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Remembering


Remembering
Photo Information
Copyright: Don Bessinger (dbessinger) Silver Star Critiquer/Silver Note Writer [C: 15 W: 1 N: 14] (33)
Genre: Places
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2006-07-16
Categories: Ruins
Exposure: f/4.2, 1/250 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2006-07-22 16:48
Viewed: 484
Points: 4
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
According to my guide, the Ukrainians are only now becoming aware of the huge losses suffered by the Soviet Union during World War II. Heavy casualties did not particularly concern the Soviets, and they frequently engaged in deadly tactics such as the human wave. It was also not uncommon for overzealous political commissars embedded in Soviet units to order soldiers to fight to the death. The communist government withheld the grim result from its citizens. While it was obvious that a great many Soviets died, the staggering casualty figures were never released to the public, who are only now learning the full scope of the sacrifice paid to win the Great Patriotic War.

This monument stands in front of the ruin of the Soviet battery at Cape Kherson, just a few kilometers west of Sevastopol. The guns from this position fired in defense of Sevastopol during the German seige of 1941-42. After the Germans took Sevastopol, the last of the Soviet defenders fought to the death in this place.

This battery is not only a historical site significant for its role in World War II. It is also a tomb for an unknown number of fallen Soviet soldiers. You can see the human remains on the monument's base. Visitors to the site found these bones in the subterranean labyrinth of tunnels and chambers that make up the fortification.
manub, robjol, daburg has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

Hello Don,
A good reminder to us, of the sacrifice that the Soviet troops made to defend the their Country.
Good notes, thanks.
Rob.

Hi Don, Thanks for the note and a visual record of the old 'soviet' or 'official' story. Cheers

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