#Victory80

🌟 In early April 1944, the Crimean strategic offensive of the Soviet forces commenced during the Great Patriotic War.

The Nazi-occupied peninsula was liberated in just 35 days through the coordinated efforts of Red Army units, the Black Sea Fleet, and the Azov Warship Flotilla, under the command of Chief of General Staff, Marshal of the Soviet Union Alexander Vasilevsky.

By autumn 1943, Soviet forces encircled on the Crimean Peninsula a Nazi troops grouping totalling over 200'000 personnel strength (soldiers and officers).

⚔️ At dawn on April 8, 1944, the Soviet forces delivered a crushing blow to the Nazi positions and breached the enemy defences by April 10. During the next three days, the cities of Dzhankoi, Kerch, Yevpatoriya, Simferopol, Feodosiya, Bakhchisarai, Alushta, and Yalta were liberated.

April 15 marked the onset of fierce fighting on the approaches to #Sevastopol, the main base of the USSR Black Sea Fleet, which the Germans had turned into a heavily fortified zone.

Thanks to the selflessness, unwavering resolve, and valour of Soviet soldiers, as well as a strong support from the guerrilla movement, Sevastopol was liberated on May 9, 1944. The German and Romanian occupant troops were crushed. By May 12, 1944, the remnants of the enemy grouping laid down arms and surrendered on Cape Khersones.

The main achievement of the operation was the complete destruction of Germany’s 17th Army and the final liberation of Crimea. The Crimean Offensive is regarded as one of the most successful operations of the allied forces during #WWII.

🎖All in all, 238 people were awarded the title of #HeroOfTheSovietUnion following the Crimean Offensive, and thousands of other participants of the operation were decorated with orders and medals.