Memorable dates of Russia: 70th anniversary of the Crimean Offensive celebrated in Crimea

April 8, 2014 in Crimea, starts a series of celebrations to mark the 70th anniversary of the Crimean Offensive of Soviet troops in the Great Patriotic War.

During a large-scale offensive, held from April 8 to May 12, 1944, the forces of the 4th Ukrainian Front and the Independent Coastal Army in cooperation with the Black Sea Fleet and the Azov Flotilla succeeded to completely clear the peninsula from the Nazi invaders.

As a result of the victory in the Battle of Crimea, the Soviet Union regained control over one of the most important regions and, among other things, returned its main naval base in the Black Sea - Sevastopol.

The first celebrations in honor of the 70th anniversary of peninsula liberation from fascism will take place in northern Crimea - in the city of Armyansk, which was cleared by the Red Army from the enemy on the first day of the operation. In particular, the city's schools will organize lessons covering this event.

In the following days, the anniversary celebrations will be held on the anniversary of the liberation of other cities of the peninsula - Kerch and Junko (April 11), Simferopol, Feodosia and Yevpatoria (April 13), Sudak, Alushta and Bakhchisarai (April 14), Yalta (April 16), and others.

In Sevastopol, the day of liberation from Nazi invaders (May 9, 1944) will be traditionally celebrated simultaneously with the main holiday - Victory in the Great Patriotic War.

Completion of the Battle of Crimea is celebrated May 12 - the day when the remnants of enemy troops laid down arms at Cape Chersonese.