I dreamed about it for years ... And now my dreams materialize - are moving into a phase of practical implementation. We have started work yet, it is always difficult - to make the first steps ... We - are a group of enthusiastic adherents of different ages, different professions, different political views ... Вut united by common interests and hobbies - the history of our city, the history of the Second World War , the history of fortification ... Аnd most importantly - the understanding of their responsibility to society for everything that happens in this country, a desire to make people (and therefore the country) is better to leave something to future generations. It's so simple and at the same time so difficult - to do something ... I do not for myself, but for the people, for the public, for the children ... Our children understand how complicated and difficult had their grandfathers in World War II, many soldiers died in battle. And do not read about it in books, but to see, feel, this silent witness to the battle for the city Kramators'k in September 1943. Which I have written on this distinguished forum http://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic. ... 0&t=152762
It all began in May 2009 when me and my brother, Andrew Abramenko, got inside this German fortification to inspect it and to measure the geometrical parameters. We were amazed at how much construction littered and covered with earth.
German fortification, M.Thorez Street, Kramators'k, Ukraine
Unfortunately, we could not identify the purpose of building, we did not find anything similar in the layout of a typical fortifications of the German army. But the geometry and number of embrasures, there is no trace of machine-gun mount machines inside the building, let me suggest that this is a vantage point (which, as you'll see later, found its indirect confirmation). We systematically interviewed local residents, those who were children during the war (luckily we spotted) and learned a lot of interesting things:
1. This building was built under the direction of Soviet prisoners of German military engineers in 1943
2. No one has seen personally the fight itself, as the German command evicted civilians out of the city long before the assault by Soviet forces in September 1943.
3. After the retreat of the German army out of the city, inside of this building was a lot of machine-gun cartridges, they had filled the entire floor
4. From this structure still conducted with a machine gun at the attacking Soviet soldiers that height. Which advanced from the direction of the floodplain Mayachka
5. The hole through which we get inside buildings, was hacked after the war. The regular entrance is on the other side of buildings and he buried in the ground.
6. In 1956, this building was injured child. On that local people on their own land and the building was filled with different stuff.
7. In 1971 began the construction of the road (and now she passes by construction). But this fortification prevent construction work and it was decided to dismantle it. The works involved the dismantling team of construction workers. Which jackhammers tried to break reinforced concrete dome structure. When this failed, they had cut a hole in the base of plants (through which we now got inside). Then, with the help of the tractor, attempts were made to disrupt the concrete cap. But this also failed. After that, it was decided to leave this building alone.
Of course, this information is based on rumors and speculation. On this, there is no reason to consider it reliable. But what is beyond doubt is confirmed by the literature, that the strong point of the German troops in the battle for Kramatorskaya in September 1943 was an area called the "Old City". And, in particular, part of the "Mountain". It really is a hill that dominates the city. She really was strongly reinforced. There is information accurate, the location of at least four German long-gun emplacements (concrete fortifications). But local residents say that there were many more. But most of them were destroyed in the development of the territory of homeownership. To date, the surviving structures of the two - that's one more, located on private property, completely covered with soil. I wrote about it here http://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic. ... 0&t=155380
German fortification, School Street, Kramators'k, Ukraine
Even then, in 2009, there was a clear idea of fortification on the street M.Thorez, to fulfill its repair and restoration. And organize on the basis of its small museum dedicated to the battle for Kramatorskaya in 1943. It was necessary to find like-minded people and get permission to perform works from the municipal authorities. But at the time no one in the town hall, this idea is not interested, it would not be representative of the city government. Below are the sketches, at the time it seemed to me that it should look that way.
Reconstruction. German fortification, M.Thorez Street, Kramators'k, Ukraine (drawing made my wife)
Reconstruction. German fortification, M.Thorez Street, Kramators'k, Ukraine
Continuing further ...
Best regards.
Konstantyn Abramenko
