Genicheskaya Gorka or Gengorka is recognized as one of the most favorable places for recreation with children. This village is under the jurisdiction of the Kherson region and is located at the head of the spit of the Arabatska Strelka, just opposite one of the best children’s resorts on the Sea of Azov — the town of Genicheska.
If for a moment to distract from the recreational advantages of Gengorka, many people will be surprised by the educational significance of this settlement. In August ’41, a separate division of artillery naval guns was established here, similar to the one that guarded Danzing at the dawn of World War II. Gengorsk division was intended to protect the northern entrance to the Crimean peninsula. In this way, the USSR Black Sea Fleet Command tried to prevent or reduce the influx of German troops trying to come to the rear of Kerch or Sevastopol, as well as to occupy the transportation hubs — Perekop, Chongar and Thin Strait, separating the Arabatska Arrow from the mainland.
The basis of the special unit was made up of sailors of the 120th Chongar Division. The battery commander was never appointed, so the command of the strategically important detachment was taken by the commander of the firing platoon — Lieutenant Kovshov. The location of the division was the only sandy hillock of Gengorka, from which a panorama of the Sivash and a large area of the Sea of Azov opened up.
The placement of the artillery battery was handled by Major Gelovani, who later became a general of the Soviet military engineering forces. By the way, he took part in the first battles and personally monitored the effectiveness of the placement of guns and fortification elements.
The main battles fell to the 127th battery from September 15 to 17, 1941. To help the Chongar sailors, given the importance of the object, was sent infantry of the 51st Army and the so-called Kerch detachment of Rear Admiral Vasyunin.
Until December 17, 127th battery held back the onslaught of German troops. Almost all the defenders of the Gengori strategic junction were killed, so the situational division ceased to exist.
In memory of the feat accomplished by Soviet soldiers, in 1982 in Gengorka appeared memorial to the soldiers-artillerymen. This is an arc-shaped wall, the remains of the fortifications of the battery, on which was installed one ship’s gun. In the neighborhood with a memorial sign built Orthodox church.
On holiday in Genicheskaja Gorka comes a lot of children, so parents can take the opportunity to tell their offspring about the terrible historical past of this land. And if other attractions of the Arabatskaya Spit are designed to reanimate the human body, the memorial to the soldiers-artillerymen will help you to form in the soul of the child such traits as heroism and pacifism.