Description of the attraction
The memorial sign is dedicated to the heroes of the Red Banner Northern Fleet who died during the Great Patriotic War. The monument is located in Murmansk near the administration of the Lenin district. This is the work of the architect F. S. Taxis. The memorial sign was solemnly installed on October 13, 1974. This day was a holiday - the thirty-year anniversary of the defeat of the Nazi troops in the Arctic.
The monument symbolizes a warship. The ensemble consists of a granite rock, a hill slope and a stele inclined forward. The hill is overgrown with trees. The stele is made of metal sheets. The sheets are connected using riveted seams. On the facade of the obelisk there is an anchor hanging down. There are steps at the foot of the obelisk. The fence is made in the form of metal chains supported by artillery shells. The simplicity and brevity of the monument is in harmony with the general view of the city and reflects the inner essence of the military feat.
The Northern Fleet was founded in 1933 and is the youngest among the other fleets of the USSR. During the Great Patriotic War, the fleet commander was Rear Admiral A. G. Golovko. During the war years, due to its location near the sea coast, Murmansk was of great strategic importance for the country. The allies delivered military supplies through Murmansk. That is why the feat of the heroes of the North Sea made an invaluable contribution to the common cause - the victory of the USSR over the German fascist invaders.
The actions of the sailors were coordinated with the actions of other units. Many infantrymen, artillerymen and pilots also died in the name of the bright Victory Day. For example, the exploits of sailors took place on land. Suffice it to mention the heroic defense of the Rybachy Peninsula, which after that was named "unsinkable aircraft carrier". The aviation forces were experiencing difficulties, since the enemy's air forces were superior in number and quality of equipment. However, the soldiers of the Air Force did not surrender and bravely defended the city. Under the command of the squadron pilot Boris Safonov, 39 German aircraft were destroyed within 11 months. Of these, Safonov himself hit 25 aircraft, making 224 sorties. At that time, these were record numbers. Boris Safonov was awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union and awarded the Golden Star.
During the most fierce battles in the direction of Murmansk, paratroopers from the Northern Fleet landed in the area of the enemy's flank and rear to strengthen the positions of our troops. The airborne units were urgently formed from volunteers among the sailors and riflemen, since there were no specialized airborne units yet. In a short time, 12 thousand volunteers responded to the call.
Most of the fishing trawlers and their crews from the first days of the war went to fight at sea on a par with other members of the Navy. Armed and supplemented with weapons, they also made an invaluable contribution to the victory. Many of them died in battle without returning from the Barents Sea. Speaking about their feat, one cannot but recall the names of such heroes as Captain III Rank Fedor Vidyaev, Lieutenant Commander Alexander Shabalin, Ivan Sivko and others.
In 1942, nine combat submarines did not return from battles. Among the North Sea residents, 85 people were awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union, three of them became three times Hero of the Soviet Union. However, in our peacetime, war is not often remembered. Only on holidays flowers are brought to the monument to the fallen North Sea residents.
Currently, the monument is in need of restoration. The stele has long been in need of painting, and the entire monument is gradually deteriorating. Unfortunately, the tendencies of modern times do not contribute to the preservation of the memory of the tragic war of the last century.
