Defense of the Adzhimushkay quarry
Encyclopedia
The Defense of the Adzhimushkay quarry (Russian: Оборона Аджимушкайских каменоломен, Oborona Adzhimushkajskih kamenolomen), was an action on the Eastern Front
in World War II
that occurred between May and October 1942.
, near which a complex network of catacombs is located. Limestone was extracted there from 1830, both from the quarry
and the catacombs. Over the years, an underground network was created, encompassing the Great and Small Adzhimushkay catacombs. They were used during the Russian Civil War by pro-Soviet armed groups. When Kerch was first occupied by the Wehrmacht in November 1941, a squad of partisans
operated in the catacombs.
By May 1942, a massive counteroffensive was staged by the Wehrmacht in order to expel the Red Army both from the Kerch Peninsula
and the city of Sevastopol
. The Soviet high command had neglected to build comprehensive defenses; the Red Army
was overrun and had to flee, sustaining heavy casualties. By May 19, 1942 the battle was over.
In order to ensure the evacuation of the troops across the Kerch strait, a defense group was left in Adzhimushkay, led by Colonel P.M. Yagunov. This group picked up numerous retreating soldiers and eventually grew to several thousand strong, along with numerous civilians fleeing the city. When it became obvious that the bridgehead could not be held, the defenders decided to take refuge in the catacombs. It is estimated that more than 10,000 survivors fled to the Great Adzhimushkay catacombs and 3,000 to the Small catacombs. The larger garrison was led by Yagunov and the smaller one by Povazhniy.
The catacombs were ill-suited for defense, as there were no supplies prepared and all well
s were located outside. Any supply of water had to be taken by force since a sortie was needed to reach a well. The defenders later dug their own wells in the catacombs, as deep as 14 m, in order to reach the phreatic
layer. Despite these conditions, the Red Army attempted several sorties, including one that led to the defeat of the Wehrmacht's garrison in Adzhimushkay on the night of 8 and 9 July 1942. Colonel Yagunov was killed in this assault.
However, the situation for the defenders was becoming critical, as they were running out of ammunition, food and water. Moreover, the German forces began using explosives and toxic gas to end the resistance. On October 30, 1942, German forces finally entered the catacombs and captured the remaining defenders. Of the 13,000 or so people who took refuge in the catacombs, only 48 were still alive at the end of the 170 day siege.
in 1982.
Eastern Front (World War II)
The Eastern Front of World War II was a theatre of World War II between the European Axis powers and co-belligerent Finland against the Soviet Union, Poland, and some other Allies which encompassed Northern, Southern and Eastern Europe from 22 June 1941 to 9 May 1945...
in World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
that occurred between May and October 1942.
History
Adzhimushkay is a small village located five kilometers from the city of KerchKerch
Kerch is a city on the Kerch Peninsula of eastern Crimea, an important industrial, transport and tourist centre of Ukraine. Kerch, founded 2600 years ago, is considered as one of the most ancient cities in Ukraine.-Ancient times:...
, near which a complex network of catacombs is located. Limestone was extracted there from 1830, both from the quarry
Quarry
A quarry is a type of open-pit mine from which rock or minerals are extracted. Quarries are generally used for extracting building materials, such as dimension stone, construction aggregate, riprap, sand, and gravel. They are often collocated with concrete and asphalt plants due to the requirement...
and the catacombs. Over the years, an underground network was created, encompassing the Great and Small Adzhimushkay catacombs. They were used during the Russian Civil War by pro-Soviet armed groups. When Kerch was first occupied by the Wehrmacht in November 1941, a squad of partisans
Soviet partisans
The Soviet partisans were members of a resistance movement which fought a guerrilla war against the Axis occupation of the Soviet Union during World War II....
operated in the catacombs.
By May 1942, a massive counteroffensive was staged by the Wehrmacht in order to expel the Red Army both from the Kerch Peninsula
Kerch Peninsula
The Kerch Peninsula is a major and prominent geographic feature located at the eastern portion of Crimea. Stretching towards the Taman peninsula, it is reminiscent of an isthmus between two neighboring seas: Azov Sea and Black Sea...
and the city of Sevastopol
Sevastopol
Sevastopol is a city on rights of administrative division of Ukraine, located on the Black Sea coast of the Crimea peninsula. It has a population of 342,451 . Sevastopol is the second largest port in Ukraine, after the Port of Odessa....
. The Soviet high command had neglected to build comprehensive defenses; the Red Army
Red Army
The Workers' and Peasants' Red Army started out as the Soviet Union's revolutionary communist combat groups during the Russian Civil War of 1918-1922. It grew into the national army of the Soviet Union. By the 1930s the Red Army was among the largest armies in history.The "Red Army" name refers to...
was overrun and had to flee, sustaining heavy casualties. By May 19, 1942 the battle was over.
In order to ensure the evacuation of the troops across the Kerch strait, a defense group was left in Adzhimushkay, led by Colonel P.M. Yagunov. This group picked up numerous retreating soldiers and eventually grew to several thousand strong, along with numerous civilians fleeing the city. When it became obvious that the bridgehead could not be held, the defenders decided to take refuge in the catacombs. It is estimated that more than 10,000 survivors fled to the Great Adzhimushkay catacombs and 3,000 to the Small catacombs. The larger garrison was led by Yagunov and the smaller one by Povazhniy.
The catacombs were ill-suited for defense, as there were no supplies prepared and all well
Water well
A water well is an excavation or structure created in the ground by digging, driving, boring or drilling to access groundwater in underground aquifers. The well water is drawn by an electric submersible pump, a trash pump, a vertical turbine pump, a handpump or a mechanical pump...
s were located outside. Any supply of water had to be taken by force since a sortie was needed to reach a well. The defenders later dug their own wells in the catacombs, as deep as 14 m, in order to reach the phreatic
Phreatic
The term phreatic is used in Earth sciences to refer to matters relating to ground water below the water table . The term 'phreatic surface' indicates the location where the pore water pressure is under atmospheric conditions...
layer. Despite these conditions, the Red Army attempted several sorties, including one that led to the defeat of the Wehrmacht's garrison in Adzhimushkay on the night of 8 and 9 July 1942. Colonel Yagunov was killed in this assault.
However, the situation for the defenders was becoming critical, as they were running out of ammunition, food and water. Moreover, the German forces began using explosives and toxic gas to end the resistance. On October 30, 1942, German forces finally entered the catacombs and captured the remaining defenders. Of the 13,000 or so people who took refuge in the catacombs, only 48 were still alive at the end of the 170 day siege.
Aftermath
This dramatic event was heavily popularized after the war. Several books and songs were written to commemorate it. A museum was erected in the catacombs in 1966 and a memorialMemorial
A memorial is an object which serves as a focus for memory of something, usually a person or an event. Popular forms of memorials include landmark objects or art objects such as sculptures, statues or fountains, and even entire parks....
in 1982.