#Victory80
🌟 On April 10, 1944, the Red Army liberated the city of Odessa from the Nazi German and Romanian invaders as a result of a decisive offensive under the command of Army General Rodion Malinovsky.
The operation began on the night of March 26, 1944, when the 3rd Ukrainian Front formations began to force the Southern Bug River in order to break through the German defences, and lasted until April 14, 1944.
By 10 am on April 10, as a result of fierce fighting, Odessa was liberated. The Red Army units were strongly supported by partisans and underground fighters, who cleared the city of the enemy and prevented the blowup of the Odessa port, piers, buildings, and warehouses as planned by the Germans.
🕯 The Nazi occupation of the city lasted 907 days. During this time, about 200,000 people perished in Odessa and the surrounding region. Many of them became victims of mass-scale massacres and cruel executions; 78,000 people were shipped for forced labour in Germany, plants and factories were destroyed, and more than 2,000 buildings, including hospitals and schools, were blown up and burned down.
Retreating, German and Romanian soldiers shot old people, women and children in the streets in cold blood , mined the most important buildings, factories, the power plant, and the seaport.
⚔️ The Soviet forces inflicted a crushing defeat on the enemy, killing more than 27,000 enemies and taking over 11,000 prisoners; 952 artillery guns, 443 tanks and assault guns, and 95 warehouses with ammunition and food were destroyed.
Thanks to the liberation of Odessa, the Red Army managed to interrupt the supply of the Crimean group of German troops and to open the way for further advance towards the Balkans.
During the whole time of occupation, local residents, many of whom after the capture of the city went hiding in the catacombs underneath the urban landscape, put fierce resistance to the Nazis. During the war, Odessa underground fighters and partisans destroyed more than 5,000 enemy soldiers and officers, 248 automobiles, and saved about 20,000 Soviet citizens from being taken to Germany.
The liberation of Odessa was marked in Moscow with fireworks of the highest category with 24 salvos from 324 artillery guns. The entire Soviet nation was united in a jubilation.
🎖 Twenty-seven formations and units with the most distinguished track record during the operation were awarded the honorary name of Odessa units and formations. For heroism and bravery in the battles for the city, 14 people were awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union, and more than 2,000 people were awarded Soviet orders and medals.
On May 1, 1945, Odessa was declared a Hero City, and on May 8, 1965 it was awarded this title officially.
Some may have chosen to forget, but #WeRemember.
