Pervomaisk, Mykolaiv Oblast
Encyclopedia
Pervomaisk is a city in Mykolaiv Oblast
, Ukraine
and the center of the Pervomaiskyi Raion. It is located on the Southern Bug
river which bisects the city. Its population was 70,170.
The name derives from the Russian
pervomaj (первомай) meaning "May Day
," i.e., the first of May, referring also to the city's formation on 1 May 1919 from the merger of three neighbouring cities: Holta or Golta (Голта), Bohopol' or Bogopol' (Богополь), and Ol'viopol' (Ольвіополь). Bohopol literally means the city of God, from Slavic Boh or Bog, God, although it can also be explained as coming from the Southern Bug . These cities existed from 1773 and settlement in the area was mentioned as early as 1676.
, Pervomaisk was occupied by the Axis Powers
in 1941 and was divided between German occupation authorities
on the east bank (Bohopol and Olviopol) and the Romanian-occupied region of Transnistria
to the west (Holta). Holta served as the center of the Golta judeţ
(district) of Transnistria. Pervomaisk had been more than 1/3 Jewish
before the war but most were murdered during the occupation.
In Pervomaisk, there is at 48°4'0"N 30°51'29"E a 196 metres tall guyed TV mast, equipped with 6 crossbars running from the mast body to the guys.
Pervomaisk was the former location of the 46th Division of the 43rd Rocket Army
of the Soviet Strategic Rocket Forces
, formed during the Cold War
. (http://www.ww2.dk/test/46rd.htm) One of the commanders of the division, appointed in 1991, was General Major Mikhail Filatov. (Woff, Armed Forces of the Soviet Union, B39-16) The SS-24 intercontinental ballistic missile
silos based at Pervomaisk were destroyed, partially with Nunn–Lugar Cooperative Threat Reduction programme funding, during the 1990s.
Mykolaiv Oblast
Mykolaiv Oblast is an oblast of Ukraine. The administrative center of the oblast is the city of Mykolayiv.-Geography:The Mykolaiv Oblast is located in the southern half of Ukraine...
, Ukraine
Ukraine
Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It has an area of 603,628 km², making it the second largest contiguous country on the European continent, after Russia...
and the center of the Pervomaiskyi Raion. It is located on the Southern Bug
Southern Bug
The Southern Bug, also called Southern Buh), is a river located in Ukraine. The source of the river is in the west of Ukraine, in the Volyn-Podillia Upland, about 145 km from the Polish border, and flows southeasterly into the Bug Estuary through the southern steppes...
river which bisects the city. Its population was 70,170.
The name derives from the Russian
Russian language
Russian is a Slavic language used primarily in Russia, Belarus, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan. It is an unofficial but widely spoken language in Ukraine, Moldova, Latvia, Turkmenistan and Estonia and, to a lesser extent, the other countries that were once constituent republics...
pervomaj (первомай) meaning "May Day
May Day
May Day on May 1 is an ancient northern hemisphere spring festival and usually a public holiday; it is also a traditional spring holiday in many cultures....
," i.e., the first of May, referring also to the city's formation on 1 May 1919 from the merger of three neighbouring cities: Holta or Golta (Голта), Bohopol' or Bogopol' (Богополь), and Ol'viopol' (Ольвіополь). Bohopol literally means the city of God, from Slavic Boh or Bog, God, although it can also be explained as coming from the Southern Bug . These cities existed from 1773 and settlement in the area was mentioned as early as 1676.
World War II
In World War IIWorld 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...
, Pervomaisk was occupied by the Axis Powers
Axis Powers
The Axis powers , also known as the Axis alliance, Axis nations, Axis countries, or just the Axis, was an alignment of great powers during the mid-20th century that fought World War II against the Allies. It began in 1936 with treaties of friendship between Germany and Italy and between Germany and...
in 1941 and was divided between German occupation authorities
Reichskommissariat Ukraine
Reichskommissariat Ukraine , literally "Reich Commissariat of Ukraine", was the civilian occupation regime of much of German-occupied Ukraine during World War II. Between September 1941 and March 1944, the Reichskommissariat was administered by Reichskommissar Erich Koch as a colony...
on the east bank (Bohopol and Olviopol) and the Romanian-occupied region of Transnistria
Transnistria (World War II)
Transnistria Governorate was a Romanian administered territory, conquered by the Axis Powers from the Soviet Union during Operation Barbarossa, and occupied from 19 August 1941 to 29 January 1944...
to the west (Holta). Holta served as the center of the Golta judeţ
Judet
A județ is an administrative division in Romania, and was also used for some time in Moldova, before that country switched to raions.Județ translates into English as jurisdiction, but is commonly mistranslated as county .The territory of Romania is divided for administrative purposes into 41...
(district) of Transnistria. Pervomaisk had been more than 1/3 Jewish
Jews
The Jews , also known as the Jewish people, are a nation and ethnoreligious group originating in the Israelites or Hebrews of the Ancient Near East. The Jewish ethnicity, nationality, and religion are strongly interrelated, as Judaism is the traditional faith of the Jewish nation...
before the war but most were murdered during the occupation.
Remarkable buildings and structures
Pervomaisk was the former location of the 46th Division of the 43rd Rocket Army
43rd Rocket Army
The 43rd Red Banner Rocket Army was an army of the Soviet Strategic Rocket Forces.It was formed at Vinnitsa within the Kiev Military District's boundaries on 1 September 1960 from the previous 43rd Air Army of the Long Range Aviation....
of the Soviet Strategic Rocket Forces
Strategic Rocket Forces
The Strategic Missile Troops or Strategic Rocket Forces of the Russian Federation or RVSN RF , transliteration: Raketnye voyska strategicheskogo naznacheniya Rossiyskoy Federatsii, literally Missile Troops of Strategic Designation of the Russian Federation) are a military branch of the Russian...
, formed during the Cold War
Cold War
The Cold War was the continuing state from roughly 1946 to 1991 of political conflict, military tension, proxy wars, and economic competition between the Communist World—primarily the Soviet Union and its satellite states and allies—and the powers of the Western world, primarily the United States...
. (http://www.ww2.dk/test/46rd.htm) One of the commanders of the division, appointed in 1991, was General Major Mikhail Filatov. (Woff, Armed Forces of the Soviet Union, B39-16) The SS-24 intercontinental ballistic missile
Intercontinental ballistic missile
An intercontinental ballistic missile is a ballistic missile with a long range typically designed for nuclear weapons delivery...
silos based at Pervomaisk were destroyed, partially with Nunn–Lugar Cooperative Threat Reduction programme funding, during the 1990s.