Hero Cities of the Great Patriotic War

The title Hero City was given to 13 cities of the former Soviet Union

Hero Cities of the Great Patriotic War 1. Leningrad (St Petersburg) 2. Stalingrad (Volgograd) 3. Odessa 4. Sevastopol 5. Kiev 6. Brest Hero-Fortress* 7. Moscow 8. Kerch 9. Novorossiysk 10. Minsk 11. Tula 12. Murmansk 13. Smolensk

Leningrad (Ленинград) One of the greatest tragedies of the war, Leningrad, exemplified Soviet sacrifice and perseverance. During the 872 day Siege of Leningrad (from September 9, 1941 until January 27, 1944), over one million of the city's three million civilians died of starvation, exposure and German shelling. Another 300,000 Soviet soldiers died in the defense and liberation of the city. Leningrad was named a Hero City by Stalin on May 1, 1945

Stalingrad (Сталинград) The Battle of Stalingrad was a decisive turning point in World War 2 in Europe. The onset of the battle (July 1942) saw German forces on a full scale offensive, while the ensuing surrender of the German 6th Army in Stalingrad (February 2, 1943), was the beginning of the end for Hitler. Stalingrad was named a Hero City by Stalin on May 1, 1945

Odessa (Одесса) Odessa earned the title Hero City for the heroic defensive battle waged from August 8, 1941 to October 16, 1941, and for the partisan resistance which persisted within the city's underground catacombs for most of the Hero City's occupation. Odessa was named a Hero City by Stalin on May 1, 1945

Sevastopol (Севастополь) A key battle on the eastern front, the Siege of Sevastopol proved to be a costly victory for the German Army. Hoping for a quick conclusion, German and Romanian forces soon found themselves conducting a bloody siege that lasted from October 30, 1941 until July 4, 1942. Sevastopol was named a Hero City by Stalin on May 1, 1945

Kiev (Киев) Kiev earned its place as a Hero City, not so much for its strategic importance in the Soviet Army's victory in the war, but for the sheer sacrifice incurred during the city's defense and occupation. Kiev was named a Hero City on June 22, 1961, for the 20th anniversary of the start of the Great Patriotic War

Brest Hero-Fortress (Брест) When the Germans launched Operation Barbarossa on June 22, 1941, the Brest Fortress sat on the border of Soviet and Nazi territory. One month later, with the front hundreds of kilometers to the east, the Wehrmacht was still trying to stamp out Soviet resistance in the fort. Brest Fortress was named a "Hero-Fortress" on May 8, 1965, the 20th anniversary of the victory over Nazi Germany

Moscow (Москва) A huge blow to the German Army, the October 1941 to January 1942 Battle of Moscow quashed Hitler's plans for a short victory in Russia. Moscow was named a Hero City on May 8, 1965, on the 20th anniversary of the victory over Nazi Germany

Kerch (Керчь) A port in eastern Crimea, Kerch was a key German bridgehead for launching its offensive into southern Russia and a key Soviet bridgehead for the eventual liberation of the Crimean peninsula. As a result of its military importance, Kerch was the site of numerous battles from November 1941 until its final liberation on April 11, 1944. Kerch was named a Hero City on September 14, 1973

Novorossiysk (Новороссийск) Like Kerch, Novorossiysk was a key Black Sea port for the German's 1942 offensive in southern Russia. In an attempt to gain this objective, the Germans launched an assault on the city in August 1942. Novorossiysk was named a Hero City on September 14, 1973

Minsk (Минск) Like Kiev, the encirclement of Minsk was more of a Soviet defeat than a victory. Also like Kiev, the city was honored as a Hero City for the sheer sacrifice incurred by Red Army soldiers and Minsk's civilian population. Minsk was named a Hero City on June 26, 1974

Tula (Тула) Part of the larger Battle of Moscow, the defense of Tula was a key engagement that ultimately saw the end of Germany's 1941 offensive. Tula was named a Hero City on December 7, 1976

Murmansk (Мурманск) Located on the the Kola Peninsula, Murmansk was a strategic northern sea port vital for receiving supplies from the west. In an attempt to cut Russia off from this important supply line, German and Finnish forces launched an assault against Murmansk on June 29, 1941. Murmansk was named a Hero City on May 6, 1985

Smolensk (Смоленск) The Battle of Smolensk, a key engagement in the German's drive towards Moscow, stretched from July 10 to September 10, 1941. Smolensk was named a Hero City on May 6, 1985