out of almost 100 thousand inhabitants in 1940.

In mid-November 1941, after two weeks of fierce fighting on the Kerch Peninsula, the city was captured by the Nazis. On December 30, 1941, during the Kerch-Feodosia landing operation, Kerch was liberated by troops of the 51st Army of the Black Sea Fleet and the Azov Military Flotilla. But the Nazis really needed Crimea. In May 1942, the Germans concentrated large forces on the Kerch Peninsula and launched a new offensive. After terrible, stubborn battles, the city again found itself in the hands of the Nazis. No, defenders have nothing to be ashamed of. They fought to the death.

An example is the heroic, long and persistent struggle of the partisans in Adzhimushkai quarries(“Adzhimushkay” - translated as “Bitter Gray Stone”). When the marines liberated Kerch and the village of Adzhimushkay and descended into the quarries, they, war-hardened sailors, were shocked by what they saw: ...the further into the depths of the stone galleries, the more difficult it is to breathe. It smells like centuries of dampness. Cold. There are rags and sheets of paper on the floor. And human remains.

A sheet taken at random is another shock. This is the daily distribution of different products per person: 15 grams, 10 grams, 5 grams. And in the next compartment there are dozens of corpses of Soviet soldiers. In greatcoats, in bandages, reclining, with their heads thrown back - in these positions death found them. There are weapons and gas masks nearby. Rifle and machine gun magazines are empty: people fought to the last bullet.

Gloom and a heavy grave spirit complete the ominous picture. The shocked sailors realized that this was self-sacrifice in the name of the Fatherland.

With the name of the heroes of Adzhimushkai, the soldiers later liberated Kerch, Crimea, and Sevastopol. There were 15 thousand people in the Adzhimushkai quarries, there was not enough food, water, and not enough air. The brutal fascists threw lit gas bombs at the catacombs. To combat them, the defenders set up vigils and threw burning bombs into sandboxes. Then the Nazis began to pump gas with a compressor and drilled holes in the walls for hoses. But the defenders found a way out. They tied the hoses in a knot. Then the Germans began to pump gas directly through the holes. And here the defenders found a way out - they created gas-tight walls.

Problem No. 1 for the underground garrison was water. People sucked water from damp walls and collected drops into mugs. It was very difficult for exhausted people to dig wells, many died. And the Nazis, if they heard the sound of a pickaxe, blew up this place, realizing that people were looking for water. Notes from the defenders have been preserved. They show how difficult it was for the fighters. And when our troops left Sevastopol, the Germans intensified their psychological attack:

"Give up. We promise you. You were left alone in Crimea, everyone gave up.”

But the fighters understood that they were holding German troops and were not allowing them to go to Taman. They fulfilled their duty to the Motherland with honor. The members of the underground garrison did not sit in the catacombs. They came to the surface at night, destroyed enemy firing points, obtained food and weapons. Many died in battle, others were unable to return from weakness and died.

The defense was led by P. M. Yagunov, who died from a stray German grenade.

Children were also in the quarries along with the adults. Name IN Olody Dubinina known to many in Russia. The boy was a scout. Knowing every stone in the quarries, all the passages, thin and small young scouts could crawl into holes that adults could not, and obtain the information necessary for the partisans. Volodya lived to see the Victory. I met with my mother and washed myself of the multi-layered soot and dirt. Everything seemed fine, but the Germans, retreating, mined many of the entrances to the quarries, and there were still people there. Volodya, who knew the quarries well, could not help but help the sappers. One of the bombs exploded. The brave boy died. He was posthumously awarded the high title of Hero of the Soviet Union.

The occupiers were in control for only a month and a half for the first time, but the consequences were monstrous. “Bagerovsky Ditch” - here the Nazis shot 7 thousand people. It was from here that the Soviet Commission for the Investigation of Fascist Crimes began its work. The materials of this investigation were presented at the Nuremberg trials.

Bagerovo anti-tank ditch near Kerch

For outstanding services to the Motherland and mass heroism, courage and fortitude in 1973(on the 30th anniversary of the liberation of Crimea), the city of Kerch was awarded the honorary title “Hero City” with the Order of Lenin and the Gold Star medal.

Minsk

Belarusian partisans on Lenin Square in Minsk, after the liberation of the city from the Nazi invaders. 1944 V. Lupeiko/RIA Novosti

In the very first days of the Nazi invasion of the USSR in June 1941, Minsk was subjected to devastating raids by German aircraft. Despite the stubborn resistance of the Red Army, the city was captured on the sixth day of the war. During the three-year occupation in Minsk and its environs, the Germans killed more than 400 thousand people, and the city itself was turned into ruins and ashes. They destroyed 80% of residential buildings, almost all factories, power plants, scientific institutions and theaters. Despite the terror of the occupiers, a patriotic underground operated in the city.

The city of Minsk and the Minsk region were the center of the partisan movement in the BSSR.

Minsk was liberated by Soviet troops on July 3, 1944. Now this date is celebrated as Independence Day of the Republic of Belarus. In 1974 In commemoration of the merits of the city's citizens in the fight against Nazism, Minsk received the title Hero City.

Why is the title of “city of military glory” awarded?

Stella of cities of military glory in the Alexander Garden. Photo: poznamka.ru

The title “city of military glory” did not exist in the USSR; it was approved by Vladimir Putin in 2006. The title of city of military glory is awarded to cities “on the territory of which or in the immediate vicinity of which, during fierce battles, the defenders of the Fatherland showed courage, fortitude and mass heroism.”

In the city that received this title, a special stele is installed. On February 23, May 9 and City Day, festive events and fireworks are held.

The title of city of military glory can also be awarded to a hero city.

Which Russian cities have been awarded the title of “City of Military Glory”?

Today in Russia there are 45 Cities of Military Glory: Belgorod, Kursk, Orel, Vladikavkaz, Malgobek, Rzhev, Yelnya, Yelets, Voronezh, Meadows, Polyarny, Rostov-on-Don, Tuapse, Velikiye Luki, Veliky Novgorod, Dmitrov, Vyazma, Kronstadt, Naro-Fominsk, Pskov, Kozelsk, Arkhangelsk, Volokolamsk, Bryansk, Nalchik, Vyborg, Kalach-on-Don, Vladivostok, Tikhvin, Tver, Anapa, Kolpino, Stary Oskol, Kovrov, Lomonosov, Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, Taganrog, Maroyaroslavets, Mozhaisk, Khabarovsk, Staraya Russa, Gatchina, Petrozavodsk, Grozny and Feodosia.

In the city awarded the title “City of Military Glory”:

a stele is installed with the image of the city’s coat of arms and the text of the decree of the President of the Russian Federation on conferring this title on the city;
Public events and fireworks are held on February 23 (Defender of the Fatherland Day), May 9 (Victory Day), as well as on City Day or the Day of the city’s liberation from Nazi invaders (for example, Tikhvin).

12 cities of the former Soviet Union and the Brest Fortress were awarded the honorary title.

For the first time at the national level, the concept of "hero city" appeared in the editorial of the newspaper " Is it true" dated December 24, 1942 It was dedicated to the decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR on the establishment of medals for defense Leningrad, Stalingrad, Odessa And Sevastopol. In official documents, Leningrad (now St. Petersburg), Stalingrad (now Volgograd), Sevastopol and Odessa were named “hero cities” for the first time - in the order of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the USSR Joseph Stalin dated May 1, 1945. It talked about organizing fireworks in these cities.

June 21, 1961 in the decrees of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR " About the city award Kyiv Order of Lenin" And " On the establishment of the medal "For the Defense of Kyiv"“The capital of Ukraine was called a “hero city.”

On May 8, 1965, in commemoration of the 20th anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War, the Presidium of the Supreme Council (SC) of the USSR approved the provision for the honorary title “Hero City”. The main criterion according to which cities received this status was the historical assessment of the contribution of their defenders to the victory over the enemy. " "Hero Cities" became the centers of the largest battles of the Great Patriotic War (for example, the Battle of Leningrad, the Battle of Stalingrad, etc.), cities whose defense determined the victory of Soviet troops in the main strategic directions of the front.

In addition, this status was given to cities whose residents continued to fight the enemy during the occupation. According to the law, the “hero cities” were awarded the Order of Lenin, the Gold Star medal and a diploma from the Presidium of the USSR Armed Forces. In addition, obelisks were installed in them with the text of the decree conferring the honorary title, as well as with images of the awards received.
On May 8, 1965, five decrees of the Presidium of the USSR Armed Forces were issued on presenting awards to the “hero cities” of Leningrad, Volgograd, Kyiv, Sevastopol, and Odessa. On the same day Moscow was awarded the honorary title "Hero City", and Brest Fortress- “hero-fortress” with the presentation of the Order of Lenin and the Gold Star medal.
On September 14, 1973 the title was received Kerch And Novorossiysk, June 26, 1974 - Minsk, December 7, 1976 - Tula, May 6, 1985 - Murmansk And Smolensk.

All honorary titles were awarded to 12 cities of the former Soviet Union and the Brest Fortress.
In 1988 year, the practice of assigning the title was stopped by a resolution of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR.
*
New honorary title - "City of Military Glory"
was established on May 9, 2006 by federal law signed by Russian President Vladimir Putin.
It is assigned cities, " on whose territory or in the immediate vicinity of which, during fierce battles, the defenders of the Fatherland showed courage, fortitude and mass heroism, including cities that were awarded the title “hero city” ". Currently in Russia 45 cities have the honorary title "City of Military Glory".

In Moscow, in the Alexander Garden near the Kremlin wall, near the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, there is a granite alley of hero cities. There are 12 porphyry blocks here, each of which bears the name of one of the hero cities and an embossed image of the Gold Star medal.
The blocks contain capsules with earth from the Piskarevsky cemetery in Leningrad and the Mamayev Kurgan in Volgograd, from the foot of the walls of the Brest Fortress and the Obelisk of Glory of the Defenders of Kiev, from the defense lines of Odessa and Novorossiysk, from the Malakhov Kurgan in Sevastopol and Victory Square in Minsk, from Mount Mithridates near Kerch, defensive positions near Tula, Murmansk and Smolensk.

On November 17, 2009, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree according to which the granite alley of hero cities near the Kremlin wall was included in the National Memorial of Military Glory, along with the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and a memorial sign in honor of the cities awarded the honorary title “City of Military Glory.”

Greetings to all readers of my blog! May 9th on the calendar! Great holiday! Victory Day! Victory lives in everyone's heart! And I sincerely congratulate you, my dear readers! And I wish you, your families, your children a peaceful sky above your heads, happiness and goodness!

War. She left her mark on the history of every family, every house, every village, every city of our homeland. Today, 45 cities are cities of military glory. And there are also 13 Cities of Heroes. This is the highest degree of distinction for heroic defense during the war.

Let's talk about each of them in more detail.

Lesson plan:

Leningrad (St. Petersburg)

July 10, 1941. The beginning of the offensive of German troops in the Leningrad direction. The Germans managed to encircle Leningrad. On September 8, the siege of Leningrad began. And it lasted 872 days. The history of mankind has never known such a long siege.

At that time, approximately three million people lived in the northern capital. Terrible hunger, constant air raids, bombings, rats, diseases, and infections claimed more than 2 million lives. Despite everything, the Leningraders survived, they even managed to help the front. The factories did not stop working and produced military products.

Today, numerous memorials and monuments erected in the northern capital remind us of the feat of the Leningraders.

Memorial Piskarevskoye Cemetery. This is the site of mass graves of people who died during the siege of Leningrad. A statue of the “Motherland”, a woman who looks at the graves of her fallen sons, was installed in the cemetery.

If you walk along Nevsky Prospect in St. Petersburg, find house number 14. There is still an inscription from the war.

And on Victory Square there is a monument in memory of the city’s defenders. One of the significant parts of this monument is a torn bronze ring, which symbolizes the breaking of the blockade ring.

Stalingrad (Volgograd)

Summer 1942. The Germans decided to capture the Caucasus, Kuban, the Don region, and the Lower Volga. Hitler was going to deal with this in a week. In order to stop the enemy's advance, the Stalingrad Front was created.

On July 17, 1942, the Battle of Stalingrad began, one of the most important and largest battles. This great battle lasted 200 days. And it ended with the complete victory of our troops thanks to the selfless actions of the military and ordinary residents. More than 1 million of our soldiers died in terrible bloody battles. The Germans also suffered heavy losses. More than 800 thousand killed and wounded. More than 200 thousand German soldiers were captured.

In Volgograd, on Mamayev Kurgan, there is a monument-ensemble, which is dedicated to all the Heroes of the Battle of Stalingrad. The main monument of the ensemble is the 85-meter sculpture of the Motherland. 200 steps lead to this monument from the foot of the mound - a symbol of two hundred long days of battle.

And the Mamaev Kurgan itself is a huge mass grave in which more than 34 thousand dead soldiers rest.

Sevastopol

The defense of Sevastopol began on October 30, 1941 and ended on July 4, 1942. This is one of the bloodiest battles that ended in the defeat of the Soviet troops. But the courage and heroism shown by units of the Red Army and the residents of Sevastopol did not allow the Wehrmacht units to quickly seize Crimea and the Caucasus.

The Nazis, having overwhelming superiority in the air and at sea, were unable to take the city over and over again. For the first and only time (during the entire war), German troops used an artillery gun weighing more than 1000 tons, which was capable of firing 7-ton shells and piercing a rock slab 30 meters thick. But Sevastopol stood. He stood until the ammunition ran out... Until almost all the defenders died...

There are more than 1,500 monuments in Sevastopol. And about 1000 of them were installed in memory of the events of that terrible war. At Cape Khrustalny there is a monument “Soldier and Sailor”, it was erected in memory of the defenders of Sevastopol.

Odessa

In the first years of the war, victories were achieved only at the cost of gigantic sacrifices. Hundreds of thousands of people died so as not to let the enemy pass, in order to hold back the fascist war machine at least a little. The Nazis believed that Odessa would become another item on their long list of cities that surrendered without a fight. But, they were wrong.

73 days of defense of Odessa inflicted colossal losses on the Romanian-German armies, which were expecting an “easy walk.” Of the 300,000 enemy soldiers, 160,000 died. Our losses were 16,000. The Nazis were never able to capture Odessa, the city was abandoned...
This is what the Pravda newspaper will write about the defense of Odessa:

In Odessa there is the “Monument to the Unknown Sailor”. The obelisk in the form of a granite stele is intended to remind those living today of the feat of sailors during the war. And next to it is the Walk of Fame, on which are the graves of fallen warrior-defenders.

Moscow

Napoleon, and after him Hitler, called Russia and the USSR “a colossus with feet of clay.” But for some reason this colossus did not want to kneel, but clenched his teeth and fists and threw himself at the spears and machine guns with his bare chest. This happened near Moscow.

At the cost of terrible losses, but the enemy moved slower and slower towards the capture of Moscow. He was stopped near Brest, he was beaten near Smolensk and Odessa, he was not given rest near Minsk and Yelets. The defensive operation near Moscow also lasted for several months. Defensive fortifications were built, thousands of kilometers of trenches were dug. They fought for every village, for every height. But the magnificent Wehrmacht machine moved forward. They even saw the walls of the Kremlin through binoculars, but for many of them this became their last memory.

On December 5, 1941, the Germans were shown the way home. The offensive of our troops began near Moscow. More than a million soldiers and officers shouting “Hurray!” began to drive out the fascists. The victory near Moscow became one of the key moments of the war, people believed that we could win...

In Moscow, on Poklonnaya Hill, there is a huge memorial complex dedicated to the Great Patriotic War.

This complex includes:

The monument is in the form of an obelisk 141.8 meters high. This height is not accidental. It reminds us of the 1418 days of war.
Three churches that were erected in memory of all those who died during the war.
Central Museum of the Great Patriotic War.
An open-air exhibition of military equipment and other memorials.

Kyiv

When the first German planes flew over Kiev, many residents thought that these were exercises... And they even rejoiced, saying, “What a great exercise they prepared!” They even painted crosses.” No, these were not exercises - Kyiv was one of the first to experience all the horrors of war. He found himself on the front line almost immediately. There was not enough ammunition, not enough supplies. But there was an order - not to surrender Kyiv!!! More than 600,000 people died trying to accomplish it! But, on September 19, 1941, German troops entered the city. This was one of the most severe defeats of the Red Army.

On the right bank of the Dnieper, at the highest point in Kyiv, there is a monument whose height is more than 100 meters. This is a sculpture of the “Motherland”.

The sculpture depicts a woman with her hands raised up. The woman holds a sword in one hand and a shield in the other. The monument symbolizes the inflexibility of the people's spirit in the struggle for the Motherland.

Brest

On June 22, 1941, at 4:15 am, a massive artillery strike began on the defenders of the Brest Fortress. According to the plans of the German command, the fortress was to be taken by noon. But the fortress held. Without water, without food, without communication with the main units of the Red Army...

This inscription will later be discovered by historians on the walls.

Thousands died, very little is known about them. There was almost no one left who could tell... The last defender was captured only on July 23.

Memorial complex "Brest Hero Fortress". It was opened on September 25, 1971. If you are in Belarus, be sure to visit it. It includes many monuments, obelisks, an eternal flame, memorial plaques, and a defense museum. The main monument of the memorial is a sculpture depicting the head of a Soviet soldier against the backdrop of a waving banner.

Also pay attention to the memorial composition “Thirst”.

The defenders of the fortress experienced a lack of water, as the water supply system was destroyed. The only source of water for them was the Buk and Mokhovets rivers. But since their shores were under constant fire, the trip for water was mortally dangerous.

Kerch

Kerch was captured for the first time in mid-November 1941. In December it was liberated by Soviet troops, but in May 1942 it was again captured by the Nazis. It was from this time that the world-famous guerrilla war in the Kerch (Adzhimushkay) quarries would begin.

Throughout the occupation, several thousand partisans and regular army soldiers were hiding in them, who did not allow the German troops to live in peace. The Nazis blew up the entrances and gassed them, collapsed the vaults... To get water, they had to fight their way out each time, since all the sources were outside. But the German troops were unable to break the resistance. Kerch was completely liberated only in April 1944. A little more than 30,000 inhabitants remained alive.

The “Obelisk of Glory” located on Mount Mithridates is a symbol of Kerch.

It is dedicated to all the soldiers who died for the liberation of Crimea in 1943-1944. This monument was erected in August 1944. This is the first monument in the USSR dedicated to the events of the Great Patriotic War. The stele rises 24 meters into the sky and is made of light gray stone. And at the foot there are three cannons.

Novorossiysk

“Malaya Zemlya” - many have heard this, but do not know where it is. Know, this is Novorossiysk. This is the triumph and courage of the Soviet marines. A couple of facts: on February 4, 1943, 800 marines (according to other sources up to 1500) held a bridgehead against 500 enemy firing points (the Allies landed 156,000 people in Normandy).

Several hundred people held out until the main forces arrived and conquered kilometer after kilometer. The Germans were never able to throw them into the sea. 225 days of offensive. Every inch of land was watered with blood and sweat, the result of superhuman efforts and Novorossiysk was liberated. On September 16, 1943, Soviet troops entered the city... it was destroyed by almost 96%.

In 1961, a memorial was opened in Novorossiysk in memory of the heroic liberators of the city. This is a sculpture depicting three people: a soldier, a sailor with a banner and a partisan girl. Three people stand shoulder to shoulder and represent strength and courage.

“The Shot Car” is another monument in Novorossiysk.

There are countless bullet holes in this boxcar. It was installed on the Soviet defense line in 1946.

Minsk

Another difficult and terrible page of that war. So much so that even the Soviet Information Bureau did not report the surrender of Minsk. About 10 high-ranking Soviet military leaders were arrested and executed. After all, the city was taken already on June 28, 1941.

But this is not the only thing that befell the Belarusians. Several hundred thousand civilians were taken to work in Germany. Only a few returned. Hundreds of thousands were hanged, shot and burned alive. But, they didn’t give up. A partisan movement was created, with which the selected Wehrmacht units could do nothing. Thanks to the partisans, many German offensive operations were thwarted. More than 11,000 trains were derailed, and the partisans blew up more than 300,000 rails. They killed the enemy wherever they could.

In Minsk in 1952, a “Tank Monument” was erected in honor of the feat of Soviet tank crews.

On July 3, 1944, Soviet tanks entered the city during its liberation from the fascist invaders.

Tula

At the beginning of the war, news of the German advance sometimes arrived after the city had been captured. This almost happened to Tula. A sudden tank breakthrough of the front led to the capture of Orel, and from it to Tula only 180 km. The city was left practically unarmed and unprepared for defense.

But skillful leadership and, most importantly, quickly deployed reinforcements did not allow the German units to occupy the city of gunsmiths. The difficult situation at the front led to the almost complete blockade of Tula, but the enemy was never able to take it. Thousands of women dug trenches as defense factories were evacuated and fighting raged. The Germans threw selected, elite units into battle, in particular the “Greater Germany” regiment. But they couldn’t do anything either... Tula didn’t give up! She survived!

There are several memorial complexes dedicated to the Second World War in Tula. For example, on Victory Square there is a memorial in honor of the Hero Defenders who defended the city in 1941.

A soldier and a militiaman stand shoulder to shoulder, holding machine guns. And nearby, three multi-meter steel obelisks soared into the sky.

Murmansk

From the first days of the war, Murmansk became a front-line city. The offensive of the German troops began on June 29, 1941, but at the cost of incredible efforts it was thwarted and subsequently the enemy was unable to advance even a kilometer. The front line remained unchanged until 1944.

Over the years, 185 thousand bombs were dropped on Murmansk, but he lived, worked and did not give up. He repaired military ships, received food and transport... The resilience of the residents of Murmansk helped Leningrad survive, since it was in Murmansk that food was accumulated, which was then transferred to the Northern capital. The Northern Fleet has about 600 destroyed enemy ships. On May 6, 1985, the merits of Murmansk residents were recognized, and their city received the title of Hero.

Memorial to the Defenders of the Soviet Arctic. The most famous monument in Murmansk.

The 35-meter-high sculpture depicts a soldier with a weapon in his hands. The monument was opened in 1974. People call this stone soldier “Alyosha”.

Smolensk

Smolensk always stood in the way of those who were rushing to Moscow. This was the case in 1812, and this was the case in 1941. According to the plans of the German command, the capture of Smolensk opened the road to Moscow. It was planned to capture a number of cities with lightning speed, including Smolensk. But, as a result, the enemy lost more soldiers in this direction than since the beginning of the war in all other directions combined. 250 thousand fascists did not return back.

It was near Smolensk that the later famous tradition of the “Soviet Guard” was born. On September 10, 1941, Smolensk fell, but did not surrender. A powerful partisan movement was created, which did not give a quiet life to the occupiers. 260 natives of the Smolensk region received the title “Hero of the Soviet Union”, and years later... On May 6, 1985, Smolensk received the title “Hero City”.

Many monuments in Smolensk remind of those who laid down their lives in the fight for their Motherland. Among them is the “Monument to the Grieving Mother.”

It is located in the place where the Nazis shot more than 3,000 people in 1943. Their mass grave is also located here, and above it they installed a memorial wall, which depicts the moment of the execution and a sculpture of a woman in simple clothes and a headscarf, with eyes full of grief.

All these cities paid with courage, blood and the lives of their inhabitants for the right to be called Heroes!

Let us once again say a huge thank you to our dear veterans. War veterans, labor veterans! For their feat!

Peace, peace!

All the best and brightest to you!

Evgenia Klimkovich.

P.S. I express my deep gratitude to my husband Denis, a great history expert, for his help in preparing this article.

P.P.S. The information presented in the article will be excellent material for preparing reports for Victory Day. Also on the blog you will find interesting facts and solutions for posters and projects, and other subjects.

As a state award The title of “hero city” was established on May 8, 1965 by decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR.

This event was timed to coincide with the 20th anniversary of the victory over Nazi Germany and its allies.

However, the first hero cities in the Soviet Union appeared earlier.

On May 1, 1945, this title was awarded to Leningrad (St. Petersburg), Stalingrad (Volgograd), Sevastopol and Odessa.

Why is the title “hero city” awarded?

The honorary title of hero city was awarded in the USSR to cities whose residents showed “mass heroism and courage in defending the Motherland in the Great Patriotic War of 1941–1945.”

How many hero cities are there in Russia?

In total, the title of “hero city” was awarded to 13 cities in the USSR. Nine of them are in Russia:

Moscow,

St. Petersburg (Leningrad),

Volgograd (Stalingrad),

Novorossiysk,

Tula,

Murmansk,

Smolensk

Sevastopol,

Kerch.

Two more hero cities are located in Ukraine:

Kyiv,

Odessa.

There are two hero cities in Belarus:

Minsk,

Brest.

Why did Russian cities receive the title “hero city”?

Moscow

The capital received the title of “hero city” battle for Moscow 1941–1942

It consisted of three stages:

Leningrad

Residents of besieged Leningrad survived for 900 days in conditions of severe hunger, harsh cold winters and incessant artillery shelling and bombing.

Stalingrad

During the battle, German troops tried to capture the city, but as a result of the counter-offensive of the Red Army they were surrounded and defeated. The Battle of Stalingrad became a turning point in the Great Patriotic War.

Novorossiysk

In the first years of the war during the battle for the Caucasus German troops almost completely captured Novorossiysk, but were stopped by the Red Army, suffered heavy losses and went on the defensive until Soviet troops managed to liberate the city in 1943.

Tula

Tula became a hero city thanks to the courage of the soldiers who defended the city from October 24 to December 5, 1941. The city was under siege, but did not surrender to the Germans, despite shelling and tank attacks. Thanks to the retention of Tula, the Red Army did not allow the Wehrmacht troops to break through to Moscow from the south.

Murmansk

Nuclear icebreaker "Lenin" in the port of Murmansk

During World War II The orthic city of Murmansk was of strategic importance for the USSR - supplies from allied countries passed through it.

The Germans made several attempts to capture the city, but without success.

German aircraft continued bombing Murmansk for several years, due to which most of the buildings were destroyed. The threat was lifted only in 1944.

Smolensk

Smolensk was one of the first to come under attack during the war. The Battle of Smolensk began on July 10, 1941 and ended on September 10 of the same year. And although Soviet troops failed to defeat the Germans, the enemy’s advance deep into the country slowed down, which resulted in the breakdown of the “blitzkrieg” strategy - “lightning” war.

Why is the title of “city of military glory” awarded?

Alley of cities of military glory near the Kremlin wall

The title “city of military glory” did not exist in the USSR; it was approved by Vladimir Putin in 2006. The title of city of military glory is assigned to cities, “ on the territory of which or in the immediate vicinity of which, during fierce battles, the defenders of the Fatherland showed courage, fortitude and mass heroism».

In the city that received this title, a special stele is installed. On February 23, May 9 and City Day, festive events and fireworks are held.

The title of city of military glory can also be awarded to a hero city.

Which Russian cities have been awarded the title of “city of military glory”?

Today in Russia there are 40 cities of military glory: Belgorod, Kursk, Orel, Vladikavkaz, Malgobek, Rzhev, Yelnya, Yelets, Voronezh, Luga, Polyarny, Rostov-on-Don, Tuapse, Velikiye Luki, Veliky Novgorod, Dmitrov, Vyazma, Kronstadt, Naro-Fominsk, Pskov, Kozelsk, Arkhangelsk, Volokolamsk, Bryansk, Nalchik, Vyborg, Kalach-on-Don, Vladivostok, Tikhvin, Tver, Anapa, Kolpino, Stary Oskol, Kovrov, Lomonosov, Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, Taganrog, Maroyaroslavets, Mozhaisk , Khabarovsk.

The law does not directly say that the title is awarded specifically for the heroism of the city’s defenders during the Great Patriotic War, but fierce battles took place near most cities of military glory in 1941–1945.

You hear the echo of a long-ago parade,

You dream about the routes of the main attack.

You are my hope, you are my joy,

In the heart of a soldier you, my country.

You earned your victory honestly,

Devoted to holy blood kinship

In every new house, in every new song

Remember those who went to battle for the country!