Memorial "Sestroretsky boundary"

Fans of traveling to historical places where the fighting took place during the Great Patriotic War will appreciate the "Sestroretsky boundary" - a museum and a memorial. Once in the forest near St. Petersburg, as if you find yourself in the past. You can feel like a real gunner. After all, it is allowed to touch the exhibits with their own hands, including guns. If you manage to get here during the next historical reconstruction, and completely dive into the past. And here they are treated to soldier's porridge.

A few years ago the "Sestroretsky boundary" was abandoned and was in a deplorable state. There was no question of visiting him, for example, with children. But now everything that is here is clean, cleaned and open for visiting. And earlier only amateurs of extreme trips to the forgotten places of military operations could get here.

What is it for?

Why did the "Sestroretsk border" become the area of defense of Leningrad? This happened back in the late 1920s, when they decided to strengthen the large cities of the country so that they were not captured in the first place, if a war ensues. And the threat was very significant. After all, to the border with Finland - only 40 kilometers. The Sestroretsky district of defense became part of the Karelian fortified area. As well as the remaining links of the defensive chain, located from the Gulf of Finland to Lake Ladoga, the Sestroretsk border had DOT. Now the entrance to it is free. The main artillery complex of this defensive area had the call-sign "Elephant".

Sestroretsk semi-caponier

The territory of the lake, located near the fortification, is swamped. And it is because of its impassability that the DOT was built here in 1938. Its area was 200 m ² . This firing point had its own combat missions. The artillerymen had to block the access to the highway and the railway to Beloostrov with the fire of their guns. Inside the DOT, everything was preserved, as it was during the fighting. Two guns L-17, a machine gun, two casemate guns, a machine gun "Maxim". It is interesting that the guns had a cooling system, and gun powder was taken from the room itself.

The enemy could not get there unnoticed by artillerymen. All accesses were viewed through the embrasure. In addition, the commander of the firing point observed the progress of military operations through the periscope with a 10-fold increase. Communication with the outside world was supported with the help of a walkie-talkie. A characteristic detail - over the workplace of the radio operator is a portrait of I. Stalin. Communication within the Elephant was organized with the help of telephone and intercoms.

Security

Inside the pillbox, people were safe. After all, the thickness of the wall was 1.5 meters. She was not afraid to hit even a 350-millimeter shell. A special air filtration system protected the chemical attack. In winter, the DOT was heated. For this purpose, a heater was used. The one who planned the "Sestrorets border", even envisaged the possibility that the main outlet would be damaged. In order for people to get out, they made an additional exit through the mine. He, too, was protected by an armored hood. Embrasures, located on it, made it possible to survey the neighborhood.

Life support

DOT is a place where people not only fight, but also live. Consequently, they must be provided with everything necessary to satisfy their primary needs. Electric power was provided by the diesel generator. Its power was 7.2 kW. The water was taken from the well, which was located immediately, using a pump. In case of emergency, the fuel depots for a few days and containers of water were stored in the DOT. Slept people on the bunks in the barracks, equipped with wardrobes and shelves for personal belongings and weapons. On the convenience and comfort it was not. Everything was very simple and unpretentious.

That's not all

The memorial complex is constantly updated with new exhibits. Not indifferent people bring here "splinters" of war. Thanks to this, the exposition constantly expands. Volunteers began to restore the semi-caponir, filling it with objects of military life, when it was still unclear whether they would be able to restore the situation of those years. In the end, everything turned out, and the efforts of people were not wasted.

Should I go to the "Sestroretsk border"? The photos posted by the visitors of the museum give only a superficial impression of this place. To understand and feel the war time and the heroism of our soldiers, we must certainly visit there yourself. Words too can not be fully conveyed, what is the "Sestroretsky boundary". Excursion, which can be ordered individually, will help to get more information about the battles taking place here. Visited here will appreciate the atmosphere, recreated on the Primorsky highway near St. Petersburg.

Unfortunately, not all combat operations are subject to reconstruction. Many of them are just running. But the main thing is that people show interest in their history, which means there is a chance that there will be more such memorials.