"The road of life" (museum). Museum dedicated to the heroism of the soldiers of the Leningrad Fleet

The terrible events of the Patriotic War go farther along. Years are inexorable to eyewitnesses. They become upsetting a little. Not far off is the time when no one will deliver flowers on Victory Day and express sincere gratitude for saving the country, survived and survived. They were able to keep in memory episodes of military chronicles and share with children and grandchildren.

Human memory is short-lived, veterans leave the life, and with them an entire epoch. Thanks to enthusiasts, scientists and simply not indifferent people, information is collected in bitterness and stored in exhibition halls, memory centers and memorials.

Among the many such places, one can single out museums of the Leningrad Region separately. Most of them are devoted to the fortitude and courage of soldiers and civilians who confronted the enemy in complete isolation from the Great Land.

Blockade of Leningrad and the Road of Life

German troops quickly developed their offensive and broke through to the main cities of the USSR. Leningrad is a city which, from the day of its foundation, has never been taken by the enemy. Soviet soldiers and civilians supported a glorious tradition and did not let the conquerors into the city limits.

Fierce battles were fought at the approaches, and at the beginning of September 1941 German troops managed to close the ring and thereby leave the city without supplies and outside help.

Four days later, ships with food and ammunition for besieged Leningrad moored near the shore of Lake Ladoga, near Osinovets. In peacetime, this bay was considered unsuitable for navigation. The sailors of the formed Ladoga flotilla performed miracles of maneuverability. Transitions along the lake were made under the almost continuous fire of the enemy from the ground and air.

The city was in dire need of food, shells, cartridges to continue the struggle. In addition, it was necessary to evacuate civilians and save historical values. The ships and barges, having completed the unloading, immediately filled up again and set off on their return journey to the Greater Land.

The lion's share of all cargoes sent to Leningrad during the blockade fell on the Osinovets berths. Thousands of lives were saved thanks to the exploits of the sailors. Not surprisingly, it was here that the monument to the "Road of Life" was created.

History of the Museum

The coast of Ladoga Lake in this area belongs to the Ministry of Defense. Therefore, in November 1968, on the initiative of the Commander-in-Chief of the Navy, an order was issued to establish the "Road of Life" in the city of Osinovets.

The museum collected unique exhibits and documents confirming the courage and heroism of those who fought in the ranks of the Leningrad fleet, defending their hometown.

The opening was timed to coincide with the 31st anniversary of the opening of the waterway along the Ladoga Lake. For forty-three years of existence, the museum has received up to a million visitors. Even in the years of the collapse of the country and complete lack of money, he did not stop taking visitors.

Exposition of the museum

In five small halls of the museum and on the land adjoining the lake, about 400 items of the Patriotic War are collected.

The first thing that meets every visitor before entering the territory is a memorial pillar with a figure of 45. This is nothing but a monument "The Road of Life". Exactly these stand along the path from the lake to the city, only the numbers at all are different.

Among the items collected in the interior are:

• Weapons of the times of the Great Patriotic War.
• Agitational posters of the 40s of the XX century.
• The canvases of Soviet artists donated to the museum.
• Flags and pennants of the ladder of the Ladoga division.
• Soviet and trophy uniforms of the Second World War.
• Nominal documents.
• Newspapers and combat lists, photos.
• Personal things of officers and sailors.
• Cards for food in the besieged Leningrad.

Outdoor exposure includes:

• Weapons, such as anti-aircraft guns, fragments of naval guns and ship artillery units.
• The technique of WWII times - boats, ships, tug, tender-plashout, airplanes, trucks, bus and others.
• Memorial signs and burials.

Those who managed to visit those places argue that the atmosphere and exhibits are immersed in the atmosphere of those days.

How to get there?

Above it was written that there is a museum "The Road of Life" in Osinovets village of Vsevolozhsky district. From St. Petersburg it is separated by 45 km. It is this figure that appears on the memorial pillar in front of the entrance.

Open to visitors all year round, except Monday and Wednesday, from 10 am to 6 pm. The entrance fee, excursion and shooting until recently was quite affordable. Voluntary contributions and assistance in the reconstruction of exhibits and in the maintenance of the building were welcomed.

What are the input prices after September 8, 2015 is still unknown.

You can get to the museum in two ways:

1. On an electric train, which departs from the Finland Station of St. Petersburg. Go to the final station "Lake Ladoga". From the station building, in which the exhibition exposition is also presented, you can easily get to the museum "The Road of Life". The address will prompt any local resident.
2. By car or sightseeing bus on the highway towards Vsevolozhsk. This stretch from St. Petersburg to Osinovets is included in the Green Belt of Glory.

Along the highway are all the same memorable pillars with kilometer marks and there are unique monuments and graves of those who sacrificed themselves in the name of Victory over the enemy and a peaceful sky for future generations.

Station "Lake Ladoga" and the village of Osinovets

It would be superfluous to write a few words about the places where the "Road of Life" museum is located. On the map of the Leningrad region, these are just small dots, but for those who survived the blockade and for their loved ones - the most important settlements.

The station "Lake Ladoga" is the final point of the single-track. During the war years, it was from here that most of the cargo arrived from the Great Land on the lake, for the besieged residents of Leningrad.

In memory of those events to the south of the station is a locomotive, which carried the cargo in a blockade. In the station premises there is a branch of the museum of the October Railway with exhibits dedicated to railwaymen of the Great Patriotic War.

The village of Osinovets stretched along the shore of Lake Ladoga. Once it was not crowded, and now it is built up with new cottages and is a favorite place of rest for not only local residents. People come here who are tired of the city fuss, breathe the fresh air, swim, eat freshly caught in the lake and immediately smoked fish.

In the village there are two attractions - a museum and a lighthouse. Everyone should tell about their destiny separately.

Lighthouse on the lake

At the beginning of the 20th century, a lighthouse with a height of over 70 meters was built on the cape. Overview from the upper tier in good weather opens at 50 kilometers, and the beam warns ships about the approach of the shore for 22 nautical miles.

Here everything is imbued with the spirit of the times of the Patriotic War, not an exception - Cape Osinovets. The Museum "The Road of Life" and the lighthouse, in fact, constitute a single whole. This is confirmed by a sign on the wall of the white-red signal tower.

Surprisingly, the lighthouse still works, and the caretaker climbs upwards 366 steps every day and as much as down. In the navigation season, from spring to winter, the lighthouse sends a light beam every 4 seconds to the side of the lake. It is also used as a mast by cellular operators.

In the off-season around the lighthouse, it's quiet, you can hear the wind, the pines, the waves splashing, the snow crunching under your feet. In summer there is a life at the recreation center located here, many fishermen and lovers of fresh smoked fish. And of course, wishing to wander through these famous places and visit the museum.

The recent past of the museum

After the collapse of the USSR, Leningrad - a city with a century-long history - restored its old name - St. Petersburg. Old names of streets and settlements returned. Nothing foretold that many objects in the field of culture and history will remain without funding.

It touched the branch in Osinovets. For many years, funding has been reduced, and the fact that the museum survived is the merit of a remarkable man, a real historian Alexander Voitsekhovsky, who has headed the branch for many years.

There were times when the museum remained without light and heating. Staff was reduced to one person. But even this did not prevent us from arranging exploratory expeditions, restoration of rarities, excursions.

Great contribution was made by enthusiasts and veterans, blockade men. For them, this piece of land is not easy place, but the "Road of Life". The museum continued its activities, it seemed, contrary to reality, holding on to the fragile, but such strong shoulders of the elderly.

Nowadays

Until recently, the state of affairs remained the same. Employees fought for survival and continued to write appeals to all sorts of instances.

I am glad that their requests were heard and in 2015, to the 70th anniversary of the Great Victory, money was found for the reconstruction of the memorial "The Road of Life". The museum closed in March to welcome visitors to the festival.

For a month and a half managed to do a lot. Build another building for exhibits that were in the open air. Finally, the staff had offices and a real conference room.

A real pride for the museum's employees was the long-awaited restoration of the tug "Izhorets-8", which has passed countless times through the Ladoga Lake. He pulled barges with food through Ladoga, and hurried back with an invaluable cargo-people from besieged Leningrad.

Future plans

After the Victory Day celebration, the museum will close again until early September. The changes are planned grandiose. In 2015, 74 years from the day the "Road of Life" appeared. The museum, whose exposition is entirely devoted to those mournful events, will receive a second birth.

Instead of a cozy small wooden house, a modern building will appear, resembling a huge snow block. There will be spacious rooms, modern equipment. Of course, there are people who like the old building, but modern children and young people will have a change in taste.

Finally, a stone will disappear with a promise to erect a monument, and a monument of seven meters high will appear instead of it. A composition of five figures will soar above the lake's surface and become a reminder to the descendants of who took part in the salvation of their native city. The alley leading to the monument will be decorated with blocks resembling pieces of ice. They will be carved the names of all the characters "Roads of Life".

All the most valuable exhibits of equipment and weapons that have been raised from the bottom of Lake Ladoga will be restored and placed in covered pavilions.

In the life of the Osinovets branch, huge changes are taking place. There is a hope that all this for the better. Once the "road of life" in the full sense saved the city and the people in it living. Now is the time to return debts.

I wanted that the other museums of the Leningrad Region also lived, developed, replenished with new exhibits, and in the halls the voice of the guide did not stop. People who survived the war leave, but the memory of them and the events of that time should live.