Maxim Gorky Fortresses


Maxim Gorky I and Maxim Gorky II were coastal batteries used by the Soviet Union in the Crimea during World War II in the Crimean Campaign. The invading German forces during the Second World War gave the batteries their English name: Maxim Gorky. These are not their Russian names.

Maxim Gorky I

Maxim Gorky I was located east of Ljabimorka, at , and contained two twin gun turrets which could fire four 30.5 cm guns. Once the Germans had broken through the Perekop Isthmus in October 1941, they advanced on Sevastopol but were confronted by Maxim Gorky I. They deployed the 80cm rail gun Schwerer Gustav to destroy it. On June 6, 1942, heavy guns and Karl-Gerät siege mortars managed to make direct hits on the battery which destroyed one of the gun turrets and damaged the other. None of these were successful in eliminating the Maxim Gorky I, however, and it was not until June 17 that it was put out of action by German assault engineers. According to the Soviets, the batteries guns ran out of ammunition, firing was forced to cease, and the fortification was subsequently blown up by the crew.

Maxim Gorky II

Maxim Gorky II, which was armed with similar battleship turrets to Maxim Gorky I, was located on seaward cliffs on the southwest side of Sevastopol (. On July 4, Maxim Gorky II was taken after the Sapun positions were captured, making it the last major pre-war fortification to take part in a campaign.

Preservation

The 35th Battery was repaired and made into a museum complex commemorating the sacrifice of its defenders. Funding was acquired via charity, primarily from Aleksei Chaly, a Russian businessman who declared himself mayor of Sevastopol shortly before the 2014 Crimean status referendum.

Footnotes