Home >> Crimea >> Sevastopol >> 35 Coastal Battery

Attractions in Sevastopol - 35 Coastal battery

One of the most powerful coastal underground fortifications of the Back Sea Fleet, 35th Battery was a military engineering construction intended for defense and security of Sevastopol and its Black Sea frontiers.  Nowadays the battery is a museum. In German sources the battery is often referred to as Fort Maxim Gorky II.

Located in the Chersonesus Peninsula (don’t mix with Chersonesus National Preserve), the battery is set 150 meters left (southwards) to the road from Kazachya Bay to the Chersonesus Lighthouse. The distance from the centre of Sevastopol is approximately 12 km.
Known as Headquarters of Sevastopol Defensive Region (SOR) in the WWII, the 35th Battery was the spot where final battles of Sevastopol took place in 1941-1942.

More than 80 000 Soviet soldiers and officers were captured by German Fascists or lost their lives on the rocky shores next to the battery in June -  July 1942. Only the commanders of the defense were evacuated. The battery was destroyed by Soviet soldiers in the day of evacuation and was not restored until 2008.

Construction of the battery started in 1913 under the project of military engineer N.A. Buinitsky.  The works were stopped because of the WWI and October Revolution. In 1928 the battery was brought into operation.

General premises of the battery were built underground. There were several  levels with firing posts, powder magazines, power-suppliers, water and  food supplies, technical and utility rooms, fuel tanks, hospital with operation rooms, crew and command rooms. Total length of the underground corridors is up to 600 meters. The battery was armed with two one tower 305-mm armored guns. Shooting distance was 42 km (26 miles), weight of the shell was about 471 kg.        

The stronghold had an up-to-date shook and gas resistant protections. A dummy battery was built in a mile distance from the stronghold. The battery had emergency exits leading to the seashore.

Some underground premises of the battery have already been restored.  All restoration works have been carried out at charity funds.  The memorial complex of 35th battery is a nonprofit organization whose aim is keeping historical heritage of Sevastopol.

On July 3, 2008 the memorial complex of 35th battery and the first excursion itinerary were open to public.

The memorial complex is still developing and restoration works are carried out in many tunnels of the battery. There are a few more excursion itineraries are planned to be added in the nearest future.

Hidden behind the curtains in the Soviet time, the 35th battery is now one of a few genuine military constructions of the WWII open to public. Visitors interested in military history of Sevastopol will find here a lot of new information.