surprise attack on the Soviet Union, the Nazi command counted for a few months to get to Moscow.However, the German generals met with resistance, barely surpassing the Soviet border.In taking the first outpost of the Soviet army Germans withdrawn a few hours, but the defenders of the Brest Fortress six days restrained enormous power of the fascist army.
Siege of 1941 has become for the Brest fortress historical, but she had been attacked before.The fortress was built by the architect Oppermann in 1833 as a military facility.The war reached her only by 1915-th - then it was blown up by retreating troops of Nicholas.In 1918, after the signing of the Brest Peace, which took place at the Citadel fortress, while she remained under German control, and by the end of 1918 he was in the hands of the Poles, who owned it until 1939.
These military operations overtook the Brest Fortress in 1939 th.Second day of World War II began for the garrison to the bombing.The German aircraft dropped bombs on the citadel of ten, damaging the main building of the fortress - The Citadel, or the White Palace.Then, in the fortress were a few random and military reserve units.The first defense of the Brest fortress was organized by General Plisovskim that from him available to the disparate forces managed to collect battle-worthy team from 2500 and in time to evacuate the officers' families.Against the armored corps of General Heinz Plisovsky could oppose only old armored train, several of the same tank and a pair of batteries.Then the defense of the Brest Fortress lasted three full days, from 14 to 17 September, with the opponent was a strong advocate of almost six times.During the night of the seventeenth of September wounded Plisovsky led the remnants of his party in the south, in the direction of Terespol.Then on September 22, the Germans transferred to Brest and Brest Fortress Soviet Union.
Protection Brest Fortress 1941 fell on the shoulders of nine Soviet battalions, two artillery battalions and a number of separate units.In total, this amounted to about eleven thousand, three hundred, excluding officers' families.Stormed the fortress Infantry Division Major General Shlipera, which has been reinforced with additional parts.On the whole, the general Shliperu subordinated to about twenty thousand soldiers.
attack began early in the morning.Because of the suddenness of the attack commanders did not have time to coordinate the actions of the garrison of the fortress, so the defenders were immediately divided into several groups.The Germans managed to capture just the Citadel, but to strengthen it, they have not been able - invaders attacked the Soviet troops left behind, and the Citadel was partially released.On the second day of the German defenses offered capitulation, which has agreed to 1900 people.The remaining defenders were united under the command of Captain Zubachov.The forces of the enemy, however, were far above, and the defense of the Brest fortress was short-lived.24 June 1250 the Nazis were able to capture fighters, another 450 people were captured on June 26.The last bastion of defenders, East Fort, was demolished on June 29 when the Germans threw at him in 1800-kilogram bomb.This day is considered the end of the defense, but the Germans were cleaned Brest Fortress to 30 June and the last defenders were killed towards the end of August.Only a few managed to escape in the Bialowieza Forest to the partisans.
Fortress was released in 1944., and in the 1971 it was closed down and converted into a museum.At the same time the memorial was erected by which the defense of the Brest Fortress and the courage of its defenders will be remembered forever.
