Брестская крепость сочинение на английском

Photos by palasatka

Brest Fortress (Belarusian: Брэсцкая крэпасць, Bresckaja krepasć; Polish: Twierdza brzeska, Lithuanian: Bresto tvirtovė, Russian: Брестская крепость), formerly known as Brest-Litoŭsk Fortress, is a 19th-century fortress in Brest, Belarus. In 1965, the title «Hero Fortress» was given to the fortress to commemorate the defence of the frontier stronghold during the first week of the Operation Barbarossa when Axis forces invaded the Soviet Union on June 22, 1941. The title «Hero Fortress» corresponds to the title «Hero City» that the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the Soviet Union awarded to twelve Soviet cities.

The fortress in the 1830s

DescriptionEdit

The Brest fortress has sustained its original outline of a star shaped fortification since its construction in the early 19th century. The Citadel, the core of the fortress, was on the central island formed by the Bug River and the two branches of the Mukhavets River. The island was skirted by a ring of a two-storied barrack with 4 semi-towers. The 1.8 km long barrack comprised 500 rooms to accommodate 12,000 soldiers within thick walls built from super strong red bricks. Originally there were 4 gates to enter the Citadel. Today only Kholm Gate and Terespol Gate can be seen; most of the barrack lies in ruins.

The Citadel was surrounded by 3 fortifications as bridgeheads, that were made up by branches of the Mukhavets River and moats (ditches), fortified by earthworks 10 m high with redbrick casemates inside. The 3 fortifications were named after two towns: Russian name for the city of Kobryn in Belarus, Terespol in Poland and Volyn, a historic region of Volhynia majorly located in Ukraine. The Kobrin Fortification was the biggest in the fortress, located in the northeastern part, shaped like a horseshoe, featured 4 fortification curtains, 3 detached ravelins and a lunette in the western part, East Fort and West Fort. The Terespol Fortification was the western bridgehead, featuring 4 detached lunettes. The Volyn Fortification was the southeastern bridgehead, featuring 2 fortification curtains with 2 detached ravelins.^[1]

HistoryEdit

ConstructionEdit

The construction of the Imperial Russian fortress, in place of the old Ducal Lithuanian Brest Castle, started in 1833 based on a draft of the Russian military engineer Karl Opperman.

WWIEdit

After the fall of the forts at Kaunas and Novogeorgievsk, the Russians abandoned Brest fortress, carrying away most of their stockpiled munitions. The Germans entered the fort on August 26, 1915. In 1918, the fort was the location of the signing of the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk, which made peace between USSR and the Central Powers.

During WWIIEdit

Polish Defense of Brest FortressEdit

The Battle of Brześć Litewski (also known as the Siege of Brześć, Battle of Brest-Litovsk or simply Battle of Brześć) was a World War II battle involving German and Polish forces that took place between 14 and 17 September 1939, near the town of Brześć Litewski (now Brest, Belarus). After three days of heavy fights for the stronghold in the town of Brześć, the Germans captured the fortress and the Poles withdrew.

On 14 September 77 German tanks of the 2nd Battalion of the 8th Panzer Regiment, part of 10th Panzer Division, reached the area of Brześć and attempted to capture the fortress on the run. The probe attack was repelled by Polish infantry and the 113th company of light tanks, consisting of 12 obsolete Renault FT tanks. All the Polish tanks were destroyed, but the German forces were forced to retreat towards their initial positions. Polish armoured train number 53 (PP53), which made a reconnaissance advance to Wysokie Litewskie, was attacked by a scout patrol from the 10th Panzer Division. The crew from the train opened fire with artillery. Several other skirmishes were fought, but were largely inconclusive.

Later that day the German artillery arrived and started bombardment of both the fortress and the town. Heavy street fighting ensued. At dawn approximately half of the town was in German hands, the other half being defended by Polish infantry. Polish anti-tank weapons, artillery and AA guns were very scarce and were unable provide enough support for the infantry.^{[citation needed]} The following day Polish defenders withdrew from the town, but heavy casualties on both sides prevented the German units from continuing the attacks on the fortress. Instead, it was constantly shelled with artillery and bombed by the Luftwaffe.

The main assault finally started in the early morning of 16 September. The defenders had plenty of small arms ammunition and light arms thanks to the munitions depot in the fortress, but had almost no anti-tank weapons and insufficient artillery cover.

Although the German infantry was repelled and the assault of German tanks was stopped by two FT tanks sealing the northern gate of the fortress, by nightfall it became apparent that the German pressure made the situation very grave. Despite heavy losses, the German 20th Motorized Division and 10th Armored Division captured the northern part of the citadel. Meanwhile, the combined 3rd Armored Division and 2nd Armored Division comprising the XXIInd Armored Corps entered the area. The Poles were unable to resupply and the casualties rose to almost 40%.

At dawn General Plisowski ordered part of the Polish forces to retreat from the easternmost fortifications and regroup to the other side of the river and southwards. The evacuation was completed by early morning, 17 September when the last unit crossing the bridge blew it up to hinder the Germans.

After its capture by the Germans, it was soon passed on to the USSR per the German–Soviet Frontier Treaty.

Soviet Defense of Brest FortressEdit

Copy of the inscription found inside the citadel: «I’m dying, but I won’t surrender! Farewell Motherland. 20.VII.41» exhibited in the Museum of the defense of the Brest fortress

At 04:15 (Moscow time) June 22, 1941, the German Wehrmacht attacked the Brest fortress with no warning. The attack started with an artillery barrage, including 60cm mortars of the second battery of the Heavy Artillery Battalion 833 Nr. III («Thor») and Nr. IV («Odin»).^[2] The defenders were taken by surprise and initially failed to form a solid front. By 09:00 that day, the fortress was completely surrounded. The ensuing battle of Brest Fortress lasted for eight days, during which about two hundred soldiers and officers defending the castle died; German casualties amounted to 430 soldiers and officers.^[3][4]

The last defended part in the fortress was taken by June 29. All in all about 6,800 Soviet soldiers and commanders were captured.

According to Soviet propaganda, the battle lasted until 20 July, with no one surrendering to the Germans. This narrative became a testament to the resilience and courage of Red Army and Soviet people.^[5] A few Soviet soldiers did indeed hold out inside pockets of the fortress until as late as 23 July.^[6]

The last Soviet platoon fighting in the fortress was led by Pyotr Gavrilov, a major commanding the 44th Motor Rifle Regiment of the 42nd Rifle Division. He surrendered with his remaining survivors on 23 July, 1941 after holding out for 31 days and was held captive in Hammelburg and Ravensbrück concentration camps until his release after the end of the war in May 1945. He was awarded the Order of Lenin and the title Hero of the Soviet Union in 1957.^[7][8]

August 1941Edit

During a journey to different parts of the Eastern front, Hitler and Mussolini visited the fortress on August 26, 1941. Strong security measures were in place.

LegacyEdit

War Memorial ComplexEdit

In the late 1960s, the construction of the war memorial complex «Brest Hero Fortress» was started. The complex was opened on September 25, 1971.^[9] The memorial complex is a national place of grief and pride, a popular tourist attraction. It comprises the barracks, gunpowder bunkers, forts and other fortifications, the museum of the defence, located on the site of the old fortress, along with the new monumental structures: the Main Entrance, the Obelisk, the Main Monument, the sculpture «Thirst».

The centre of the complex is officially known as Ceremonial Square.^[10]

World Heritage statusEdit

This site was added to the UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List on January 30, 2004, in the Cultural category.^[11] Preservation and development is being carried out by the Brest Fortress Development Foundation.^[12][13]

Symbol of Brest cityEdit

The Brest Fortress is used as a symbol of the Belarusian city of Brest.

Brest in literature and popular cultureEdit

• Fortress of War (Russian: Брестская крепость), a 2010 Russian-Belarusian film
• Weary Sun Triumph Brest Fortress (Russian: Утомленное солнце Триумф Брестской крепости), a 2010 alternative history by Valeriy Belousov
• I, a Russian soldier (Russian: Я — русский солдат), a 1995 movie based on the novel His Name is Not in the List
• His Name is Not in the List (Russian: В списках не значился) novel by Boris Vasilyev)
• 1941: Brest Fortress. Kazakhstan. (Russian: 1941: Брестская крепость: Казахстан) book by Kazakh professor Akhmetova, Laila about the defenders of Brest Fortress from Kazakhstan (2016)

See alsoEdit

• Defense of Brest Fortress (1941)
• Battle of Brześć Litewski (1939)
• List of Jesuit sites

ReferencesEdit

External linksEdit

• Official homepage of the Brest Hero-Fortress Memorial
• Brest Fortress on official website of the Republic of Belarus
• UNESCO publication about the Brest Fortress
• Aerial photo from June, 1940
• Jurkau kutoczak — Юркаў куточак — Yury’s Corner. Фартэцыя ў Берасьці 1836-1842 гг.
• Photo 1024×768
• Main fortress 52°04′59″N 23°39′15″E / 52.082961°N 23.654251°E
• External forts
  • 52°02′51″N 23°40′25″E / 52.047516°N 23.673477°E
  • 52°02′46″N 23°37′07″E / 52.046090°N 23.618588°E
  • 52°04′49″N 23°35′45″E / 52.080172°N 23.595747°E
  • 52°03′52″N 23°32′58″E / 52.064457°N 23.549516°E
  • 52°02′36″N 23°33′15″E / 52.043306°N 23.554097°E
  • 52°01′10″N 23°36′14″E / 52.019365°N 23.603868°E

Coordinates: 52°04′55″N 23°39′29″E / 52.082°N 23.658°E

Brest — is a city, the administrative center of the Brest region and Brest district of Belarus. The city of Brest has a special place among the cultural and historical heritage of Belarus. In Brest, a lot of attractions. The city of Brest and its attractions is not about one single site. Our site was created to describe the less well-known places, it is intended to open the readers new and interesting sights, city and places, which they previously could not have known. Brest, of course, does not apply to such places, know about it all. Tourists love it and actively attend. Therefore, just to mention the sights of Brest.

The main attraction of the city of Brest is Brest Fortress. Brest Fortress was originally built in 1836-42 years. It was built in the historic center of the city of Brest, and for its construction was demolished and rebuilt all the historical buildings of the city of Brest of 16-18 centuries. Brest Fortress being completed and renovated many times, and as a result represents a huge multi-level fortification complex. By the spring of 1915 the Brest Fortress was one of the strongest fortresses of all Europe. However, during the First World War the Brest Fortress had no significant impact on the course of events, since at the last moment it was decided to leave it without a fight, and to take out valuable property. During the organized retreat of Russian troops, the fortress was also partially blown up. Nevertheless, it is here that was signed «Treaty of Brest-Litovsk», which marked Russia’s withdrawal from the First World War. In the interwar period, the fortress was used by Poland as a barracks, a military depot and a political prison.

In September 1939, at the beginning of the Second World War, then the Polish army defending the Brest Fortress (as well as later the Soviet garrison of the fortress) showed heroism and steadfastness, and within three days from September 14 to September 17 reflected in total 7 attacks of the enemy, whose strengths far exceeded the strength of defenders of the fortress. At the same time, the Germans suffered significant damage. After that the Polish army organized retreated to the south, and the fortress was partially blown up. Then, on September 22, the city of Brest along with the fortress was transferred by the Germans under the control of the Red Army.

On the night of June 22, 1941, the Brest Fortress was one of the first to take on an enemy strike by German troops. This was the beginning of the Great Patriotic War on the territory of modern Belarus. The further heroic defense of the Brest Fortress, although it had no significant effect on the general course of the war, however became one of the largest military feats for the entire Great Patriotic War. After the war, the Brest Fortress was awarded the title «Hero-Fortress», and a large memorial was established on the ruins of the fortress.

Now the memorial complex «Brest Fortress — Hero» has several huge sites, many monuments smaller stele, museum, the former garrison church (of which below), an exhibition of military equipment of World War II, surviving fragments of buildings, as well as other defenses of the fortress. There are also other tourist facilities, such as a restaurant and souvenir shops. Today the Brest Fortress is one of the most visited tourist attractions of Belarus. Every day many travelers come here, including from many foreign countries.

On the territory of the Brest fortress is also located a female Orthodox monastery. This monastery founded in our time in one of the best preserved of the former buildings of the Brest fortress, which previously housed the regimental school.

The Brest Fortress also includes its «Fifth Fort» — a unique historical defensive structure (a separate article here). The fifth fort of the Brest Fortress was built in the 1880s and was finally completed in 1888. Later, in the period from 1908 to 1914, a significant reconstruction of the fifth fort of the Brest Fortress was carried out. The fort was one of the defensive objects of the Brest Fortress of the second line. The fifth fort is located four kilometers south of the main complex of defensive structures of the Brest Fortress on one of the outskirts of the modern city of Brest.

In the fifth fort of the Brest Fortress, there is a museum of fortification and armament history. This museum is a branch of the memorial complex «Brest Fortress», but does not enter directly into this memorial complex. On the territory of the fifth fort of the Brest Fortress there is an exhibition of military equipment from the times of the Second World War. One of the most remarkable features of this museum is that here, for inspection, absolutely all the corners of all fort facilities are open, which are obviously in a neat and tidy state. Between all facilities of the fort, visitors are allowed to move including underground corridors.

Visiting Brest Fortress soon as possible and you need to pay attention to the other most valuable tourist attraction of Brest — a unique archaeological museum «Berestye». This museum is also located in the territory of the Brest fortress, a little away from the main memorial complex. This museum and the fortress of Brest is a single tourist complex. This is due to the fact that, as already mentioned, the Brest Fortress is located directly in the center of Brest. After the war, during excavations in the ancient city of Brest fortress was found. It was finally unearthed and then over this mound have built a special building, which performs the function of protection of ancient sites and maintain the ideal conditions for their preservation. This building became the museum, which is now open to the public. This museum is absolutely unique for Belarus. On the territory of Belarus are not present anything like it.

The exposition and funds «Berestye» museum stored a total of 43 thousand exhibits. At the heart of the museum — the remains of the ancient wooden buildings of Brest the 13th century, as well as entire streets paved with wood. Wooden buildings and parts of the bridge have been preserved specially developed synthetic substances.

Also, as already mentioned, in the territory of the Brest Fortress has the former garrison church of St. Nicholas, originally built in 1876. The church operates today. This temple is a very valuable monument of architecture. Outside the temple has been completely restored, but the interior of the church was not restored since the war (it was held only preservation). The walls still bear the traces of the results of various projectiles. A visit to this temple is very impressive.

Finally, it is worth mentioning also about another attractions of the city of Brest is located in Brest Fortress, namely the ruins of the former convent and church of the Bernardine. Originally, the monastery was built in the second half of the 18th century. This is one of the few buildings of the historic center of the old Brest, which was not completely destroyed (or rebuilt to the needs of the fortress) in the construction of the citadel. But it is still today the only building in the fortress, which continues to deteriorate and is in a derelict state.

We now turn to the description of sights of the city of Brest, located outside of the fortress. One of these attractions is the Orthodox church of St. Nicholas, built in 1906. This church is also called «fraternal», to distinguish it from St. Nicholas Church, located in the fortress.

Another Orthodox church — Cathedral of St. Simeon, built in 1868, is also an important attraction of Brest and valuable architectural monument. There is in the city of Brest and a few more contemporary Orthodox temples.

Another important attraction of Brest is the Catholic church of the Elevation of the Holy Cross, built here in 1856. This church is located on the central square. It is remarkable to note an interesting ideological rendering of the former Soviet authorities of Brest: Lenin statue, installed in the same area of the city of Brest, pointing the way, shows strictly to church. There is at Brest, and several other Catholic churches, including more contemporary temples.

Another very interesting attraction of the city of Brest is a stunning museum of railway equipment. This museum contains a lot of locomotives and other railway equipment. A very positive feature of this museum is that visitors to the museum is allowed access to the interior of all the exhibits. You can examine how the driver’s cab and the engine compartment of most locomotives. As it is also possible to climb in and out. Allowed and unlimited photos with the exhibits. Museum of railway equipment in Brest is a very interesting and unique museum in Belarus it has no analogues.

In addition to these, in Brest there are so many different historical buildings, which can be attributed to the historical city building. Most of them belong to the second half of the 19th century or early 20th century. Earlier building, as mentioned, have been rearranged or destroyed during the construction of the fortress. In Brest, there is a whole pedestrianized street surrounded by interesting historical buildings. Making the most of the street (benches, lampposts and so on) as the style of old, and in the middle of the street set beautiful monument «Millennium of Brest.» Special mention also deserves the central station of the city of Brest, built in 1886. Otherwise, the historical buildings of the city of Brest is a former residential (houses) and administration (courts, hospitals, schools, gymnasiums, banks, post office, etc.) buildings.

In addition, it is obvious that in such a large city as Brest, tourists can always find everything they may need (ATMs, hotels, shopping centers and so on). For this reason, and in view of the important and unique attractions for the whole of Belarus (fortress, Archaeological Museum, Museum of railway equipment), the city of Brest was the use of the tourists very popular. People come here not only to travelers from all over Belarus, but also from a very wide range of foreign countries. And indeed the city of Brest is one of the best holiday destinations for tourists and travelers in Belarus.

Sketches of Napoleon Orda, Brest:

Brest at the old photos:

В топике Брест я рассказываю о своем родном городе. Брест впервые упоминается в летописях в 1019 году и, в течение истории, название города было изменено несколько раз. В Бресте есть много музеев, два театра, один каток, два университета, пять гимназий и один лицей. Брестская крепость является главной достопримечательностью города: ее защитники держали длительную оборону против немцев в 1941 году и, в результате тяжелых боев, крепость была разрушена. После войны остатки крепости были превращены в грандиозный Мемориал ее защитникам. Сейчас Брест – крупный экономический центр, поскольку он расположен на границе Беларуси и Польши.

Brest is a beautiful old city on the west of Belarus. It is a city and administrative center of the Brest region of the Republic of Belarus. The city is located on the right bank of the Western Boog River. Brest is a big economic and cultural center. It is also an important rail-way and auto-road node.

Brest was first mentioned in 1019 as Bierascie. It is believed that ancient city’s name comes either from the word «bierast» or from the word «bierasta». The city’s name was changed several times during its history. At the beginning of the 18th century the city’s ancient name was changed into Brest-Litowsk. New name lived till the beginning of the 20th century when its second part was discarded, and the city has become simply Brest.

In Brest there are many museums, two theaters, one skating-rink, two universities, five gymnasiums and one lyceum. The fortress is the main attraction of the city. The history of this defensive construction started in 1842 when the entire city of Brest was moved 3 kilometers east, and on its place a massive fortress was set up.The fortress made a prolonged defense against Germans in 1941 and was ruined in the result of severe battles. After the war the remains of the fortress were turned into a grandiose memorial to its defenders.

At present near 300,000 people live in Brest. It is a big economic center because it’s situated on the border of Belarus and Poland. There are many beautiful new and old buildings. I like my native city Brest very much!

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