Chizhovsky bridgehead, Voronezh: history, memorial complex

Chizhovsky bridgehead in Voronezh is a well-known memorial complex. It is dedicated to the events of the Great Patriotic War. Directly Voronezh soldiers who defended the city from the Nazi invaders.

The appearance of the monument

"Chizhovsky bridgehead" in Voronezh was solemnly opened on the eve of Victory Day in 1975. Then they were just going to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the defeat of the Hitlerite troops. The monument was erected near the Vaughresov Bridge in the territory of the former city settlement, which was called Chizhovka.

However, finally all the work at the memorial complex "Chizhovsky bridgehead" in Voronezh ended only after 10 years. By the 40th anniversary of the Victory in the Great Patriotic War, the construction of the memorial was completed.

It was erected in the Leninsky district of the city. The authors of the main project were the sculptors-wife Tolmachevy and the architect Selyutin.

What is a memorial?

"Chizhovsky bridgehead" in Voronezh is a memorial complex, which consists of a mass grave and the Memory Hall, on the walls of which the names of all the defenders of Voronezh during the war years were knocked out. There is also a high podium on which there is a sculptural group of three soldiers. They are covered with sheet bronze. Soldiers give salute to their fallen comrades. The wind symbolically develops raincoats behind their backs.

The state of the memorial is closely monitored by the authorities. Not so long ago, the memorial building was renovated. The administration of the Leninsky district of Voronezh carried out the certification of the monument of history and culture, which in documents is listed as the communal grave No. 1.

Here, the heating systems were repaired, the lining of the pedestal of the monument with marble slabs was updated. And also included all subsequent work on the repair and improvement of the memorial to the municipal program, which is dedicated to the preservation and development of culture and art in Voronezh. Within the framework of this project, funds were regularly allocated to maintain the memorial in proper condition. Therefore, today in Voronezh, excursions, as a rule, do not pass by this memorial.

The defense of Voronezh

Historically, the Chizhovsky bridgehead was on the right bank of the urban suburb. The outcome of the battle for Voronezh in 1942 was decided in these places. Subdivisions of the Soviet army stood here, as they say, to the last, without letting the enemy go ahead. As a result, they managed to hold out until the city was completely liberated and to repel Voronezh from the German fascist invaders. Despite the fact that the enemy's forces far exceeded the strength and armament of the Red Army.

Especially distinguished in the battle for Voronezh in 1942, a detachment of people's militia. It consisted entirely of local residents, for whom it was especially important and principled to hold out in battles for their native city.

The battles for Chizhovka fell on the pages of the history of the Great Patriotic War, as a model of heroism and the courage of Soviet soldiers and officers.

Soviet troops retook the bridgehead in August 1942. Since then, in fact, the battle for this key position has not stopped day and night for 204 days. Until the complete liberation of the city, which took place on January 25, 1943. Since then, this date is celebrated annually in the regional center, as a new birthday of the city. After all, if the city were not liberated then, it is not known what would be the modern Voronezh.

In addition, it was in the area of Chizhovka that the German fascist troops suffered a crushing blow in early January. It was from here that the real liberation of Voronezh began. The so-called Voronezh-Kastorensky offensive operation, which culminated in the success of the Soviet Army.

Common grave

It is known that in this mass grave in the area of Chizhovka lie the bodies of more than 10 thousand participants of those bloody events. However, most names are still unknown. At the moment it was possible to determine the names and military ranks of only 3,545 people buried in a mass grave.

718 names are listed in the official book of the eternal memory of the memorial complex in Voronezh "Chizhovsky bridgehead". On the territory of the Voronezh region this is the largest burial place during the Great Patriotic War. Therefore, it is here that annually there are memorial events dedicated to the heroes of that war.

Heroes of the Chizhovsky bridgehead

In the battles for Voronezh, many Soviet soldiers and officers distinguished themselves. But history has retained the names of only some of them.

If you come to the monuments of Voronezh, Chizhovsky bridgehead visit, then you will be told about the feat of the deputy commander of the battalion, George Lyulin, who by 1943, rose to the rank of senior lieutenant. His act, as modern historians believe, played a significant role in the outcome of this battle.

At the decisive moment of the battle Lyulin picked up the red banner and went on the attack under a hail of splinters and enemy bullets. It was his act that made the battalion, who captured the building of the brick factory, hoisted a red banner over it, which was in Lyulin's hands. The hero himself in this battle tragically died.

He was buried here, in the place of his last battle. In the courtyard of the Voronezh brick factory. Soldiers and officers of the 333rd regiment, in which Lyulin served, sent a letter to the local authorities with a request to perpetuate the memory of the hero, naming his name one of the streets in the Chizhovka district. And they did. You can visit this street today.

Fierce fighting

It was in these places that the most fierce battles took place in the Voronezh direction. If you go to Voronezh for an excursion, then you will be told that the confrontation between Soviet and German troops often reached melee fights. Huge losses were from each side.

Historians who studied archival documents of that period found that only for three separate days of fighting the 40th Army lost more than 17 thousand people wounded, killed and missing. Among them were fighters, political workers and commanders. All those who took part in these difficult battles.

The present state of the memorial

It is necessary to recognize that after the collapse of the Soviet Union, the memorial complex for a long period of time was in a deplorable state. Funds for its capital and current repairs after 1991 were practically not allocated.

Fundamentally, the situation began to change from 2012. By that time, the state of the memorial was simply critical. The huge marble slabs framing the common grave could collapse at any moment. For restoration work, three million rubles were urgently needed.

Only in such a stalemate the money was found, and the reconstruction of the memorial complex began.

Since 2009, another memorable sign has appeared in this place. In honor of Dmitry Donskoy, a stone was laid in the basement on this place of the temple.