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.

Staraya Russa is one of the oldest cities in Russia, founded in the tenth century as one of the principal cities of the then-powerful and wealthy trading nation of the Novgorod Republic. It gained greatly in prestige with the establishment of the Monastery of the Transfiguration in the twelfth century. Its salt works made it the regional leader in salt and brine production, driving its economy, and leading to the growth of the town to nearly 5,000 inhabitants by the fifteenth century.

The Battle for Staraya Russa was part of the attack of German ArmeeGruppe Nord towards Leningrad. They captured Staraya Russa on august 9th 1941. 3 Days later the Russian 34th Army counterattacked the Lake Ilmen area but were stopped and thrown back by a German force. After these fightings Staraya Russa stayed under German control until february 18th 1944.