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History
Voronezh city – the administrative centre of the Voronezh Oblast (Region) of Russian Federation, a big industrial and cultural centre, a Railroad Junction. Situated on the both banks of the Voronezh River, which is left side tributary of the Don River. Population is more then 961 thousand people (2010), area 343 square kilometers. Voronezh was firstly mentioned in chronicles in 1177, but real relation of an ancient Voronezh with the contemporary one has not still being approved.
The fortress, founded on the place of the modern Voronezh in 1585 by the order of the Russian Tzar Fiodor I and completed in 1586 under the direction of the voivodes (chiefs) S.F. Saburov, V.G. Birkin and I.G. Myasnoy, as a fort protecting the Russian state from the raids of Crimean and Nogay Tatars. So the year 1586 is considered as a date of foundation of Voronezh.
The fortress was built on the high and steep right-hand bank of the Voronezh River. In 1590 Voronezh was burnt down during a Circassian nomadic raid. In 1594 the fortress was rebuilt almost at the same place. At the beginning of the 17th century, years of disturbances, Voronezh garrison blocked the troops of chieftain Ivan Zarutsky, the ally of polish invaders. In 1613 at the Voronezh walls they were defeated and fled to southern steppes of the Don river. In 1615 Voronezh had about 7 thousand inhabitants. Since early decades after its foundation Voronezh became a bastion protecting civilian population and providing economic development. In the middle of the 17th century after construction the Belgorod guard line Voronezh became one of its strongholds and since 1658 Voronezh was temporary under the power of Belgorod voivode (chief) who strengthened Voronezh town walls in 1670.
In 1682 Voronezh became the centre of Eparchy and its first episcope prelate Mitrophan. At the end of 17th century the wooden fortress became ramshackle and would never been repaired since war threatening stopped. After the failure in the first Azov march Peter the Great decided to build Russian navy and Voronezh was assigned for the first dockyard. During the years 1696 – 1722 Peter the Great visited Voronezh 13 times and totally passed there about 500 days. While Peter the Great was staying in Voronezh became in fact the administrative centre of Russia. 
In 1682 Voronezh became the centre of Eparchy and its first episcope prelate Mitrophan. At the end of 17th century the wooden fortress became ramshackle and would never been repaired since war threatening stopped. After the failure in the first Azov march Peter the Great decided to build Russian navy and Voronezh was assigned for the first dockyard. During the years 1696 – 1722 Peter the Great visited Voronezh 13 times and totally passed there about 500 days. While Peter the Great was staying in Voronezh became in fact the administrative centre of Russia. In this period the population increased from 10 to 50 thousand people. On the right bank of the Voronezh river were built tens of big warships (“Principium”, “Apostle Pavel”, “Predestination”), galley, fire ship and many others. Into Voronezh came lots of naval specialists from many places of Russia and foreign countries. Within Voronezh arose so called German settlement, where foreign specialists lived. On the island of the Voronezh river were built the first Russian Admiralty and Armoury. 
The Navy built in Voronezh participated in the capture of Turkish fortress Asov in July 1696 and Kerch Cruise in 1699. So in Voronezh were established organizational basis for following construction of Russian Navy on the Baltic and Black Seas. In 1703 in Voronezh was opened the first Marine School for training navy officers. 
In 1709 Voronezh became a part of newly organized Azov Governatore, in 1711 its centre moved to Tambov and in 1715 to Voronezh. Since 1725 Azov Governatore was renamed to Voronezh Governatore. In 1745 was opened Voronezh Theological Seminary which had been existing till 1918, later in 1993 has been revived. In 1774 after the fire Ekaterina II approved General Plan of Housing in Voronezh which had been being in power almost 150 years. In the second half of the 18th century and First half of 19th Voronezh was a centre of cloth materials production giving about 25 % cloth to sew military uniform.
In 1781 was approved The Coat of Arms of Voronezh consisting of the shield divided into two parts, the top part is gold with the black double-headed eagle, the bottom part is red with the silver jug bottom up on the hillside and the Voronezh river flowing out. In 1875 issued Topographic Description of Voronezh Governatore – first detailed description of Voronezh. At the same time established Voronezh Duma (Council) and the town was ruled by elective power and the Town Head. In 1785 was created first society educational institution – Popular College, which in 1809 transformed into gymnasium and County College. War glory of Voronezh increased at the years of Napoleonic Wars. In the Patriotic War of 1812 in Voronezh Region were completed infantry and cavalry regiments conscripted Militia corps under the power Major General Rusanov V.A.
In 1818 and 1820 Emperor Alexander I visited Voronezh. Later in 19th and the beginning of 20th all Russian Emperors came down to visit Voronezh. In 1832 Russian Emperor Nikolay I officially opened the relics of Saint Mitrophan for worship. In 1845 Chertkov N.D. made a donation to organize Mikhailovsky Cadet Military School. Among the graduates of the School were many famous military men. One of them was Mosin S.I. the constructor of his excellent rifle which was in service till the Great Patriotic War (1941). In 1860 was erected statue to Peter the Great (Sculptor Schwarz). In 1868 Voronezh was connected with Moscow by railroad, in 1871 with Rostov on Don, in 1894 with Kursk. In Voronezh arose first industrial workshops: Railroad Workshop (1868), Agricultural Machines Workshop (1869), Mechanical and Iron Foundry Works. At the edge of 19th and 20th in Voronezh the revolution movement intensified. In 1879 in Voronezh illegally took place the Congress of the “Zemlya i Volya” (Ground and Will) organization. In 1905 appeared “the Congress of Delegates” leading strike movement. 
In 1913 was founded the first institution of higher education – Agricultural Institute. During World War I in Voronezh were formed reserve battalions and evacuated defense industrial enterprises from western regions of Russian Empire. On 30 October 1917 after the military overturn Bolsheviks took the power in their hands. During three weeks of October of 1919 Voronezh was at the hands White Cossack general Shkuro A.G. In1928 Voronezh became a Centre of the Central Black Soil Oblast (Region), and in 1934 renamed to Voronezh Oblast (Region). 
In the 1930s Voronezh settled on both sides of the river. On the left bank of the river were built two big factories; Synthetic Rubber (caoutchouc) and Aircraft. In 1933 began working “Electrosignal” factory, first electricity gave big Power Plant. The list of big factories included Comintern Excavator Factory, Kalinin Mechanical Press Plant and Lenin Machine Building Factory. In the city was formed one of the most important scientific-industrial complexes in the USSR. The production of aircrafts increased quickly. Before the Great Patriotic War organized serial production of IL-2 famous attack planes.
In the 1930s Voronezh settled on both sides of the river. On the left bank of the river were built two big factories; Synthetic Rubber (caoutchouc) and Aircraft. In 1933 began working “Electrosignal” factory, first electricity gave big Power Plant. The list of big factories included Comintern Excavator Factory, Kalinin Mechanical Press Plant and Lenin Machine Building Factory. In the city was formed one of the most important scientific-industrial complexes in the USSR. The production of aircrafts increased quickly. Before the Great Patriotic War organized serial production of IL-2 famous attack planes.On the first day of the war in Voronezh Region declared the state of martial law. All the factories transferred to mass military production. The Comintern Factory began serial production of legendary “Katyusha” rocket launchers. In summer of 1941 in Voronezh were formed people’s volunteer division and communist volunteer regiment, which were included in the first guardian division. On 22 October 1941 was created the Municipal Defense Committee headed by the secretary of Regional Communist Party Committee Nikitin V.D. In October and November big industrial factories were evacuated to East. Since November 1941 till May 1942 the headquarters of the South-West Front was situated in Voronezh. Marshal Timoshenko took the military parade on 7 November 1941. The frontline was stabilized 120 km to the west from Voronezh.
The situation become complicated in June 1942, when the enemy air raids were getting dangerous. Capture of Voronezh was a part of summer offensive to Stalingrad and Caucus of the 4th Tank Army of general Goth according to the Operative Plan “Blau” for the Group Armies “South”. Since 28 June till 3 July 1942 the 24th German Tank Division broke the defense line between the 13th and 40th Armies of the Bryansk Front. On 4 July 1942 mechanized division “Great Germany” came to the right side of Don river and created springboards south-west from Voronezh. On 6 July motorized divisions and tanks of the 4th German Tank Army entered Voronezh and at the end of 9 July captured right side part of the city. 
During the defense of Voronezh participated the 3rd anti-aircraft division, 232nd Infantry Division, 18th Armored Corps and parts of the 2nd Air Army stopped the enemy, defended the left side of the Voronezh river, detained for 4-5 days offensive of German troops to Stalingrad. On 7 July was created Voronezh Front. The attacks of Soviet troops in August and September brought to capture and defense of Chizhovsky Springboard on the right side of the river. In October – December 1942 there were positional battles. At Voronezh were stopped 10 German divisions. On 25 January 1943 the 60th Army of general Chernyakhovsky completely liberated Voronezh.
During 212 days frontline passed through Voronezh, the third part of the Group of Armies “B” were stopped. An active defense of the city helped Stalingrad to stand up and conquer. The battle for Voronezh broke the summer offensive of German troops in 1942. Civilian population were drove away into occupied territories. About 500 people were shot in Peschany Log in the south-west suburb of Voronezh. Voronezh was destroyed on more than 90%. During the 32 thousand people from Voronezh were killed, 13 citizens became Heroes of the Soviet Union, 3 – full Knights of the Glory Order. 
In November 1945 Soviet of People’s Commissars (Council of Ministers) of the USSR approved the Resolution about the Restoration of 15 oldest Russian cities including Voronezh. At the end of 1940s were finished restoration of big industrial enterprises, at the middle of 1950s – residential and social buildings. In 1950 was built Big Tyres Factory, in 1953 – the Heavy Mechanical Presses Factory. In 1956 the factory “Electrosignal” began production of TV sets “Record”, since 1982 colour TV. Later appeared new enterprises: the Factory of Semiconductor Devices (1959) Machine Tools Factory, Aluminium Building Constructions Factory, Scientific Research Institute of Home Video Equipment (1986). In 1972 Voronezh Airport received first airplanes, in the spring reservoir storage was filled up with water. Voronezh was decorated with the Order of Great Patriotic War First Degree (1975) and the Lenin Order (1986).
On 16 February 2008 according to the Decree of the President of Russian Federation Voronezh was conferred a status of the “City of Martial Glory”. There are tens of special memorial places connected with the history of the war: Common Graves at the Monument of Glory, in city garden “Dinamo”, ruins of the Regional Hospital “Rotonda”. In 1975 the Memorial Complex with the Tomb of Unknown Soldier and the Eternal Flame were solemnly opened on the Victory Square, in 1985 – Chizhov Springboard Monument. In 1993 from Vilnius (Lithuania) to Voronezh was brought the Statue of General Chernyakhovsky. In 2000 began its work Museum-Diorama with exposition of military machines and equipment. Also in this museum since 2007 was opened a special Memorial to Heroes of the USSR an Russia born in Voronezh, in 2010 was erected the Memorial Stele “Voronezh – City of Martial Glory. In the Victory Garden at the 80th Anniversary of the airborne troops was put on the monument Voronezh – Motherland of Airborne troops.Historic reference was made on basis of works Akinshin A.N.,
PhD, professor of the History of Russia Department, Voronezh State University
