occupation of Odessa lasted 907 days.During this time, killed tens of thousands of civilians and military personnel.Many were forced to flee not only from the occupiers, but also from those who took the side of the enemy, and became involved in mass crimes against ordinary citizens.
Liberation of Odessa allowed to put an end to the actions of the occupiers.It takes place during March and April 1944 and was named Odessa operation that was part of an offensive movement of Soviet troops.
Odessa operation
conduct military operations 3rd Ukrainian Front, supported by additional forces.He commanded them to RJMalinowski.The aim of the operation was to crush the forces of the enemy coastal group that focused between the Southern Bug and Dniester.And release the Black Sea coast and the city of Odessa.Conducted Dnieper-Carpathian offensive 12/24/1943 on 04/17/1994.Liberation Day of Odessa entered this period of the Soviet offensive.
situation before the operation
Odessa was occupied in October 1941, the German-Romanian forces.By January 1944, the Red Army began its operation in connection with which the German command decided to eliminate Odessa administration Romanians and enter into the city his troops.This led to mass arrests and executions.On the poles and trees for several days, hanging bodies of dead people.
Liberation of Odessa was made possible thanks to the fact that the Red Army was able to come to the shores of the Southern Bug and capture the German crossing.For the Wehrmacht hold the Odessa port was of great strategic importance, since it communicates with the help of the occupied Crimea.
Liberation Day in Odessa was defer by creating a strong German defense.To do this, they used the old fortifications of the Soviet troops, who in 1941 were able to hold the city for two and a half months from the entrance to his enemy.
Forces party
Liberation of Odessa was extremely important for the Soviet Union, as it would deprive the Germans the possibility to transport their forces through the port.The operation involved about 470 thousand soldiers.In their possession were more than 400 tanks and self-propelled guns, 12,000 guns and mortars, more than 400 aircraft.Most of the people and the weapons belonged to the 3rd Ukrainian Front.
Liberation of Odessa could not prevent the German and Romanian troops, who have made every effort to prevent it.The total number of troops was about 350 thousand soldiers.They were part of the German and Rumanian divisions.Because of technology at their disposal tanks and 160 guns, more than 3 thousands of mortars and guns.Aviation consisted of 400 aircraft and 150 aircraft in Germany Romania.
troops to the main line of defense began to river banks (the largest Southern Bug and Dniester, small Tiligul and others).Strong defense of the center is itself Odessa, which houses the "Fortress of the Fuehrer."
Confronting the Red Army from the Wehrmacht were concentrated as follows:
- in Odessa, Nikolaev, Berezovka placed tanks and artillery;
- along rivers, bays, lagoons located infantry;
- on the west bank of the Southern Bug and Odessa, were created around minefields and obstacles.
Main events
Liberation of Odessa in 1944 began with crossing the river Southern Bug.The forces of the 3rd Ukrainian Front had to confront the armies of the Wehrmacht and Romania.During the first week of March Soviet troops managed to come to the shores of the river.By March 18 began the crossing of the Southern Bug, which took place fairly quickly and ended 28th.Such a turn of events the Germans were not ready, and Ukrainian troops launched no less rapid advance to the south.
get to the other side of the river, Soviet troops liberated the same day Nikolaev.This led to the fact that the German army was forced to begin a retreat, and the liberation of Odessa from fascist invaders became a very real problem.
By early April, the enemy was surrounded, made possible by assuming control of the Soviet Union Station Split and Ochakov.
K 9 April Soviet soldiers appeared in the northern districts of Odessa.In the night from 9 to 10 April was held the night storming in cooperation with local partisans, and by morning the city was liberated.Next offensive went to the west, towards the Dniester.
Ukrainian Front was able to pass on the left bank of the Dniester River and liberate Transnistria, Moldova.During this time the Germans lost about 37 thousand soldiers, some of whom had been killed in the fighting, and some captured.
stages of liberation of Odessa region
Liberation of Odessa in 1944 was not confined to the city.From the German-Romanian occupation eliminates the entire region.
Steps to liberate the area:
- From 5 to 22 March was held uman-botoşani offensive, which resulted in the northern lands were repulsed by the Odessa region.
- from 6 to 18 March at the end of Bereznegovatoe Snigirevskaya-operation has been crossed Southern Bug.Odessa began the operation, which took place from 28 March to 10 April.Next come until August tactical pause in the offensive.
- From 20 to 29 August in the Iasi-Kishinev operation recaptured Izmail region, which is now part of Odessa.
liberation of
already known that on April 10 - the day of liberation of Odessa.In order to make this possible, enormous efforts were applied.The enemy was able to build a strong defense, using a complex natural terrain, water hazards.Also at this time was atrocious weather which hampered access to the city on the road.
outskirts of the city started from April 4.Soviet troops crossed the stages all water hazards, which consisted of Tiligul, Adzhalskogo, Big Adzhalskogo estuaries.By April 9 parts went to the north of the city, and the assault began in Odessa, which was held simultaneously with the land, sea and air.
When the guards entered the part of Odessa, began fierce fighting for every house, which lasted all night.By the morning of April 10 fighting reached the central streets of the city.Hoisting the flag over the opera house, the Red Army has become a symbol of what the city was liberated.The cost of this operation have been thousands of dead soldiers and civilians, who were unable to see the final victory over fascism.
Memorable places in Odessa
Liberation of Odessa (April 10, 1944) is reflected in many books, memoirs, documentaries.In the city there are many monuments and memorials dedicated to this event.
main monuments and their locations:
- monument RJMalinowski in the park on the street of the Transfiguration;
- memorial "Wings of Victory" on the area on 10 April;
- memorable place (Melnitskaya Street, Building 31), where the year 04.09.1944 guerrillas defeated a column of German troops;
- memorable place (street of the Transfiguration, the house 77), where 02/03/1944, was mortally wounded VDAvdeyev;
- mass grave (Tiraspol highway) for ten soldiers killed 04.10.1944, with the liberation of the city along with his captain Gavrikov;
- mass grave with an obelisk (Shkodova Mountain) in memory of the 56 victims of fascism, which shot retreating punitive 04.09.1944 year;
- grave MMBad to the fairground park.
Odessa streets in honor of the liberators
April 10 (the day of liberation of Odessa) for many remember for a lifetime.In order to honor the memory of the liberators of the city in honor of them they were named streets.
names of soldiers, which are named after the street in Odessa:
- VDAvdeev-Black Sea (Kiev region);
- MINedelin (Kyiv region);
- VDTsvetaev (Ilyichevsk district);
- IIShvygin (Primorsky district);
- IAPliev (Illichivsk district);
- NFRed (Kyiv region);
- VIChuikov (Kiev region).
