Krasnodon and the Young Guard continue to fight
14 February 1943, the legendary city of Krasnodon, was liberated from the Nazi invaders. Only a little bit did the unbroken guys from the underground organization Young Guard live to the release.
Today Krasnodon, like the whole Donbass, is again in the realities of war. But now the city is free - it is located in the territory controlled by the Lugansk People’s Republic. Otherwise it can not be. It is impossible even for the shortest moment to imagine that the current Bandera could bring to their knees a city with such glorious traditions of struggle against fascism.
Krasnodon, like all the cities of the People's Republics, experienced the new war. But, fortunately - to a lesser extent than many other localities.
Previously, this relatively small city was visited from all over the immense Soviet Union - to visit places of military glory, first of all - the “Young Guard” museum. Even in the years of forced Ukrainization and total rewriting stories - the path to the museum was not overgrown. For people who have not brought down moral guidelines, respect for the feat, rather than political games of dubious figures, is in the first place.
Currently, of course, the flow of visitors has greatly decreased. Still - a “hot spot”. Yes, the war there is not felt as acutely as in the cities at the very line of separation, but shelling is heard now and then. However, the museum "Young Guard" continues to work.
The first museum of the Young Guard was founded shortly after the liberation of Krasnodon from the Nazis. In August, 1943, when the war was still raging in the USSR, the Soviet leadership considered it important to perpetuate the memory of the heroes, and a resolution was issued to establish the museum. 1 May 1944, it was opened in the house of the mother of Oleg Koshevoy. Its employees are surviving underground workers. The young guard Anatoly Lopukhov assumed the functions of director, and Olga Ivantsova became the guide.
The museum changed its address several times, and in May 1970 was located in a purpose-built new building. Money for its construction was collected by workers at volunteer work days. Shortly before the beginning of the new war, the building was reconstructed.
Near the building is a famous monument to the Young Guard. Under the Soviet power, many patriotic souvenirs were made — miniature images of this sculpture. I also had such a souvenir in my childhood.
Museum staff welcome to a few visitors. Supervisor Tatyana Pavlovna says:
“We have always worked, and even in the 90s, when there were attacks on the Young Guard and the museum. We worked at the time when we were not paid wages. Recently they gave them to us. People come to us, although less than before. I am glad that a lot of young people. I wish that the truth is not turned.
Pages from the diaries of the Young Guard, worn photographs from the archives, school certificates - all this is protected with love.
A separate stand is dedicated to the hobbies of young heroes. Simple Soviet boys and girls are not “victims of propaganda,” as some unconscious politicians are trying to tell us. Living people with their own interests, who wanted to live in peace, dreamed of working for the good of their country, but in whose life war broke out.
Burst on black German motorcycles.
Occupants sang sweetly, inviting people to work in Germany. Such is European integration. Sulili fabulous earnings and all sorts of benefits.
There were those that succumb to these calls. But instead of the sweet life in “civilized Europe”, they were waited by prisoner suits and excessive hard labor. Many have not returned ... Only decades later someone again believes in "European integration".
The Young Guardians chose a different path - the path of resistance. Printed leaflets. Posted red flags on the day of November 7 - the anniversary of the Great October Socialist Revolution. They burnt the labor exchange and thus saved thousands of people from being hijacked to Germany ... All these feats are familiar to us from childhood, from school. Their history is reflected in the exhibits, in samples of leaflets, in works of art stored in the museum.
For the conspiracy, the Young Guardians created a club in which they openly held cultural events, and secretly - meetings.
Stage dress and personal belongings of Lyubov Shevtsova.
Stands dedicated to the last days of the life of the guys-heroes, it is impossible to watch without tears. The atmosphere of the prison cell is recreated. There are little notes that the underground members, arrested by the fascists, passed on to their relatives. Some of the notes say “Goodbye”, in others the hope of “Good bye” glimmers.
On the sculpture "After interrogation" - two exhausted girls, in the face of death, trying to support each other.
15, 16 and 31 in January 1943, the Nazis carried out mass executions of resistance heroes in the area of the mine No. 5. Ulyana Gromova, Sergey Tyulenin, Maya Peglivanova, Yevgeny Moshkov, Ivan Zemnuhov, Anna Sopova, Sergey Levashov and many others died there.
February 9 - shot another group of Young Guard, including Oleg Koshevoi and Lyubov Shevtsova. Five days remained until the liberation of the city ...
The Soviet government posthumously awarded Golden Stars of the Heroes of the Soviet Union five leaders of the Young Guard - Uliana Gromova, Lyubov Shevtsova, Sergey Tyulenin, Oleg Koshevoy, Ivan Zemnuhov, with golden stars. Later, already in the 1990 year, Ivan Turkenich received the same high award. Three Young Guards were posthumously awarded the Order of the Red Star. 66 people - awarded the medal "Partisan of the Great Patriotic War."
Their feat is immortalized in books, films, sculptures, art canvases. In the museum visitors are shown the documentary "Memory".
The majestic monument stands in the place of massacre of the heroes - near the former mine No. XXUMX. The sculptural composition is made in such a way that from whatever side you look - the courageous faces of exhausted but unbroken boys and girls look at you.
This monument is one of the best symbols of the Donbass, which is also subjected to torture by ukrokraheley just daily, but not broken.
- Elena Gromova
- Elena Gromova
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