Adzhimushkay quarry
The flight of the Crimea front armies was so hasty that some of the troops did not have enough time to cross over to Taman Peninsula and hid in quarry, where, along with them, many residents of Kerch literally went underground. It is estimated that there were a total of between 10,000 and 40,000 Kerch residents there, mostly women and children.
On May 21,1942, the military council created a Adzhimushkay Quarry Defense Regiment named after Stalin.
The improvised garrison defenders immediately compiled lists of commanders and fighters, set up hospitals, communication services and logistics, an intelligence group, a political department and even a tribunal Under the ground they listening to the radio, printed Sovinformburo news briefs, and conducted political orientation sessions and combat training.
From the days of the first occupation, a small food reserve (primarily consisting of sugar) was kept in the quarry. But water shortages began from the very first days. Each attempt to reach the nearby wells, all approaches to which were swept by the enemy’s machine gun fire, resulted in heavy losses for Adzhimushkay residents. Water was collected drop by drop from the walls, ceiling, strictly accounted, and distributed among wounded and sick. Only in mid-July were the defenders finally successful in discovering underground sources of water and building internal wells.
The garrison was a dangerous hotbed of resistance, and throughout that summer the Germans would not leave off trying to destroy it. They tried to storm the quarry, to drive the people out using smoke and choking gas, and drilled shafts in the galleries to throw in bombs, mines and grenades. Finally, they decided to bury the garrison: all entrances were blown up and sealed with rock, and those who tried to surrender were shot on the spot.
The Nazis did not succeed in entering the quarry until October 1942. By then only 48 survivors remained.
On May 21,1942, the military council created a Adzhimushkay Quarry Defense Regiment named after Stalin.
The improvised garrison defenders immediately compiled lists of commanders and fighters, set up hospitals, communication services and logistics, an intelligence group, a political department and even a tribunal Under the ground they listening to the radio, printed Sovinformburo news briefs, and conducted political orientation sessions and combat training.
From the days of the first occupation, a small food reserve (primarily consisting of sugar) was kept in the quarry. But water shortages began from the very first days. Each attempt to reach the nearby wells, all approaches to which were swept by the enemy’s machine gun fire, resulted in heavy losses for Adzhimushkay residents. Water was collected drop by drop from the walls, ceiling, strictly accounted, and distributed among wounded and sick. Only in mid-July were the defenders finally successful in discovering underground sources of water and building internal wells.
The garrison was a dangerous hotbed of resistance, and throughout that summer the Germans would not leave off trying to destroy it. They tried to storm the quarry, to drive the people out using smoke and choking gas, and drilled shafts in the galleries to throw in bombs, mines and grenades. Finally, they decided to bury the garrison: all entrances were blown up and sealed with rock, and those who tried to surrender were shot on the spot.
The Nazis did not succeed in entering the quarry until October 1942. By then only 48 survivors remained.