page_title: Hero City
section_title: Sevastopol
hierarchical_section_title: Hero City / Hero Cities list / Sevastopol
caption_attribution_description: English: Hero City monument in Sevastopol
context_page_description: Hero City is a Soviet honorary title awarded for outstanding heroism during World War II. It was awarded to twelve cities of the Soviet Union. In addition, the Brest Fortress was awarded an equivalent title of Hero Fortress. This symbolic distinction for a city corresponds to the individual distinction Hero of the Soviet Union.
  According to the statute, the hero city was issued the Order of Lenin, the Gold Star medal, and the certificate of the heroic deed from the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR. Also, the corresponding obelisk was installed in the city.
context_section_description: The Soviet Black Sea port of Sevastopol was a heavily defended fortress on the Crimean peninsula. German and Romanian troops had advanced to the outskirts of the city from the north and launched their attack on 30 October 1941. Having failed to take the city, Axis forces began a siege and heavy bombardment, with such unusual pieces of ordnance as the Mörser Karl self-propelled mortar, and the gigantic Schwerer Gustav railroad cannon. A second Axis offensive against the city, launched in December 1941, failed as well, as the Soviet army and navy forces continued to fight fiercely. Eventually the city was taken in June 1942. It was liberated in bloody fighting in May 1944. Sevastopol was awarded the title Hero City in 1965.
caption: Hero City monument at Sevastopol
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