Crimea Consulting

[Yalta guide]

65 years ago heroic defence of Sevastopol was accomplished.
Prior war, Sevastopol was prepared for resistance to sea and air attacks. Sevastopol garrison counted 23 thousands soldiers, about 150 land and costal guns, 82 war-planes. Sea defence was carried out by coast artillery and warships of Black Sea Fleet.
Construction of Sevastopol field defence system began in June 1941 and was not finished prior enemy attacks. 82 pillboxes with sea guns and 220 machine-gun pillboxes, 33 km of tank ditch, 56 km of barbed wire and 9600 of mines.
The elven Nazi army broke to Crimea and with ship artillery and aviation support made attempt to capture Sevastopol. These attackes were repulsed by Sevastopol garrizon. Starting with the first days of assaults defenders show their firmness and heroism resisting to superior forces of enemy. Important contribution to resistance was given by citizens.
After failed to seize Sevastopol with a rush, Geman Headquarters took three attempts to capture it(Nov-Dec 1941, May-Jun 1942). The most powerful was the third one, Nazi had double superiority in men, triple superiority in artillery and ten times in tanks and war-planes. Starting from May 27 1942 Sevastopol was under permanent air strikes and bombardments and after June 7 1942 the assault began. Sevastopol defenders after fierce resistance had to leave the city. Sevastopol was occupied from July 4 1942 till May 9 1944.
Sevastopol defence lasted 250 days and had important strategic value. During assaults enemy lost 300 thousands of killed and wounded. Over 30 men received Soviet Union Hero rank. A medal "For Sevastopol Defence" was founded in Dec 22 1942. And a Hero-City rank was given to Sevastopol.