Мемориал Победа 79 // List of the stations // RP79GO

RP79GO
Gorod voinskoy slavy Gatchina

Leningradskaya oblast

QSL via R1CBF

Photos and historical info.
Attention! Information below is provided by special event station operator and published AS IS.

The enemy entered Gatchina land in August 1941 and met fierce resistance. On August 21, enemy tanks and infantry cut the Krasnogvardeisk-Luga railway, and long, fierce battles broke out in the area of the villages of Pizhma-Pustoshka-Krasny Khutor. They became one of the brightest heroic pages not only of the defense of Krasnogvardeysk, but also of the entire battle for Leningrad.

On September 13, units of the 42nd Army left Krasnogvardeysk. The retreat was covered by a detachment of militia from the 267th OPAB under the command of political instructor Andrei Grigorin. For thirty-six hours the detachment fought the enemy on the streets of Gatchina. Most of the fighters died, and the survivors, including Grigorin, were captured by the Nazis and, after torture, executed in the city square.

On September 15, 1941, the Germans completely occupied the Krasnogvardeisky district.

For 866 days, the residents of Krasnogvardeysk were under the yoke of the fascist occupiers. Forced labor was introduced for the population. Absenteeism from work was considered criminal sabotage and in most cases was punishable by execution. A large concentration camp Dulag-154 operated in the city. During its existence, thousands of residents were killed, starved to death and diseased, and taken against their will to work in Germany.

On January 23, the city of Krasnogvardeysk was renamed Gatchina, and on January 26, 1944, as a result of fierce fighting, it was liberated. For the liberation of the city, 19 units and formations were awarded the honorary name “Gatchinsky”. Moscow saluted the liberators with 12 artillery salvoes from 124 guns.

At the beginning of February 1944, the Gatchina region was completely liberated from the Nazi invaders.

In 2015, by Decree of the President of the Russian Federation No. 177 dated April 6, 2015, Gatchina was awarded the honorary title of City of Military Glory.