RP79T
Gorod-geroy Tula

Before reaching Tula, German troops under the command of Guderian managed to take Oryol on the move. From Orel to Tula it is only 180 kilometers. In Tula in 1941, all defense factories were operating at full capacity. There were practically no military units between Orel and Tula at that time.

Since the Nazis captured Oryol, Tula has become a front-line city, and all life here has been transferred to a military style. Combined working fighter squads were created under the command of captain Anatoly Petrovich Gorshkov and miner Grigory Antonovich Ageev. Both detachments later became the backbone of the Tula workers' regiment, of which Gorshkov and Ageev were appointed commander and commissar.

Inside the city, fortified areas were formed, anti-tank ditches were dug, hedges and obstacles were installed, barricades were built, and defense strongholds were created in tank-dangerous directions. The entire population of Tula rose to defend the city.

Construction of defensive structures began. From 2 to 4 thousand people worked for them daily, most of whom were women. In a short time, 2 strips of fortifications with deep anti-tank ditches, barricades, and obstacles were built. By the beginning of the siege, 3 defensive lines were created around Tula, and within the city - 4 powerful defensive sectors, 7,700 shelters were built for 141 thousand people, 681 basements were converted to shelter soldiers and the population from German bombs and shells.

At the same time, enormous work was carried out to evacuate defense factories. There was no way to risk them. The Nazis sent selected units to Tula: the 3rd, 4th, 17th tank, 29th motorized divisions and the Great Germany regiment. Essentially, it was Hitler's guard. The Workers' Guard stood up against them, along with anti-aircraft gunners and security officers.

The Nazi attacks were fierce. Up to a hundred tanks took part in them. We had many killed and wounded, but the enemy was unable to break through in any area. And not only did he not get through, but he also lost 31 tanks and a lot of infantry in one day on October 30th.

During these days of cruel and bloody fighting, we lost many of our comrades. Including the commissar of the Tula Workers' Regiment, Grigory Antonovich Ageev, who was posthumously awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union. During the 45 days of defense of the city, the workers' regiment was replenished six times. Units of the Red Army also suffered heavy losses.

In those harsh days, Tula survived. The enemy was unable to capture the city.

For the courage and heroism shown by the city’s defenders, on December 7, 1976, by decree of the government, Tula was awarded the honorary title “Hero City.”

During the war years, over 250 Tula residents were awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union.