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.

The official year of Elets foundation is 1146. It is the year when the fortress was first mentioned in Nikonovskaya chronicle. After being destroyed several times, Yelets fortress was reconstructed in 1592, together with other fortresses on southern boundaries of the Muscovite state, and became the origin of present day city. In the second half of the 18th century, it became a large trade and industrial center of the region. Tanning industry was developed to such an extent that Yelets was called the “Capital of Boots” of the Russian Empire.

The town was occupied by the German Army from December 4 to 9, 1941 and damaged during the brief occupation and Soviet offensive in the region.