On October 30, 1941, the heroic defense of Sevastopol began, which lasted 250 days. The German command hoped to capture the main base of the Black Sea Fleet on the move. At the beginning of the fighting, the Sevastopol garrison numbered about 23 thousand men and had about 150 field and coastal guns. The first blow to the German forces was struck by the 54th Coastal Battery of the Black Sea Fleet under the command of Lieutenant Ivan Zaika. On October 30 at 16:35, four 102 mm guns opened fire on a German motorized column approaching the city. The battery was cut off from the main forces and continued the battle with a superior enemy for three days. The attempt to take Sevastopol failed. The following attacks did not bring results either. By the summer of 1942, the German command near the city concentrated up to 200,000 soldiers, 450 tanks, more than 2,000 cannons and mortars, and about 600 planes. Super heavy guns were used to destroy the fortifications, including an 800 mm cannon. Along with the army, the city was defended by its inhabitants. Under constant shelling, workers repaired ships and weapons. At the entrances were underground factories where ammunition and uniforms were manufactured. There were also hospitals, outpatient clinics, canteens, schools and kindergartens. During the last German attack, up to 4,000 aerial bombs were dropped on the city per day. On June 7, 1942, the decisive attack began. The Soviet units continued to defend against the lack of ammunition, food and water. The organized defense ended at the beginning of July. The defenders of Sevastopol held the city for 250 days, pinning large forces of the German army towards the south. After the occupation of Sevastopol, the German occupation lasted almost two years. During the occupation, the Germans killed 27 thousand civilians, tens of thousands of people were taken to forced labor. The city was almost completely destroyed. Until the liberation, about 6% of the pre-war housing stock survived.

On October 30, 1941, the heroic defense of Sevastopol began, which lasted 250 days. The German command hoped to capture the main base of the Black Sea Fleet on the move. At the beginning of the fighting, the Sevastopol garrison numbered about 23 thousand men and had about 150 field and coastal guns. The first blow to the German forces was struck by the 54th Coastal Battery of the Black Sea Fleet under the command of Lieutenant Ivan Zaika. On October 30 at 16:35, four 102 mm guns opened fire on a German motorized column approaching the city. The battery was cut off from the main forces and continued the battle with a superior enemy for three days. The attempt to take Sevastopol failed. The following attacks did not bring results either. By the summer of 1942, the German command near the city concentrated up to 200,000 soldiers, 450 tanks, more than 2,000 cannons and mortars, and about 600 planes. Super heavy guns were used to destroy the fortifications, including an 800 mm cannon. Along with the army, the city was defended by its inhabitants. Under constant shelling, workers repaired ships and weapons. At the entrances were underground factories where ammunition and uniforms were manufactured. There were also hospitals, outpatient clinics, canteens, schools and kindergartens. During the last German attack, up to 4,000 aerial bombs were dropped on the city per day. On June 7, 1942, the decisive attack began. The Soviet units continued to defend against the lack of ammunition, food and water. The organized defense ended at the beginning of July. The defenders of Sevastopol held the city for 250 days, pinning large forces of the German army towards the south. After the occupation of Sevastopol, the German occupation lasted almost two years. During the occupation, the Germans killed 27 thousand civilians, tens of thousands of people were taken to forced labor. The city was almost completely destroyed. Until the liberation, about 6% of the pre-war housing stock survived.