"Totleben" (fort): history, photo, location

2024 Author: Harold Hamphrey | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 10:06

In memory of the talented military engineer, whose ideas opened a new era in fortification art, Count Eduard Ivanovich Totleben (1818-1884), two forts were named. The concepts he expressed ran counter to the generally accepted trend in this field of military art, and the experience gained in the Crimean and Eastern campaigns made it possible to build fortifications that were the best at that time in terms of fortification indicators.

Full carte blanche

The first fortification bearing the name "Totleben" is a fort in the Kerch fortress. Eduard Ivanovich, who in 1859 took over the post of director of the engineering department of the military department, enjoyed the full confidence and support of Alexander II in the construction of the Kerch fortress. In 1872, the work on finishing the structure was completed and completely satisfied the king, who came there with an inspection. And so the main fortification of the fortress received the name "Totleben" by order of Alexander II. The fort is located in the narrowest part of the Kerch Strait, on Cape AK-Burun.

Marvel of military engineering

The fortress itself wasbuilt in circumvention of the Paris Peace Treaty of 1856, which forbids Russia to have a navy and coastal fortifications. And a kind of donjon, or a fortress within a fortress, was called "Totleben". The fort is connected to the building itself by the longest 600 meter tunnel.

This stronghold took 20 years to build and was one of the two most grandiose and important seaside citadels built in the 19th century - Kerch and Kronstadt. The Black Sea fort was an ideal and perfect fortification - everything was provided for to the last detail, right down to the pigeon mail station. Barracks for soldiers, latrines, water tanks, underground galleries and mine passages - everything was built taking into account the experience gained during the defense of Sevastopol and with care for the defenders of the fortress, which the builders made as invisible as possible by covering all stone structures with earth.

How to get there

In this place is the highest point of the Crimea - 110 meters, on which there is a monument to the genius of military engineering, named after him "Totleben". The fort covered the coastal batteries from the mainland. The fortress "Kerch" is now not in the best condition - it is abandoned. But on the territory of the object group tours are held regularly. Now it is not easy to get to it by public transport - by minibus No. 6, departing from the central bus station, you need to get to the Woodworking Branch stop. Further - only on foot. There are no detailed signs - orientation on the navigator or by interviewing local residents. ownby transport you need to go to the end of Tamanskaya street, turning into Kolkhoznaya, the last point of which is the fortress.

One of the forts of Kronstadt

One of the objects of the defensive system of Kronstadt also bears the name of E. I. Totleben. The construction of this fortress began after the completion of the construction of the citadel on the Black Sea (1872). In 1879, the implementation of the project began, the basis of which were two artificial islands - the basis for two forts, taken out of the coastline.

Conventionally they were designated Fort "A" and Fort "B". The first one was to be located on a shallow 10 km from Kotlin Island and 4 km from Sestroretsk, the second - 7 km south-west of Fort A and 4 km from Kotlin. Fort "A" cost the treasury 6.5 million rubles. gold, fort "B" - 7 million rubles. Work on the construction of defensive structures was to be completed by 1903, but by this time the islands had only been poured and strengthened. Only in 1913 the fortifications were commissioned. After the completion of the work, fort "A" became known as "Totleben", in honor of the great military engineer who took an active part in its construction, the second object was named "Obruchev".

All inclusive

Fort "Totleben" (photo attached) had the shape of the letter "C". The front part of it was deployed to the west - the eternal enemy of Russia. The front part, consisting of three sectors, and two rounded flanks together reached a length of 700 meters, the width of the structure was 50 meters.

During its construction wasthe sad experience of the Russo-Japanese war and serious changes in artillery were taken into account. "Totleben" was a military camp, provided with everything necessary, taking into account the conduct of modern warfare. An interesting fact is how the tsarist government took care of its soldiers. On the territory of the fort there was a desalination and purification system, 6 diesel generators, sewerage and water supply, comfortable barracks for 800 people and an officer corps, a hospital and a pharmacy, a bakery and a church, a cinematograph and a library, baths, warehouses and a glacier, a telegraph and a telephone exchange. On the back side there was a harbor for the approach of ships, along which a street ran.

Ruthless time

Fort "Totleben" was a marvel of engineering thought. The history of the further existence of this expensive and interesting object is bleak. After the revolution, it was given the new name "Pervomaisky". In fairness, it should be noted that in 1923 the 10-inch guns were replaced with those removed from the Rurik cruiser, their range increased from the former 18 to 20 km. Repairs were carried out systematically.

The fort took an active part in the Soviet-Finnish war. The last modernization was carried out in 1950-1954. Then everything went downhill - in 1955 the garrison was disbanded and artillery removed, in 1957 the fort was removed from all types of records, and since 1958 the once powerful fortification has been empty and abandoned.

Vandalism with impunity

Nothing has changed when Totleben was taken on the balance of the executive committeeLensoviet and in 1990 entered the UNESCO list. The good days returned when Vladimir Tkachenko, a restorer and artist from St. Petersburg, began to look after the object from the 1990s, and became a volunteer commandant. He not in words, but in deeds, cleaned, repaired and equipped Fort Totleben. How to get here? This question did not confront the barbarians who came across the ice in the winter of 2008. All the works of V. Tkachenko were destroyed, everything was mangled, burned and looted. And where did the employees of the EMERCOM stronghold stationed here in 1999 look?

Summer excursions in the Gulf of Finland

Now the object is being looked after by detachments of volunteers and search and rescue units "Bereg". It is impossible to visit the fort without special permission and documents, but it is possible as part of an excursion. What are organized visits? They are carried out only in the summer, the order can be made by phone available in the directories.

The organizers have the opportunity to see several similar objects in the Gulf of Finland, and not just Fort Totleben. The tour includes visiting the following points - "First South", forts "Alexander I", "Milyutin", "Obruchev" and "Totleben".

In winter everything is easier. As noted above, you can get on the ice of the Gulf of Finland, there would be permission to visit the Totleben Fort. How to get there in summer? Only as part of an excursion. Self-arrival on boats and boats is strictly prohibited, because the risk to life is too great. Of course there are many huntersindependently visit the fort, and there are also boat owners who are ready to violate the regulations for the appropriate reward.