Chronicle of Brest during the Second World War. Defenders and heroes of the Brest Fortress

Soviet soldiers, who, contrary to plans, were unable to quickly leave the fortress, were nevertheless able to quickly organize a defense and within a few hours drive the Germans out of the territory of the fortress, who managed to get into its citadel (central part). The soldiers also occupied barracks and various buildings located along the perimeter of the citadel in order to most effectively organize the defense of the fortress and be able to repel enemy attacks from all flanks. Despite the absence of a commanding staff, very quickly volunteers were found from among ordinary soldiers who took command and directed the operation.

On June 22, 8 attempts were made to break into the fortress by the Germans, but they did not yield results; moreover, german army, contrary to all forecasts, suffered significant losses. The German command decided to change tactics - instead of an assault, a siege of the Brest Fortress was now planned. The troops that broke through were recalled and sorted around the perimeter of the fortress in order to begin a long siege and cut off the Soviet troops' path to exit, as well as disrupt the supply of food and weapons.

On the morning of June 23, the bombardment of the fortress began, after which an assault was attempted again. Some groups of the German army broke through, but encountered fierce resistance and were destroyed - the assault failed again, and the Germans had to return to siege tactics. Extensive battles began, which did not subside for several days and greatly exhausted both armies.

The fighting continued for the next few days. Despite the onslaught of the German army, as well as shelling and bombing, Soviet soldiers held the line, although they lacked weapons and food. A few days later supplies were stopped drinking water, and then the defenders decided to release women and children from the fortress so that they would surrender to the Germans and remain alive, but some of the women refused to leave the fortress and continued to fight.

On June 26, the Germans made several more attempts to break into the Brest Fortress; they succeeded partially - several groups broke through. Only towards the end of the month was the German army able to capture most of the fortress, killing Soviet soldiers, but the scattered groups that had lost a single line of defense still continued to put up desperate resistance even when the fortress was taken by the Germans.

The significance and results of the defense of the Brest Fortress

The resistance of individual groups of soldiers continued until the fall, until all these groups were destroyed by the Germans and the last defender of the Brest Fortress died. During the defense of the Brest Fortress, Soviet troops suffered colossal losses, however, at the same time, the army showed genuine courage, thereby showing that the war for the Germans would not be as easy as Hitler had hoped. The defenders were recognized as war heroes.

Battle of Kiev (1941)

Defense of Kyiv (Battle of Kiev, Kiev Cauldron) - a large-scale defensive-offensive operation of Soviet troops during the period Great Patriotic War .

The siege of Kyiv and the defense of the city by Soviet troops from the German army began in July 1941 and continued until September. From the outside Soviet Union The front was commanded by Marshal S.M. Budyonny, and on the German side by Field Marshal Rundstedt. The enemy forces at the start of the operation were approximately equal, but the German army had more modern weapons and a large amount of military equipment.

The defense of the Brest Fortress (lasted from June 22 – June 30, 1941) was one of the very first major battles Soviet troops with German troops during the Great Patriotic War.

Brest was the first Soviet border garrison, which covered the central highway leading to Minsk, so immediately after the start of the wars, the Brest Fortress was the first point that the Germans attacked. For a week, Soviet soldiers held back the onslaught of German troops, who had numerical superiority, as well as artillery and air support. As a result of the assault at the very end of the siege, the Germans were able to capture the main fortifications, but in other areas the battle still continued for several weeks, despite catastrophic shortages of food, medicine and ammunition. The defense of the Brest Fortress was the first battle in which Soviet troops showed their full readiness to defend their Motherland to the last. The battle became a kind of symbol showing that the plan for a rapid assault and seizure of the territory of the USSR by the Germans could be unsuccessful.

History of the Brest Fortress

The city of Brest was included in the USSR in 1939, at the same time the fortress located near the city had already lost its military significance and remained only a reminder of past battles. The fortress itself was built in the 19th century, as part of a system of fortifications on the western borders Russian Empire. By the time the Great Patriotic War began, the fortress could no longer fulfill its military functions, as it was partially destroyed - it was used mainly to house border detachments, NKVD troops, engineering units, as well as a hospital and various border units. By the time of the German attack, about 8,000 military personnel, about 300 families of commanding officers, as well as medical and service personnel were located in the Brest Fortress.

Storming of the Brest Fortress

The assault on the fortress began on June 22, 1941 at dawn. The Germans primarily targeted the barracks and residential buildings of the command staff with powerful artillery fire in order to disorient the army and cause chaos in the ranks of the Soviet troops. After the shelling, the assault began. The main idea of ​​the assault was the factor of surprise; the German command hoped that an unexpected attack would cause panic and break the will of the military in the fortress to resist. According to the calculations of the German generals, the fortress was supposed to be taken by 12 noon on June 22, but the plans did not materialize.

Only a small part of the soldiers managed to leave the fortress and take positions outside it, as stipulated in the plans in the event of an attack; the rest remained inside - the fortress was surrounded. Despite the surprise of the attack, as well as the death of a significant part of the Soviet military command, the soldiers showed courage and unbending will in the fight against the German invaders. Despite the fact that the position of the defenders of the Brest Fortress was initially almost hopeless, Soviet soldiers resisted to the last.

Defense of the Brest Fortress

The Soviet soldiers, who were unable to leave the fortress, managed to quickly destroy the Germans who broke through to the center of the defensive structures, and then take advantageous positions for defense - the soldiers occupied barracks and various buildings that were located along the perimeter of the citadel (the central part of the fortress). This made it possible to effectively organize the defense system. The defense was led by the remaining officers and, in some cases, ordinary soldiers, who were then recognized as heroes for the defense of the Brest Fortress.

On June 22, 8 attacks were carried out by the enemy; German troops, contrary to forecasts, suffered significant losses, so it was decided in the evening of the same day to recall the groups that broke into the fortress back to the headquarters of the German troops. A blockade line was created along the perimeter of the fortress, military operations turned from an assault into a siege.

On the morning of June 23, the Germans began a bombardment, after which another attempt was made to storm the fortress. The groups that broke through encountered fierce resistance and the assault failed again, turning into protracted fighting. By the evening of the same day, the Germans again suffered huge losses.

For the next few days, resistance continued despite the onslaught of German troops, artillery shelling and offers to surrender. The Soviet troops did not have the opportunity to replenish their ranks, so the resistance gradually faded away, and the strength of the soldiers melted away, but despite this, it was still not possible to take the fortress. Food and water supplies were suspended, and the defenders decided that the women and children must surrender in order to survive, but some of the women refused to leave the fortress.

On June 26, several more attempts were made to break into the fortress; only a small number of groups succeeded. The Germans managed to capture most of the fortress only by the end of June. On June 29 and 30, a new assault was carried out, which was combined with artillery shelling and bombing. The main groups of defenders were captured or destroyed, as a result of which the defense lost its centralization and broke up into several separate centers, which ultimately played a role in the surrender of the fortress.

Results of the defense of the Brest Fortress

The remaining Soviet soldiers continued to resist until the fall, despite the fact that the fortress was actually taken by the Germans and the defenses were destroyed - small battles continued until the last defender of the fortress was destroyed. As a result of the defense of the Brest Fortress, several thousand people were captured and the rest died. The battles in Brest became an example of the courage of Soviet troops and entered world history.

Defense of the Brest Fortress - the heroic 28-day defense of the Brest fortress by units of Soviet troops at the beginning of the Great Patriotic War, from June 22 to July 20, 1941. Brest was located in the direction of the main attack of the right (southern) wing of the German Army Group Center. The German command set the task of taking the Brest fortress on the move with its 45th infantry division, reinforced with tanks, artillery and air support.

Brest Fortress before the war

1939 - the city of Brest became part of the USSR. The Brest Fortress was built in XIX century and was part of the defensive fortifications of the Russian Empire on its western borders, but in the 20th century it had already lost its military significance. At the start of the war, the Brest Fortress was mainly used to house garrisons of military personnel, as well as families of officers, a hospital and utility rooms. During Germany's treacherous attack on the Soviet Union, about 8 thousand military personnel and about 300 command families lived in the fortress. There were weapons and ammunition in the fortress, but their quantity was not designed for military operations.

Storming of the Brest Fortress

1941, June 22, morning - simultaneously with the beginning of the Great Patriotic War, the assault on the Brest Fortress began. The barracks and officers' quarters were the first to come under heavy artillery fire and airstrikes. Despite the fact that virtually all the officers were killed, the soldiers quickly managed to find their bearings and create a powerful defense. The surprise factor did not work as the Germans expected and the assault, which according to the plan was supposed to be completed by 12 noon, lasted for several days.


Even before the start of the war, a decree was issued, according to which, in the event of an attack, military personnel must immediately leave the fortress itself and take positions along its perimeter, but only a few managed to do this - most of the soldiers remained in the fortress. The defenders of the fortress were obviously in a losing position, but even this fact did not allow them to give up their positions and allow the Nazis to quickly capture Brest.

Defense of the Brest Fortress

The soldiers occupied the barracks and various buildings that were located along the perimeter of the citadel, for the most effective organization defense of the fortress. On June 22, eight attempts were made to capture the fortress from the German side, but they were repulsed; moreover, the Germans, contrary to all expectations, suffered significant losses. The Germans changed their tactics - instead of storming, they now decided to lay siege to the Brest Fortress. The soldiers who broke through were recalled and placed around the perimeter of the fortress.

June 23, morning - the fortress was bombed, after which the Germans again launched an assault. Some of the German soldiers were able to break through, but were destroyed - the assault failed again, and the Germans were forced to return to siege tactics. Prolonged fighting began, which did not subside for several days, which greatly exhausted both armies.

On June 26, the Germans made several more attempts to capture the Brest Fortress. Several groups were able to break through. Only by the end of the month were the Germans able to capture most of the fortress. But the groups, scattered and having lost a single line of defense, put up desperate resistance even when the fortress was captured by German troops.

Fall of the fortress

The fortress fell. Many Soviet soldiers was captured. On June 29, the eastern fort fell. But the defense of the Brest Fortress did not end there! From that moment on, she became unorganized. Soviet soldiers, who took refuge in the dungeon, entered into battle with the Germans every day. They managed the almost impossible. A small group of Soviet soldiers, 12 people, under the command of Major Gavrilov, resisted the Nazis until July 12. These heroes held an entire German division in the area of ​​the Brest Fortress for almost a month! But even after Major Gavrilov’s detachment fell, fighting did not stop in the fortress. According to historians, isolated pockets of resistance existed until the beginning of August 1941.

Losses

The losses of the 45th German infantry division (according to German statistics) on June 30, 1941 were 482 killed, including 48 officers, and more than 1000 wounded. The losses are quite significant if we remember that in the same division in 1939 during the attack on Poland there were 158 killed and 360 wounded.

To this figure, we should probably add the losses suffered by the Germans in separate skirmishes in July 1941. A significant part of the fortress’s defenders were captured, and about 2,500 people were killed. True, the information provided in German documents about 7,000 prisoners in the Brest Fortress, apparently, includes not only military personnel, but also civilians.

Having unexpectedly attacked the Soviet Union, the fascist command expected to reach Moscow in a few months. However, the German generals met resistance as soon as they crossed the border of the USSR. The Germans took several hours to capture the first outpost, but the defenders of the Brest Fortress held back the power of the huge fascist army for six days.

The siege of 1941 became

For the historical Brest Fortress, however, it had been attacked before. The fortress was built by the architect Opperman in 1833 as a military structure. The war reached it only in 1915 - then it was blown up during the retreat of Nikolaev’s troops. In 1918, after the signing, which took place in the Citadel of the fortress, it remained under German control for some time, and by the end of 1918 it was in the hands of the Poles, who owned it until 1939.

Real hostilities overtook the Brest Fortress in 1939. The second day of World War II began for the fortress garrison with a bombing. German aircraft dropped ten bombs on the citadel, damaging the main building of the fortress - the Citadel, or White Palace. At that time, there were several random military and reserve units stationed in the fortress. The first defense of the Brest Fortress was organized by General Plisovsky, who, from the scattered troops he had, managed to assemble a combat-ready detachment of 2,500 people and evacuate the officers' families in time. Against the armored corps of General Heinz, Plisovsky was able to oppose only an old armored train, several of the same tanks and a couple of batteries. Then the defense of the Brest Fortress lasted three full days.

From September 14 to 17, while the enemy was almost six times stronger than the defenders. On the night of September 17, the wounded Plisovsky took the remnants of his detachment south, towards Terespol. After this, on September 22, the Germans handed over Brest and the Brest Fortress to the Soviet Union.

The defense of the Brest Fortress in 1941 fell on the shoulders of nine Soviet battalions, two artillery divisions and several separate units. In total this amounted to about eleven thousand people, excluding three hundred officer families. The infantry division of Major General Schlieper stormed the fortress, which was reinforced with additional units. In total, about twenty thousand soldiers were subordinate to General Schlieper.

The attack began early in the morning. Due to the surprise of the attack, the commanders did not have time to coordinate the actions of the fortress garrison, so the defenders were immediately divided into several detachments. The Germans immediately managed to capture the Citadel, but they were never able to gain a foothold in it - the invaders were attacked by the Soviet units remaining behind, and the Citadel was partially liberated. On the second day of defense, the Germans proposed

surrender, to which 1900 people agreed. The remaining defenders united under the leadership of Captain Zubachev. The enemy forces, however, were immeasurably higher, and the defense of the Brest Fortress was short-lived. On June 24, the Nazis managed to capture 1,250 fighters, another 450 people were captured on June 26. The last stronghold of the defenders, the East Fort, was crushed on June 29 when the Germans dropped an 1,800 kg bomb on it. This day is considered the end of the defense, but the Germans cleared the Brest Fortress until June 30, and the last defenders were destroyed only by the end of August. Only a few managed to go to Belovezhskaya Pushcha to join the partisans.

The fortress was liberated in 1944, and in 1971 it was preserved and turned into a museum. At the same time, a memorial was erected, thanks to which the defense of the Brest Fortress and the courage of its defenders will be remembered forever.