Description

City of Military Glory is an honorary title bestowed upon the citizenry of Russian cities, where defenders had displayed courage, steadfastness, and mass heroism in the fight for their Fatherland’s freedom and independence during the Second World War.

It was founded by Greek colonists in the 6th century BC. The settlement was named Theodosia. The surrounding area had rich agricultural lands. Theodosia was destroyed by Huns in the 4th century AD. During the next nine hundred years, Theodosia was a small village.

In 1230, like the rest of the Crimean peninsula, the settlement was captured by Mongols. That time, the village had the name Caffa or Kaffa. At the end of the 13th century, the settlement was bought by Genoa merchants to increase their trade opportunities in the Black Sea region. In 1475, the town was captured by the Ottoman Empire and was named Kefe. At the beginning of the 17th century the city became one of the main centers of Gothic Orthodox eparchy. In 1771 during the years of Russian-Turkish war Caffa was conquered by Russian forces.

From the first days of the Great Patriotic War citizens of Feodosia have risen in defense of the Homeland. In November, 1941 Feodosia was occupied by the German troops. On December 26, 1941, as a result of the Kerch-Feodosia landing operation performed by the Soviet troops, the city for three weeks became Soviet. In the middle of January, 1942 Feodosia has been again captured by the German troops. The city has been destroyed and burned. Many citizens of Feodosia have gone to the old Crimean and sudaksky woods to guerrillas. In April, 1944 during the Crimean offensive operation the city has been freed.