In memory of a talented military engineer whose ideas have opened a new era in the art of fortification, the graph Eduard Ivanovich Totleben (1818-1884) were named two of the fort.He expressed the concept ran counter to the generally accepted trend in the art of war, and the experience gained in the Crimea and eastern campaign will build better defenses at the time of fortification indicators.
carte blanche
first fortification, which bears the name of "Totleben" - a fort in the Kerch fortress.Eduard Ivanovich, who finished in 1859 as director of the engineering department of the military department, in the construction of the Kerch fortress enjoyed the full confidence and support of Alexander II.In 1872, work on finishing the construction was completed and fully satisfied the king, comes over there to inspect.And so the main fortification fortress received by the order of Alexander II named "Totleben".Fort is located at the narrowest part of the Kerch Strait, at Cape AK-breaker.
Miracle military engineering
fortress itself was built to bypass the Paris peace treaty in 1856 prohibiting Russia have a navy and coastal fortifications.A kind of dungeon or fortress in a fortress called "Totleben".Fort is connected with the very structure of the longest 600 meter tunnel.This stronghold was built 20 years and is one of the two most spectacular and the most important coastal strongholds, built in the XIX century - Kerch and Kronstadt.Black Sea fort was ideal and perfect strengthening - provided it was all to the last detail, down to the station pigeon.Barracks for the soldiers, latrines, water storage, underground mine galleries and tunnels - all built in the light of experience in the defense of Sevastopol, and the care of the defenders of the fortress, which the builders made the most invisible, covered with earth all the stone structures.
Getting
At this point, the highest point of Crimea - 110 meters, which is a monument to the genius of the military engineering, named in his honor, "Totleben".Fort shore batteries covered by the mainland.Fortress "Kerch" is now is not in the best condition - it is abandoned.But Onsite guided tours are held regularly.Now public transport to get to it easy - shuttle №6, departing from the central bus station, you need to get to the bus stop "Woodworking branch".Next - only on foot.There is a detailed index - orientation on the navigator or by interviewing local residents.Own transport to travel to the end of Taman Street, passing in the collective farm, the last point which is the fortress.
One of the forts of Kronstadt
One of the objects of the defensive system of Kronstadt also bears the name of EI Totleben.By the construction of the fortress began after construction of the citadel on the Black Sea (1872).In 1879 starts the project, the basis of which there were two artificial islands - the basis for the two forts made of coastline.Conventionally, they identified the fort "A" and the fort "B".The first had to sit on the shelf, 10 km from the island of Kotlin and 4 km from Sestroretsk, second - 7 km to the southwest of the fort "A" and 4 km from Kotlina.Fort "A" had cost the treasury 6.5 million rubles.golden fort "B" - 7 million rubles.Work on the construction of defensive structures have been completed by 1903, but by this time just poured and reinforced the island.Only in 1913 was the strengthening commissioned.After finishing work fort "A" was renamed "Totleben", in honor of taking an active part in its construction of the great military engineer, and the second object is called "Obruchev".
All Inclusive
fort "Totleben" (photo attached) was in the form of the letter "C".The front part, he was deployed to the west - the eternal enemy of Russia.The front part, consisting of the three sectors, and two curved wings instead reaches a length of 700 meters, the width of the construction was 50 meters.
When its construction was taken into account the sad experience of the Russian-Japanese war and major changes in the artillery."Totleben" is a military town, providing all the necessary taking into account modern warfare.Interestingly, as the tsarist government took care of his soldiers.At the fort there was a system of desalination of water and its purification, 6 diesel generators, sewage and running water, comfortable barracks for 800 people, and the officer corps, hospital, pharmacy, bakery and church, cinematography, and a library, baths, warehouses and the glacier, the telegraph and the telephone exchange.On the back side of the harbor had to approach the courts, which runs along the street.
ruthless time
miracle of engineering was the fort "Totleben".History of the continued existence of this expensive and interesting object bleak.After the revolution, he was given the new name of "Day".In fairness it should be noted that in 1923, 10-inch guns were replaced by a shot of the cruiser "Rurik", their long range increased from the former 18 to 20 km.Systematically carried out repairs.
fort took an active part in the Russo-Finnish War.Last renovation was carried out in 1950-1954, respectively.Then it all went downhill - in 1955 was disbanded and removed the garrison artillery in 1957th fort removed from all kinds of records, and in 1958 when a powerful fortification stands empty and neglected.
unpunished vandalism
nothing has changed when "Totleben" was taken to the balance of the executive committee of the Leningrad City Council and in 1990 entered into the UNESCO list.Good days are back, when the 90-ies began to look for an object conservator and artist from St. Petersburg Vladimir Tkachenko, who was the commandant of the volunteer.It is not just in words but in deeds cleaned, repaired and equipped fort "Totleben".How to get here?This question was not before the barbarians who came on the ice in winter 2008.All the works of V. Tkachenko were destroyed, it was mangled, burned and looted.And where the staff looked strong point of the Emergencies Ministry, hosted here in 1999?
Summer tours of the Gulf of Finland
now the object looked after by volunteer units and search-and-rescue units "Beach".Visit the fort without specific permission and documents can not, however, as part of the tour you can.What is this organized visit?They are carried out only in the summer, you can make a reservation by phone, available in the directories.
organizers provided an opportunity to examine a number of similar objects the Gulf, not just the fort "Totleben".The tour includes visits to the following items - "First Southern" forts "Alexander I», «Milutin", "Obruchev" and "Totleben".
winter, everything is easier.As noted above, you can get on the ice of the Gulf of Finland, it would be allowed to visit the fort "Totleben".How to get in the summer?Only in the excursions.Separate arrive on boats and boating is strictly prohibited, because the risk is too great for life.Of course, there are a lot of hunters, regardless visit the fort, as well as the owners of boats there, ready for a bribe to break the proper order.
