May 12, the liberation of the Crimea. Crimean operation

On this day in 1944, the Crimean offensive operation ended. At the beginning of the war, it took the Germans 250 days to capture the heroically defended Sevastopol. Our troops liberated Crimea in just 35 days. The Crimean strategic offensive operation (April 8 - May 12, 1944) went down in history as one of the most important offensive operations of the Great Patriotic War. Its goal was the liberation of the Crimean peninsula. The troops of the 4th Ukrainian Front (commander General of the Army F. I. Tolbukhin) and the Separate Primorsky Army (General of the Army A. I. Eremenko) conducted the operation in cooperation with the Black Sea Fleet (Admiral F. S. Oktyabrsky) and the Azov Flotilla (counter -Admiral S. G. Gorshkov).

As a result of the Melitopol operation on September 26 - November 5, 1943 and the Kerch-Eltigen landing operation on October 31 - November 11, 1943, Soviet troops broke through the fortifications of the Turkish Wall on the Perekop Isthmus and captured bridgeheads on the southern coast of the Sivash and on the Kerch Peninsula, but released at that time Crimea they failed due to lack of strength. The 17th German Army was blockaded and, relying on defensive positions in depth, continued to hold the Crimea. In April 1944, it included 5 German and 7 Romanian divisions (about 200 thousand people, about 3600 guns and mortars, over 200 tanks and assault guns, 150 aircraft).

Soviet troops numbered 30 rifle divisions, 2 marine brigades, 2 fortified areas (about 400 thousand people in total, about 6000 guns and mortars, 559 tanks and self-propelled guns, 1250 aircraft).

On April 8, 1944, the troops of the 4th Ukrainian Front, with the support of aviation of the 8th Air Army and the aviation of the Black Sea Fleet, went on the offensive, the 2nd Guards Army captured Armyansk, and the 51st Army went to the flank of the enemy's Perekop grouping, which began to retreat. On the night of April 11, the Separate Primorsky Army went on the offensive with the support of the aviation of the 4th Air Army and the aviation of the Black Sea Fleet and captured the city of Kerch in the morning. The 19th Tank Corps, introduced in the zone of the 51st Army, captured Dzhankoy, which forced the enemy's Kerch grouping to begin a hasty retreat to the west. Developing the offensive, the Soviet troops reached Sevastopol on April 15-16.

From the memoirs of Marshal A. M. Vasilevsky "The Work of All Life":
If you look at the maps of the hostilities of 1855, 1920, 1942 and 1944, it is easy to see that in all four cases the defense of Sevastopol was built in approximately the same way. This is explained by the most important role played here by the natural factor: the location of the mountains, the presence of the sea, the nature of the terrain. And now the enemy clung to points that were advantageous in terms of protecting the city.
But already on the first day of the assault on the Sevastopol fortified region, the enemy suffered a major defeat, was forced to leave the main defensive line and withdraw troops to the inner bypass. To liquidate the defense on it and finally liberate Sevastopol - that was our task for May 9th. The fighting did not stop at night. Our bomber aviation was especially active. We decided to resume the general attack at 8 am on May 9th. From the commander of the 2nd Guards Zakharov, we demanded to eliminate the enemy on the northern side of the city in a day and go to the coast of the Northern Bay along its entire length; with the left-flank corps, strike at the Ship Side and take it. The commander of the Primorsky Army, Melnik, was ordered to capture the Nameless Hill southwest of state farm No. 10 by night infantry operations and ensure the entry into battle of the 19th tank corps.
Exactly at 8 o'clock the 4th Ukrainian resumed the general assault on Sevastopol. The battles for the city continued all day, and by the end of it, our troops reached the defensive line prepared in advance by the enemy from Streletskaya Bay to the sea. Ahead lay the last strip of Crimea, which still belonged to the Nazis, from Omega to Cape Khersones.
On the morning of May 10, the order of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief followed: “To Marshal of the Soviet Union Vasilevsky. Army General Tolbukhin. The troops of the 4th Ukrainian Front, with the support of massive air and artillery strikes, as a result of three days of offensive battles, broke through the heavily fortified long-term defense of the Germans, consisting of three lines of reinforced concrete defensive structures, and a few hours ago stormed the fortress and the most important naval base on Black Sea - the city of Sevastopol. Thus, the last center of German resistance in the Crimea was liquidated and the Crimea was completely cleared of the Nazi invaders. Further, all the troops that distinguished themselves in the battles for Sevastopol were listed, which were presented for the assignment of the name of Sevastopol and for awarding orders.
On May 10, the capital of the Motherland saluted the valiant troops of the 4th Ukrainian Front, who liberated Sevastopol. The goals of the operation were achieved. Soviet troops broke through the defense in depth on the Isthmus of Perekop, the Kerch Peninsula, in the region of Sevastopol and defeated the 17th field army of the Wehrmacht. Its losses on land alone amounted to 100 thousand people, including over 61,580 prisoners. Soviet troops and fleet forces during the Crimean operation lost 17,754 people killed and 67,065 people wounded.

As a result of the Crimean operation, the last major enemy bridgehead that threatened the rear of the fronts operating in the Right-Bank Ukraine was eliminated. Within five days, the main base of the Black Sea Fleet, Sevastopol, was liberated and favorable conditions were created for a further attack on the Balkans.

Exactly 70 years ago, on March 16, 1944, the headquarters of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief ordered the start of the Crimea liberation operation. The Crimean operation itself was carried out from April 8 to May 12, 1944 by the forces of the 4th Ukrainian Front and the Separate Primorsky Army in cooperation with the Black Sea Fleet and the Azov military flotilla.

On May 5-7, 1944, the troops of the 4th Ukrainian Front (commander - General of the Army F.I. Tolbukhin) stormed the German defensive fortifications in heavy battles; On May 9, they completely liberated Sevastopol, and on May 12, the remnants of the enemy troops on Cape Chersonesus laid down.

I dedicate this photo collection to this significant event, friends.

1. Shelled facade of the Sevastopol Palace of Pioneers after the liberation of the city. May 1944

2. German minesweeper in the bay of Sevastopol. 1944

3. German attack aircraft Fw.190, destroyed by Soviet aircraft at the Kherson airfield. 1944

4. Meeting of Soviet partisans and boatmen in the liberated Yalta. 1944

5. The commander of the 7th Romanian mountain corps, General Hugo Schwab (second from left) and the commander of the XXXXIX mountain corps of the Wehrmacht, General Rudolf Konrad (first from the left) at the 37-mm cannon RaK 35/36 in the Crimea. 02/27/1944

6. Meeting of Soviet partisans in the liberated Yalta. 1944

7. The Soviet light cruiser "Red Crimea" enters the Sevastopol Bay. 11/05/1944

8. The commander of the 7th Romanian mountain corps, General Hugo Schwab (second from left) and the commander of the XXXXIX mountain corps of the Wehrmacht, General Rudolf Konrad (center right) pass by a mortar crew during a review in the Crimea. 02/27/1944

9. The Black Sea squadron returns to the liberated Sevastopol. In the foreground is the guards light cruiser Krasny Krym, behind it is the silhouette of the battleship Sevastopol. 11/05/1944

10. Soviet soldiers with a flag on the roof of the destroyed building Panorama "Defense of Sevastopol" in the liberated Sevastopol. 1944

11. Tanks Pz.Kpfw. 2nd Romanian tank regiment in the Crimea. 03.11.1943

12. Romanian General Hugo Schwab and German General Rudolf Konrad in the Crimea. 02/27/1944

13. Romanian gunners fire from an anti-tank gun during a battle in the Crimea. 03/27/1944

14. The commander of the XXXXIX mountain corps of the Wehrmacht, General Rudolf Konrad with Romanian officers at an observation post in the Crimea. 02/27/1944

15. Pilots of the 3rd Squadron of the 6th Guards Fighter Aviation Regiment of the Black Sea Fleet Air Force are studying a map of the combat area at the airfield near Yak-9D aircraft. In the background is the aircraft of the Guards Lieutenant V.I. Voronov (tail number "31"). Saki airfield, Crimea. April-May 1944

16. Chief of Staff of the 4th Ukrainian Front Lieutenant General Sergei Semenovich Biryuzov, member of the State Defense Committee Marshal of the Soviet Union Kliment Efremovich Voroshilov, Chief of the General Staff Marshal of the Soviet Union Alexander Mikhailovich Vasilevsky at the command post of the 4th Ukrainian Front. April 1944

17. Representative of the Headquarters of the Supreme High Command, Marshal of the Soviet Union S.K. Timoshenko, with the command of the North Caucasian Front and the 18th Army, is considering an operation plan to cross the Kerch Strait. From left to right: Marshal of the Soviet Union S.K. Timoshenko, Colonel General K.N. Leselidze, General of the Army I.E. Petrov. 1943

18. The Black Sea squadron returns to the liberated Sevastopol. In the foreground is the guards light cruiser Krasny Krym, behind it is the silhouette of the battleship Sevastopol. 11/05/1944

19. Soviet boat SKA-031 with a destroyed stern, thrown out at low tide in Krotkovo, waiting for repairs. A boat from the 1st Novorossiysk Red Banner division of sea hunters of the Black Sea Fleet. 1944

20. Armored boat of the Azov military flotilla in the Kerch Strait. Kerch-Eltingen landing operation. December 1943

21. Soviet troops transport military equipment and horses through the Sivash. In the foreground is a 45 mm anti-tank gun. December 1943

22. Soviet soldiers ferry on a pontoon a 122-mm howitzer of the 1938 model M-30 across the Sivash Bay (Rotten Sea). November 1943

23. T-34 tanks on the street of the liberated Sevastopol. May 1944

24. Marines at the arch of Primorsky Boulevard in the liberated Sevastopol. May 1944

25. The Black Sea squadron returns to the liberated Sevastopol. In the foreground is the guards light cruiser Krasny Krym, behind it is the silhouette of the battleship Sevastopol. 11/05/1944

26. Partisans who participated in the liberation of the Crimea. The village of Simeiz on the southern coast of the Crimean peninsula. 1944

27. Minesweeper, Lieutenant Ya.S. Shinkarchuk crossed the Sivash thirty-six times and transported 44 guns with shells to the bridgehead. 1943 year.

28. Architectural monument Grafskaya pier in the liberated Sevastopol. 1944

29. Fireworks at the grave of fellow pilots who died near Sevastopol on April 24, 1944 05/14/1944

30. Armored boats of the Black Sea Fleet carry out the landing of Soviet troops on the Crimean coast of the Kerch Strait to the bridgehead near Yenikale during the Kerch-Eltigen landing operation. November 1943

31. The crew of the Pe-2 dive bomber "For the Great Stalin" of the 40th Bomber Aviation Regiment of the Black Sea Fleet after completing a combat mission. Crimea, May 1944. From left to right: crew commander Nikolai Ivanovich Goryachkin, navigator - Yuri Vasilyevich Tsyplenkov, gunner-radio operator - Sergey (nickname Button).

32. Self-propelled guns SU-152 of the 1824th heavy self-propelled artillery regiment in Simferopol. 04/13/1944

33. Soviet soldiers cross the Sivash in December 1943.

34. Marine sets the Soviet naval flag in the liberated Sevastopol. May 1944

35. Tank T-34 in the street of the liberated Sevastopol. May 1944

36. Transportation of Soviet equipment during the Kerch-Eltigen landing operation. November 1943

37. Destroyed German equipment on the shores of the Cossack Bay in Sevastopol. May 1944

38. German soldiers killed during the liberation of the Crimea. 1944

39. Transport with German soldiers evacuated from the Crimea, moored in the port of Constanta, Romania. 1944

40. Partisans in Yalta. 1944

41. Armored boats. The Crimean coast of the Kerch Strait, most likely a bridgehead near Yenikale. Kerch-Eltigen landing operation. Late 1943

42. Yak-9D fighters over Sevastopol. May 1944

43. Yak-9D fighters over Sevastopol. May 1944

44. Yak-9D fighters, 3rd squadron of the 6th GvIAP of the Black Sea Fleet Air Force. May 1944

45. Liberated Sevastopol. May 1944

46. Yak-9D fighters over Sevastopol.

47. Soviet soldiers pose on a German fighter Messerschmitt Bf.109 abandoned in the Crimea. 1944

48. A Soviet soldier tears off the Nazi swastika from the gates of the metallurgical plant. Voikov in the liberated Kerch. April 1944

49. In the location of the Soviet troops - a unit on the march, washing, dugouts. Crimea. 1944

57. Liberated Sevastopol from a bird's eye view. 1944

58. In the liberated Sevastopol: an announcement at the entrance to Primorsky Boulevard, left over from the German administration. 1944

59. Sevastopol after the liberation from the Nazis. 1944

60. In the liberated Sevastopol. May 1944

61. Fighters of the 2nd Guards Taman Division in the liberated Kerch. Soviet troops began crossing the Kerch Strait following the Germans fleeing the Taman Peninsula on October 31, 1943. On April 11, 1944, Kerch was finally liberated as a result of a landing operation. April 1944

62. Fighters of the 2nd Guards Taman Division in the battles for the expansion of the bridgehead on the Kerch Peninsula, November 1943. With the defeat of the German troops on the Taman Peninsula, the path to the Kerch Strait opened up, which was used by the guardsmen during the landing to seize the bridgehead in the Crimea still occupied by the Germans . November 1943

63. Landing of the marines in the area of Kerch. On October 31, 1943, Soviet troops began crossing the Kerch Strait. As a result of the landing operation on April 11, 1944, Kerch was finally liberated. The severity and fierceness of the fighting during the defense and liberation of Kerch is evidenced by the fact that for these battles 146 people were awarded the high title of Hero of the Soviet Union, and 21 military units and formations were awarded the honorary title "Kerch". November 1943

Today is a memorable date in the military history of Russia. On May 12, 1944, the Crimean offensive operation ended. It was distinguished by well-balanced directions of the main strikes, good interaction between strike groups of troops, aviation and navy forces. At the beginning of the war, it took the Germans 250 days to capture the heroically defended Sevastopol. Our troops liberated Crimea in just 35 days.

THE BEGINNING OF OUR OFFENSIVE

35 DAYS

On May 7 at 10:30, with the massive support of the entire aviation of the front, Soviet troops began a general assault on the Sevastopol fortified area. The troops of the main shock group of the front broke through the enemy defenses on a 9-kilometer sector and captured Sapun Mountain in the course of fierce battles. On May 9, front troops from the north, east and southeast broke into Sevastopol and liberated the city. The remnants of the German 17th Army, pursued by the 19th Panzer Corps, retreated to Cape Khersones, where they were finally defeated. On the cape, 21 thousand enemy soldiers and officers were taken prisoner, a large amount of equipment and weapons were captured.

On May 12, the Crimean offensive operation ended. If in 1941-1942. it took the German troops 250 days to capture the heroically defended Sevastopol, then in 1944 the Soviet troops only needed 35 days to break into the powerful fortifications in the Crimea and clear almost the entire peninsula of the enemy.

The goals of the operation were achieved. Soviet troops broke through the defense in depth on the Isthmus of Perekop, the Kerch Peninsula, in the region of Sevastopol and defeated the 17th field army of the Wehrmacht. Its losses on land alone amounted to 100 thousand people, including over 61,580 prisoners. Soviet troops and fleet forces during the Crimean operation lost 17,754 people killed and 67,065 people wounded.

May 1, 1944. 1045th day of the war

On the same day, the Sugar Loaf height was occupied, covering the entrance to the Inkerman Valley. The troops of the 2nd Guards Army, having captured the Mekenzievy Gory station after a four-hour battle, advanced towards the Northern Bay.

On May 18, the Soviet government sent a note to the government of Bulgaria regarding the ongoing cooperation between Bulgaria and Germany.

Sovinformburo. During May 31, in the area north of Yassa, our troops successfully repelled all attacks by large enemy infantry and tanks and inflicted heavy losses in manpower and equipment.

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An excerpt characterizing the Chronicle of the Great Patriotic War / May 1944

Christmas time came, and apart from the ceremonial mass, except for the solemn and boring congratulations from neighbors and courtyards, except for all the new dresses put on, there was nothing special commemorating Christmas time, but in a windless 20 degree frost, in a bright blinding sun during the day and in starry winter light at night, the need for some kind of commemoration of this time was felt.
On the third day of the holiday, after dinner, all the households went to their rooms. It was the most boring time of the day. Nikolai, who went to the neighbors in the morning, fell asleep in the sofa room. The old count was resting in his study. Sonya was sitting at a round table in the living room, sketching a pattern. The Countess laid out the cards. Nastasya Ivanovna, with a sad face, was sitting at the window with two old women. Natasha entered the room, went up to Sonya, looked at what she was doing, then went up to her mother and silently stopped.
- Why are you walking around like a homeless person? her mother told her. - What do you want?
“I need him ... now, this minute I need him,” said Natasha, her eyes shining and not smiling. The Countess lifted her head and looked at her daughter intently.
- Don't look at me. Mom, don't look, I'll cry now.
“Sit down, sit with me,” said the countess.
Mom, I need it. Why am I disappearing like this, mother? ... - Her voice broke off, tears splashed from her eyes, and in order to hide them, she quickly turned around and left the room. She went out into the sofa room, stood for a moment, thought, and went into the girls' room. There, the old maid grumbled at a young girl, out of breath, who had come running from the cold from the servants.
“That will play,” said the old woman. - There is all the time.
“Let her go, Kondratyevna,” said Natasha. - Go, Mavrusha, go.
And releasing Mavrusha, Natasha went through the hall into the hall. The old man and two young footmen were playing cards. They interrupted the game and stood up at the entrance of the young lady. "What should I do with them?" thought Natasha. - Yes, Nikita, please go ... where can I send him? - Yes, go to the servants and bring a rooster please; yes, and you, Misha, bring oats.
- Would you like some oats? Misha said cheerfully and willingly.
“Go, go quickly,” said the old man.
- Fedor, and you get me some chalk.
Passing by the buffet, she ordered the samovar to be served, although it was not at all the time.
Fok the barman was the most angry person in the whole house. Natasha loved to try her power over him. He did not believe her and went to ask if it was true?
- Oh, this young lady! said Foka, feigning a frown at Natasha.
No one in the house sent out so many people and gave them so much work as Natasha. She could not see people with indifference, so as not to send them somewhere. It was as if she was trying to see if she would get angry, if one of them would pout at her, but people did not like to fulfill anyone's orders as much as Natasha's. “What should I do? Where should I go? Natasha thought as she slowly walked down the corridor.
- Nastasya Ivanovna, what will be born from me? she asked the jester, who, in his kutsaveyka, was walking towards her.
- From you fleas, dragonflies, blacksmiths, - answered the jester.
“My God, my God, it’s all the same. Ah, where should I go? What should I do with myself? - And she quickly, clattering her feet, ran up the stairs to Vogel, who lived with his wife on the top floor. Vogel had two governesses, and there were plates of raisins, walnuts, and almonds on the table. The governesses talked about where it was cheaper to live, in Moscow or Odessa. Natasha sat down, listened to their conversation with a serious, thoughtful face, and stood up. “The island of Madagascar,” she said. “Ma da gas car,” she repeated each syllable distinctly, and without answering m me Schoss’s questions about what she was saying, she left the room. Petya, her brother, was also upstairs: he and his uncle arranged fireworks, which he intended to set off at night. - Petya! Petka! she shouted to him, “take me downstairs. c - Petya ran up to her and turned his back. She jumped on top of him, wrapping her arms around his neck, and he jumped up and ran with her. “No, no, it’s the island of Madagascar,” she said, and, jumping off it, went down.
As if she had bypassed her kingdom, tested her power and made sure that everyone was submissive, but still boring, Natasha went into the hall, took a guitar, sat in a dark corner behind a cabinet and began to pluck the strings in the bass, making a phrase that she remembered from one opera heard in St. Petersburg together with Prince Andrei. For outsiders, something on her guitar came out that had no meaning, but in her imagination, because of these sounds, a whole series of memories was resurrected. She sat at the cupboard, fixing her eyes on the streak of light falling from the pantry door, listening to herself and remembering. She was in a state of remembrance.
Sonya went to the buffet with a glass across the hall. Natasha looked at her, at the gap in the pantry door, and it seemed to her that she was remembering that light was falling through the gap from the pantry door and that Sonya had passed with a glass. "Yes, and it was exactly the same," thought Natasha. Sonya, what is it? Natasha shouted, fingering the thick string.
- Oh, you're here! – shuddering, said Sonya, came up and listened. - I do not know. Storm? she said timidly, afraid of making a mistake.
“Well, she shuddered in exactly the same way, came up in the same way and smiled timidly when it was already,” Natasha thought, “and in exactly the same way ... I thought that something was missing in her.”
- No, this is the choir from the Water Carrier, do you hear! - And Natasha finished singing the motive of the choir in order to make Sonya understand it.
– Where did you go? Natasha asked.
- Change the water in the glass. I'm painting the pattern now.
“You are always busy, but I don’t know how,” said Natasha. - Where is Nikolai?
Sleeping, it seems.
“Sonya, you go wake him up,” said Natasha. - Say that I call him to sing. - She sat, thought about what it means, that it all happened, and, without resolving this issue and not at all regretting it, she was again transported in her imagination to the time when she was with him, and he, with loving eyes looked at her.
“Oh, I wish he would come soon. I'm so afraid it won't! And most importantly: I'm getting old, that's what! There will be no more what is now in me. Or maybe he will come today, he will come now. Maybe he came and sits there in the living room. Maybe he arrived yesterday and I forgot. She got up, put down her guitar and went into the living room. All the household, teachers, governesses and guests were already sitting at the tea table. People stood around the table - but Prince Andrei was not there, and there was still the old life.
“Ah, here she is,” said Ilya Andreevich, seeing Natasha come in. - Well, sit down with me. But Natasha stopped beside her mother, looking around, as if she was looking for something.
- Mother! she said. “Give it to me, give it to me, mother, hurry, hurry,” and again she could hardly restrain her sobs.
She sat down at the table and listened to the conversations of the elders and Nikolai, who also came to the table. “My God, my God, the same faces, the same conversations, the same dad holds a cup and blows the same way!” thought Natasha, feeling with horror the disgust that rose in her against all the household because they were still the same.
After tea, Nikolai, Sonya and Natasha went to the sofa room, to their favorite corner, in which their most intimate conversations always began.

“It happens to you,” Natasha said to her brother when they sat down in the sofa room, “it happens to you that it seems to you that nothing will happen - nothing; that all that was good was? And not just boring, but sad?
- And how! - he said. - It happened to me that everything was fine, everyone was cheerful, but it would occur to me that all this was already tired and that everyone needed to die. Once I didn’t go to the regiment for a walk, and there was music playing ... and I suddenly became bored ...
“Ah, I know that. I know, I know, - Natasha picked up. “I was still little, so it happened to me. Do you remember, since they punished me for plums and you all danced, and I sat in the classroom and sobbed, I will never forget: I was sad and felt sorry for everyone, and myself, and I felt sorry for everyone. And, most importantly, I was not to blame, - said Natasha, - do you remember?
“I remember,” Nikolai said. - I remember that I came to you later and I wanted to console you and, you know, I was ashamed. We were awfully funny. I had a bobblehead toy then and I wanted to give it to you. Do you remember?
“Do you remember,” Natasha said with a thoughtful smile, how long, long ago, we were still very young, our uncle called us into the office, back in the old house, and it was dark - we came and suddenly it was standing there ...
“Arap,” Nikolai finished with a joyful smile, “how can you not remember? Even now I don’t know that it was a black man, or we saw it in a dream, or we were told.
- He was gray, remember, and white teeth - he stands and looks at us ...
Do you remember Sonya? Nicholas asked...
“Yes, yes, I also remember something,” Sonya answered timidly ...
“I asked my father and mother about this arap,” said Natasha. “They say there was no arap. But you do remember!
- How, as now I remember his teeth.
How strange, it was like a dream. I like it.
- Do you remember how we rolled eggs in the hall and suddenly two old women began to spin on the carpet. Was it or not? Do you remember how good it was?
- Yes. Do you remember how daddy in a blue coat on the porch fired a gun. - They sorted through the memories, smiling with pleasure, not sad old, but poetic youthful memories, those impressions from the most distant past, where the dream merges with reality, and laughed quietly, rejoicing at something.
Sonya, as always, lagged behind them, although their memories were common.
Sonya did not remember much of what they remembered, and what she remembered did not arouse in her that poetic feeling that they experienced. She only enjoyed their joy, trying to imitate it.
She took part only when they recalled Sonya's first visit. Sonya told how she was afraid of Nikolai, because he had cords on his jacket, and her nanny told her that they would sew her into cords too.
“But I remember: they told me that you were born under cabbage,” said Natasha, “and I remember that then I did not dare not to believe, but I knew that this was not true, and I was so embarrassed.
During this conversation, the maid's head poked out of the back door of the divan. - Young lady, they brought a rooster, - the girl said in a whisper.
“Don’t, Polya, tell them to take it,” said Natasha.
In the middle of conversations going on in the sofa room, Dimmler entered the room and approached the harp in the corner. He took off the cloth, and the harp made a false sound.
“Eduard Karlych, please play my favorite Monsieur Filda’s Nocturiene,” said the voice of the old countess from the drawing room.
Dimmler took a chord and, turning to Natasha, Nikolai and Sonya, said: - Young people, how quietly they sit!
“Yes, we are philosophizing,” said Natasha, looking around for a minute, and continued the conversation. The conversation was now about dreams.
Dimmler began to play. Natasha inaudibly, on tiptoe, went up to the table, took the candle, carried it out, and, returning, quietly sat down in her place. It was dark in the room, especially on the sofa on which they sat, but the silver light of a full moon fell on the floor through the large windows.
“You know, I think,” Natasha said in a whisper, moving closer to Nikolai and Sonya, when Dimmler had already finished and was still sitting, weakly plucking the strings, apparently in indecision to leave or start something new, “that when you remember like that, you remember, you remember everything , until you remember that you remember what was even before I was in the world ...
“This is metampsikova,” said Sonya, who always studied well and remembered everything. “The Egyptians believed that our souls were in animals and would go back to animals.
“No, you know, I don’t believe that we were animals,” Natasha said in the same whisper, although the music ended, “but I know for sure that we were angels there somewhere and here, and from this we remember everything.” …
- May I join you? - Dimmler said quietly approached and sat down to them.
- If we were angels, why did we get lower? Nikolai said. - No, it can't be!
“Not lower, who told you that it was lower? ... Why do I know what I was before,” Natasha objected with conviction. - After all, the soul is immortal ... therefore, if I live forever, so I lived before, lived for eternity.
“Yes, but it’s hard for us to imagine eternity,” said Dimmler, who approached the young people with a meek, contemptuous smile, but now spoke as quietly and seriously as they did.
Why is it so hard to imagine eternity? Natasha said. “It will be today, it will be tomorrow, it will always be, and yesterday was and the third day was ...
- Natasha! now it's your turn. Sing me something, - the voice of the countess was heard. - Why are you sitting down, like conspirators.
- Mother! I don’t feel like it,” Natasha said, but at the same time she got up.
All of them, even the middle-aged Dimmler, did not want to interrupt the conversation and leave the corner of the sofa, but Natasha got up, and Nikolai sat down at the clavichord. As always, standing in the middle of the hall and choosing the most advantageous place for resonance, Natasha began to sing her mother's favorite play.
She said that she did not feel like singing, but she had not sung for a long time before, and for a long time after, as she sang that evening. Count Ilya Andreevich, from the study where he was talking to Mitinka, heard her singing, and like a pupil in a hurry to go to play, finishing the lesson, he got confused in words, giving orders to the manager and finally fell silent, and Mitinka, also listening, silently with a smile, stood in front of count. Nikolai did not take his eyes off his sister, and took a breath with her. Sonya, listening, thought about what an enormous difference there was between her and her friend, and how impossible it was for her to be in any way as charming as her cousin. The old countess sat with a happily sad smile and tears in her eyes, occasionally shaking her head. She thought about Natasha, and about her youth, and about how something unnatural and terrible is in this upcoming marriage of Natasha to Prince Andrei.
Dimmler, sitting down next to the countess and closing his eyes, listened.
“No, countess,” he said at last, “this is a European talent, she has nothing to learn, this gentleness, tenderness, strength ...
– Ah! how I fear for her, how I fear,” said the countess, not remembering to whom she was speaking. Her maternal instinct told her that there was too much in Natasha, and that she would not be happy from this. Natasha had not yet finished singing, when an enthusiastic fourteen-year-old Petya ran into the room with the news that mummers had come.
Natasha suddenly stopped.
- Fool! she shouted at her brother, ran up to a chair, fell on it and sobbed so that she could not stop for a long time afterwards.
“Nothing, mother, really nothing, so: Petya scared me,” she said, trying to smile, but tears kept flowing and sobs squeezed her throat.
Dressed-up servants, bears, Turks, innkeepers, ladies, terrible and funny, bringing with them cold and fun, at first timidly huddled in the hallway; then, hiding one behind the other, they were forced into the hall; and at first shyly, but then more and more cheerfully and amicably, songs, dances, choral and Christmas games began. The countess, recognizing the faces and laughing at the dressed up, went into the living room. Count Ilya Andreich sat in the hall with a beaming smile, approving the players. The youth has disappeared.
Half an hour later, in the hall, among the other mummers, another old lady in tanks appeared - it was Nikolai. The Turkish woman was Petya. Payas - it was Dimmler, the hussar - Natasha and the Circassian - Sonya, with a painted cork mustache and eyebrows.
After condescending surprise, misrecognition and praise from those who were not dressed up, the young people found that the costumes were so good that they had to be shown to someone else.
Nikolay, who wanted to give everyone a ride on his troika along an excellent road, suggested that, taking ten dressed-up people from the yard with him, go to his uncle.
- No, why are you upsetting him, the old man! - said the countess, - and there is nowhere to turn around with him. To go, so to the Melyukovs.
Melyukova was a widow with children of various ages, also with governesses and tutors, who lived four miles from the Rostovs.
“Here, ma chere, clever,” said the old count, who had begun to stir. “Now let me dress up and go with you.” I'll stir up Pasheta.
But the countess did not agree to let the count go: his leg hurt all these days. It was decided that Ilya Andreevich was not allowed to go, and that if Luiza Ivanovna (m me Schoss) went, the young ladies could go to Melyukova's. Sonya, always timid and shy, began to beg Louisa Ivanovna more insistently than anyone else not to refuse them.
Sonya's outfit was the best. Her mustache and eyebrows were unusually suited to her. Everyone told her that she was very good, and she was in a lively and energetic mood unusual for her. Some kind of inner voice told her that now or never her fate would be decided, and in her man's dress she seemed like a completely different person. Luiza Ivanovna agreed, and half an hour later four troikas with bells and bells, screeching and whistling in the frosty snow, drove up to the porch.
Natasha was the first to give the tone of Christmas merriment, and this merriment, reflected from one to another, grew more and more intensified and reached its highest degree at the time when everyone went out into the cold, and talking, calling to each other, laughing and shouting, sat down in the sleigh.
Two troikas were accelerating, the third troika of the old count with an Oryol trotter in the bud; Nikolai's fourth own, with its low, black, shaggy root. Nikolay, in his old woman's attire, on which he put on a hussar, belted cloak, stood in the middle of his sleigh, picking up the reins.
It was so bright that he could see plaques gleaming in the moonlight and the eyes of the horses looking frightened at the riders rustling under the dark canopy of the entrance.
Natasha, Sonya, m me Schoss and two girls sat in Nikolai's sleigh. In the old count's sleigh sat Dimmler with his wife and Petya; dressed up courtyards sat in the rest.
- Go ahead, Zakhar! - Nikolai shouted to his father's coachman in order to have an opportunity to overtake him on the road.
The troika of the old count, in which Dimmler and other mummers sat, screeching with runners, as if freezing to the snow, and rattling with a thick bell, moved forward. The trailers clung to the shafts and bogged down, turning the strong and shiny snow like sugar.
Nikolai set off for the first three; the others rustled and squealed from behind. At first they rode at a small trot along a narrow road. While we were driving past the garden, the shadows from the bare trees often lay across the road and hid the bright light of the moon, but as soon as we drove beyond the fence, a diamond-shiny, with a bluish sheen, a snowy plain, all doused with moonlight and motionless, opened up on all sides. Once, once, pushed a bump in the front sleigh; the next sleigh and the following jogged in the same way, and, boldly breaking the chained silence, the sleigh began to stretch out one after the other.
- A hare's footprint, a lot of footprints! - Natasha's voice sounded in the frosty constrained air.
– As you can see, Nicolas! Sonya's voice said. - Nikolai looked back at Sonya and bent down to get a closer look at her face. Some kind of completely new, sweet face, with black eyebrows and mustaches, in the moonlight, close and far, peeped out of the sables.
"It used to be Sonya," Nikolai thought. He looked closer at her and smiled.
What are you, Nicholas?
“Nothing,” he said, and turned back to the horses.
Having ridden out onto the main road, greased with runners and all riddled with traces of thorns, visible in the light of the moon, the horses themselves began to tighten the reins and add speed. The left harness, bending its head, twitched its traces with jumps. Root swayed, moving his ears, as if asking: “Is it too early to start?” - Ahead, already far separated and ringing a receding thick bell, Zakhar's black troika was clearly visible on the white snow. Shouting and laughter and the voices of the dressed up were heard from his sleigh.
“Well, you, dear ones,” shouted Nikolai, tugging on the reins on one side and withdrawing his hand with a whip. And only by the wind, which seemed to have intensified against them, and by the twitching of the tie-downs, which were tightening and increasing their speed, it was noticeable how fast the troika flew. Nicholas looked back. With a shout and a squeal, waving their whips and forcing the natives to gallop, other troikas kept up. Root steadfastly swayed under the arc, not thinking of knocking down and promising to give more and more when needed.
Nikolai caught up with the top three. They drove off some mountain, drove onto a widely rutted road through a meadow near a river.
"Where are we going?" thought Nicholas. - “It should be on a slanting meadow. But no, it's something new that I've never seen before. This is not a slanting meadow and not Demkina Gora, but God knows what it is! This is something new and magical. Well, whatever it is!” And he, shouting at the horses, began to go around the first three.
Zakhar restrained his horses and turned his already frosted face up to the eyebrows.
Nicholas let his horses go; Zakhar, stretching his hands forward, smacked his lips and let his people go.
“Well, hold on, sir,” he said. - The troikas flew even faster nearby, and the legs of the galloping horses quickly changed. Nicholas began to take forward. Zakhar, without changing the position of his outstretched arms, raised one hand with the reins.
“You’re lying, master,” he shouted to Nikolai. Nikolai put all the horses into a gallop and overtook Zakhar. The horses covered the faces of the riders with fine, dry snow, next to them there was a sound of frequent enumerations and the fast-moving legs were confused, and the shadows of the overtaken troika. The whistle of skids in the snow and women's screams were heard from different directions.

Storming of Sevastopol

Fighting on the outskirts of Sevastopol

The command of the 17th German Army managed, leaving barriers, to withdraw significant forces to the Sevastopol fortified area. The Soviet troops failed to bypass and destroy the main forces of the German group in the foothills. In the area of Bakhchisaray, the troops of the 2nd Guards and 51st armies joined, and there was some mixing of the troops. As a result, the rate of pursuit of the enemy decreased. This allowed the retreating German units to "bounce" to Sevastopol and take up defense there. On April 15, Soviet troops reached the outer defensive perimeter of Sevastopol. Here the enemy occupied a powerful defensive area, counting on its long-term retention.

Of course, the divisions of the 17th Wehrmacht Army that reached the Sevastopol fortified area were in a deplorable state. On April 14, the main forces of the 49th mountain rifle corps of the German troops, who managed to save heavy artillery, reached the outer contour of the fortified area of Sevastopol. Soon, Lieutenant-General Sixt's battle group, which was defending the Satabus airfield from Soviet attacks, came up there, consisting of parts of the 50th Infantry Division, transport units and several batteries of anti-aircraft guns.

The Soviet troops relentlessly pursued the retreating German troops, and it was a miracle that the operation to withdraw the formations of the 17th Wehrmacht Army, under the continuous influence of superior enemy forces, was generally completed. The Romanian formations essentially fell apart, and the German divisions practically turned into reinforced regiments. German losses amounted to 13,131, Romanian - 17,652. The personnel of the army by April 18 was reduced to 124,233 people.

Evacuation by sea has been carried out continuously since April 12. First of all, rear services, transport units, prisoners of war and civil servants were taken out. By April 20, 67 thousand people were evacuated, that is, more than 7 thousand people were transported daily by transport ships. Another 18 days - and it would be possible to successfully complete the entire operation to save the German army.

The general situation looked quite encouraging for the German troops. The defensive and blocking positions of the three fortified zones of the city-fortress could be held for another 2-3 weeks. Until they were broken through, the airfields inside the fortified area were out of reach of Soviet artillery fire, and Luftwaffe aircraft could use them, and while German aviation provided air cover, evacuation by sea could continue. So everything was connected. It was still possible to save the 17th Army and, if we acted smart and boldly, even try to save its rearguard units on the last day of the evacuation. The command of the 17th Army believed in this.

But her fatal sentence had already been aired. Hitler again made one of his incomprehensible decisions. On April 12, he signed the order: “Defend Sevastopol to the end. Combat-ready troops are not to be evacuated!” New battalions were transferred to the city. Sevastopol had to hold out!

Colonel-General Eneke, as well as Colonel-General Scherner, who commanded Army Group South Ukraine from March 31, 1944 after the removal of Field Marshal von Kleist, as well as the Chief of the General Staff of the Ground Forces (OKH) Zeitzler, tried in vain to convince Hitler to cancel this order.

On April 21, Scherner flew to the Berghof to persuade Hitler to revise the order for the defense of Sevastopol. Hitler gave his counterarguments. Turkey's position, he said, after the collapse of the front at Kerch and Perekop became uncertain and now depends on whether it will be possible to keep the Crimea, in other words, Sevastopol. This is the main motive for his decision to defend Sevastopol. “To wage war, I first of all need two things - Romanian oil and Turkish chromium ore. Both will be lost if I leave Crimea.” Then he somewhat softened his statement: there is no need, of course, to hold the Crimea indefinitely, it is enough to hold out only 8-10 weeks. Once the expected Allied invasion of France had been successfully repelled, in a few weeks Sevastopol could be safely abandoned without much political risk. Hitler assured Scherner that reinforcements would be sent to Sevastopol. On April 24, the German command forbade the evacuation of troops by sea.

From Romania, by sea and by air, about 6 thousand German soldiers and officers were brought up (in April - the 516th marching battalion, previously located in the Vienna region, the 999th penal battalion, operating in Greece).

In April, the Germans had five weakened divisions to defend Sevastopol. According to the testimony of prisoners of war, by April 18, up to 100,000 people, belonging to units of the 17th Army as part of the 49th Army Corps (50th, 336th and 98th Infantry Divisions), 5- 1st Army Corps (111th and 73rd Infantry Divisions), separate army and corps auxiliary units and reinforcement units. In addition, units of the 1st, 2nd and 3rd mountain rifle divisions, the remnants of the 6th, 9th cavalry and 19th infantry divisions of the Romanians remained as an army reserve.

In the period from 16 to 24 April, that is, before receiving Hitler's order to stop the evacuation, up to 25,000 people were evacuated, and up to 75,000 German soldiers remained in the Sevastopol bridgehead. Until May 7, some rear units and the wounded were also evacuated from the bridgehead, totaling up to 25,000 people. During this period, reinforcements from marching battalions were received: the 1020th - 830 people, the 336th - 540 people, the 35th, 36th and 37th marching companies - up to 620 people. With other marching units, the total number of reinforcements was up to 5,000 soldiers.

The Sevastopol grouping was reinforced with tanks and assault guns of the consolidated assault gun battalion, which was formed from the remnants of the 191st and 279th brigades (23 assault guns) and tanks of the 51st and 52nd tank companies of the Romanians (16 tanks). The artillery consisted of those guns that were saved during the retreat of the 49th Corps. True, the main line of defense was well fortified, its defenses were covered with barbed wire, but reinforced concrete pillboxes in the depths of the defense existed only in tactically important sectors.

The first line, which took place a kilometer east of height 178.2, Sapun Gora, a fork in the highway east of the Bolshevik collective farm and further south to the sea, had continuous powerful minefields of anti-tank and anti-personnel mines along the entire front line, trenches of a full profile up to 2 meters deep and wire fences in 3-5 rows. Sites for automatic weapons were prepared in the trenches every 25–30 meters, and bunkers and bunkers were located approximately every 150–200 meters. In total, up to 160 bunkers and bunkers were located on the site south of Sapun Mountain, the Bolshevik collective farm and the Black Sea coast. The first frontier in its main part passed along the ridge of the Sapun Mountains dominating the surrounding area and further along nameless heights with steep eastern slopes, which, in combination with engineering structures, made these positions almost impregnable.

The second defensive line, consisting of an anti-tank ditch, a developed system of trenches, wire obstacles and minefields, ran from the southern coast of Severnaya Bay, east of the Korabelnaya settlement, along the eastern slopes of height 165.1, east of height 172.7, state farm No. 10 and east of the former Georgievsky Monastery. The third defensive line, which had an anti-tank ditch in its northern part and a protective rampart in its southern part, ran along the western shore of Streletskaya Bay, east of the 80.0 mark and further along the defensive rampart. It also had a developed system of trenches and barbed wire, and in some areas, minefields. The line was reinforced and covered by a large number of MLRS and mortars (up to 1200 units). The last line passed along the western shore of Kamyshevaya Bay, mark 44.1 and further south to the seashore.

The second and third defensive lines, where the reserves were stationed, were much weaker than the first. The old forts and reinforced concrete shelters were not restored and were used only as hospitals and troop concentration points. The fortifications in the southeastern sector of the outer bypass of the city were weaker, and the trenches were not deep enough. The 5th Corps did not have heavy artillery, and there was not enough heavy small arms. The 98th Infantry Division found itself without a trench tool. Picks and shovels had to be collected throughout the fortified area, and sappers urgently made handles for them. Only after this did the construction of earthen fortifications begin.

On April 27, in the face of an imminent catastrophe, Colonel General Eneke sent a telegram intended for Hitler to the headquarters of Army Group South Ukraine. Scherner immediately handed her over to the Fuhrer's headquarters. Yeneke, who three days earlier had made a request for the two divisions promised to him as reinforcements, now categorically demanded the immediate dispatch of one division, and also requested that he be allowed "freedom of action."

For Hitler, the last words were sedition. General Eneke was called to headquarters for a report and on May 1 was removed from command of the army. The commander of the 5th Army Corps, Colonel General Almendinger, was appointed the new commander. The commander of the 49th Corps, General Konrad, also lost his post. General Hartmann became his successor.

The new commander of the 17th German Army wrote in an order dated May 3: “I received an order to defend every inch of the Sevastopol bridgehead. You understand its meaning. Not a single name in Russia is pronounced with more reverence than Sevastopol ... I demand that everyone defends in the full sense of the word, that no one retreats, that he would hold every trench, every funnel, every trench. In the event of a breakthrough of enemy tanks, the infantry must remain in their positions and destroy tanks both at the forefront and in the depths of the defense with powerful anti-tank weapons.

If strong enemy fire destroys our defenses, we must remain in place and protect the remains of these structures, funnels. If the enemy manages to penetrate our defenses anywhere, we must immediately counterattack and drive the enemy back, without waiting for a special order to do so.

The bridgehead throughout the entire depth is heavily equipped in engineering terms, and the enemy, wherever he appears, will become entangled in the network of our defensive structures. But none of us should even think of withdrawing to these positions, located in the depths.

The 17th Army in Sevastopol is supported by powerful air and naval forces. The Führer is giving us enough ammunition, planes, armaments and reinforcements.

The honor of the army depends on each meter of the territory received. Germany expects us to do our duty."

At this time, there were organizational changes in the management of the Soviet units. A separate Primorsky Army was included in the troops of the 4th Ukrainian Front. It became known simply as the Primorsky Army, and Lieutenant General K. S. Melnik took command of it. Army General A. I. Eremenko left at the disposal of the Headquarters. The command of the 4th Air Army of K. A. Vershinin, the 55th Guards, the 20th Mountain Rifle Division, as well as the 20th Rifle Corps, which were on the Taman Peninsula in reserve, left the Crimea.

Attempts by the Soviet troops to capture Sevastopol on the move and thereby disrupt the evacuation that had begun failed. On April 17, the 63rd Corps of General P.K. Koshevoy reached the Black River line. On April 18, the troops of the Primorsky Army and the 77th Simferopol Division of the 51st Army captured Balaklava and Kadykovka, and the 267th Division and units of the 19th Tank Corps approached the last powerful defensive line - Sapun Mountain, which is 5–7 km from Sevastopol.

By April 16, the forward units of the Primorsky Army approached the advanced approaches to the Sevastopol fortified area. During April 17 and 18, fighting stubborn battles with enemy units defending the supply zone, the advanced units of the 32nd Guards Rifle Division and the 16th Rifle Corps moved forward and captured the settlements of Nizhny Chorgun, Kamary, Kadykovka. By April 19, parts of these formations came close to the outer contour of the Sevastopol fortified area, which, in the army's combat zone, passed along the eastern slopes of Sapun Mountain, a kilometer east of the Bolshevik collective farm and nameless heights west of Balaklava.

The main forces of the 11th Guards and 16th Rifle Corps, advancing in a forced march, by April 18, significantly approached the advanced units and reached the Bakhchisarai-Yalta line.

In order to prevent the enemy, under the cover of the powerful fortifications of the Sevastopol fortified area, from carrying out a systematic evacuation of the remnants of the German Crimean group, the troops of the front in general and the Primorsky Army in particular were tasked with establishing by active offensive operations how large the enemy forces were defending on the main line of the Sevastopol fortified area, and how strong is the defense of the Germans near Sevastopol.

In pursuance of this task, the troops of the Primorsky Army made two attempts in the period from April 19 to April 24 (after preparing an attack in a limited time) to break through the enemy defenses near Sevastopol. Moreover, in both cases, most of the forces and means available by that time in the army were put into action. The rest of the time, army troops fought in reconnaissance detachments from a reinforced rifle company to a battalion.

The offensive of the Primorsky Army, carried out on April 19 in cooperation with the troops of the 51st Army, was attended by rifle divisions (including the 77th rifle division of the 51st Army), 2 mobile detachments of rifle divisions and up to 60 tanks and self-propelled guns of the 19th Army. th tank corps.

The army troops had the task of breaking through the enemy’s fortified zone at the front, height 125.7 - Karan, and, having brought the main forces into battle (tanks of the 19th corps were used to support rifle formations as infantry direct support vehicles), develop an offensive in the direction of height 172 ,7 - the southern outskirts of Sevastopol - Cape Khersones with the aim of finally defeating the enemy's Sevastopol grouping in cooperation with other armies of the front. The offensive of the army was to be preceded by a 30-minute artillery preparation and a bombing and assault strike by part of the forces of the 4th Air Army.

The enemy occupied the former line of defense with the forces of the 73rd Infantry Division and several battalions of policemen. During the day, the combat formations of the corps bombed Luftwaffe aircraft in groups of 10-15 vehicles. After a 30-minute artillery preparation at 1600, the 19th Panzer Corps attacked the enemy in battle formation in the line of brigades in one echelon. The 79th brigade was advancing on the right. After a two-hour battle, the brigade's tanks reached the Bezymyanny farm, but the infantry, pressed to the ground by destructive artillery and mortar fire, did not rise to the attack. Tanks maneuvered at the reached line, fighting with artillery and visible enemy firing points. The further advance of the tanks was halted by enemy artillery fire. The attack was again unsuccessful, and the corps was withdrawn to its original position by order of the commander of the Primorsky Army.

It was not possible to break through the enemy's defensive line or even to wedge into his defenses. Due to an acute shortage of ammunition, artillery preparation was weak, and enemy firing points and artillery were not suppressed. Our advancing units, stopped by the enemy's strong barrage and mortar fire from the depths and his rifle and machine-gun fire from the front line, lay down in front of the wire obstacles and, after a stubborn fire battle with the enemy, which continued until dark, were forced to retreat to their original position. This offensive showed that the enemy's defense was heavily saturated with heavy and light machine guns at the forefront and was provided with artillery and mortar fire from the depths.

By this time, there was a shortage of ammunition in all formations, and aviation was without fuel. It was necessary to prepare an assault on the fortified Sevastopol.

On April 23, the main forces of the 11th and 16th Rifle Corps approached Sevastopol, and the front commander decided to launch a second offensive with larger forces. Up to 5 rifle divisions and tank units of the Primorsky Army (one tank brigade - 63rd Tamanskaya and 3 tank regiments - 85th, 257th and 244th) and the 19th tank corps, which by that time numbered a total of 42 tanks and 28 self-propelled guns. Artillery preparation was set to last one hour. The 8th Air Army was to support the offensive.

It was decided to supply ammunition (1.5 rounds of ammunition), pull up the 19th tank corps and heavy artillery to the Balaklava area. It was planned to go on the offensive on April 23 and cut off Sevastopol from the bays located to the southwest with a blow from Balaklava. At the same time, the 2nd Guards Army was to break through the Inkerman Valley to the Northern Bay and take it under direct fire from guns. Air strikes were supposed to be concentrated on the berths of the port and transports at sea.

On April 23, at 10.30, the 85th separate tank regiment, having by that time 14 T-34 tanks in service, by order of the commander of the 11th Guards Corps, concentrated in the initial area and, at the end of the artillery preparation at 11.00, went on the attack with the task of fire and caterpillars ensure the exit of the infantry of the 32nd Guards Rifle Division to the area of state farm No. 10. Subsequently, it was supposed to strike at the western slopes of Sapun Mountain and assist units of this division in mastering it. However, the enemy, with his flanking fire from Sapun Mountain, cut off the infantry from the tanks, pinned them to the ground, and inflicted great damage on the tank regiment. The attack bogged down, and the regiment lost 10 T-34 tanks burnt out and knocked out.

The 63rd tank brigade, with 33 tanks in service, under the order of the commander of the 16th rifle corps, in cooperation with the 383rd rifle division, carried out a similar task. By the end of the day, at the cost of heavy losses (20 tanks burned down), the brigade with its motorized rifle battalion captured the Bezymyanny farm, a kilometer northeast of the Bolshevik collective farm, and could not advance further. On the night of April 24, the tanks were withdrawn to their original position, and the infantry remained to hold the occupied line.

The 257th separate tank regiment, with 30 tanks in service, on the orders of the commander of the 16th rifle corps, interacting with units of the 383rd rifle division, attacked the enemy in the direction of the northern outskirts of the Kadykovka settlement, the fork in the highways and the Gornaya height. At 11.30, the tanks of the regiment passed the front line of the enemy's defense and reached the Nameless Farm, 1.5 km northwest of Kadykovka. Here the tanks were met with heavy anti-tank fire, and attempts to move forward through the hollow were unsuccessful. By the end of the day, the regiment, having lost 5 tanks burned out and 6 damaged, returned to their original positions.

The offensive on April 23 showed that, despite the excellent work of artillery and aviation, it was not possible to destroy the defensive structures, although in some directions the infantry advanced 2–3 km and occupied the enemy’s front trenches. According to intelligence data, the enemy still had 72,700 soldiers and officers, 1,345 artillery pieces, 430 mortars, 2,355 machine guns, as well as 50 tanks and self-propelled guns in the bridgehead.

On April 24, the tank units of the Primorsky Army and the 19th Tank Corps were once again used to break through to Sapun Gora through the Bolshevik collective farm, having suffered heavy losses, but had no success. During the two days of the battle, 97 tanks and self-propelled guns were lost (burned out and lined). After a series of unsuccessful attacks, on the orders of the chief of staff of the front and the commander of the Primorsky Army, the corps was withdrawn to the area of the village of Kamara, where it began repairing tanks and preparing for further hostilities.

After lengthy discussions of the situation in the Sevastopol region, the Soviet command came to the conclusion that in order to put an end to the remnants of the enemy in the Crimea as soon as possible, a general assault on the Sevastopol fortified region by all troops of the front was necessary with the active use of aviation, fleet and partisans.

Despite the repeated reminders of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief I.V. Stalin of the need to complete the liquidation of the Crimean group in the coming days, the preparation of the assault was not yet completed, it required time to replenish and regroup forces, supply ammunition and fuel, destroy the most dangerous objects of enemy defense, form assault groups and their training.

Throughout the last ten days of April and the beginning of May, guns and ammunition wagons stretched along the roads to Sevastopol. Fuel and bombs were brought to the airfields. The divisions formed assault groups, obstacle groups, and even groups to overcome anti-tank ditches. In all regiments and battalions, training took place on terrain similar to enemy positions and fortifications. On April 29, artillery and aviation began to systematically destroy enemy fortifications. The aviation of the front, the fleet and the long-range aviation attached to the Headquarters made 8200 sorties until May 5.

Portal for the student. Self-training