The Defense of Odesa in World War II began with the German attack on June 22, 1941, triggering a fierce struggle for the city.
The Defense of Odesa began when Romania, allied with Germany, set its sights on Bessarabia and Odesa. But in Odesa, things didn't go as Hitler had planned. Soviet forces managed to hold the line, even launching a counteroffensive along the Danube. But the larger battle turned grim.
As the Red Army retreated elsewhere, the Soviets had to pull back to Odesa. The defense of Odesa started on August 5, 1941 and lasted until October 16. Surrounded by Romanian and German troops by land, the city held strong. Supplies came through Crimea, but it wasn't enough. Odesa was an open city with little in the way of natural defenses. By October, the Soviets had to evacuate to Sevastopol. The Romanians entered the city late, only realizing the Soviets had left after they were gone.
The Defense of Odesa and Casualties
The defenders' success was remarkable, especially given the odds. The Soviets had 35,000 men at the start and 86,000 by the end. The Axis forces had 340,000. The Soviets lost 41,000 men and the Axis, 92,000. The Romanian army, less skilled than their German allies, suffered most of the losses.
The 411th and 412th coastal batteries played a key role in defending the city. Though meant for naval warfare, they were turned against land forces. The 412th battery became a particular thorn in the Romanians' side. A group of 250 miners, armed only with grenades and shovels, defended it, and most were killed. The battery itself was destroyed before it could fall into enemy hands.
In September, Soviet forces launched a daring raid near Hryhorivka, landing troops to disrupt Romanian artillery. The guns they captured were paraded through the streets.
Makeshift Innovation and the Catacombs During the Defense of Odesa
Water had always been a challenge for the city. When the Romanians seized the pumping station in Belyaevka, a small detachment fought to restart it, giving the city precious hours of water. Almost all of them died, a story immortalized in the film Thirst.
NI-1 makeshift tank used during the defense of Odesa
NI-1 makeshift tank
There were no tanks in Odesa, so workers at the January Uprising plant built makeshift tanks from tractors. These little cube-shaped "NI-1" tanks, clad in boiler steel, terrified the Romanians, who mistook them for a new type of Soviet weapon. The first went into battle on August 20 and they saw action through September, notably near Dal'nyk. Though slow, they served their purpose.
Trams also joined the fight. A naval gun was mounted on a tram platform, which was sent to the front lines, along with fighters. This was typical of Odesa; going to battle by tram, as if heading to the market.
Occupation and Liberation Following the Defense of Odesa
Odesa endured 907 days of occupation, from October 16, 1941, to April 10, 1944. Under Romanian and German rule, the population of the city fell to half of its pre-war size. The first major atrocity came with the massacre of 25,000 Jews and prisoners of war, who were burned alive in warehouses outside the city. By the time the city was liberated, only 600 Jews remained. The city's Jewish population, which had made up 40% of Odesa before the war, suffered greatly. Thousands were taken to concentration camps like Bohdanivka, where most perished.
Resistance never stopped. Partisans fought from the city's catacombs, vast underground tunnels where forces could hide and launch attacks. Fifteen partisan detachments operated from the catacombs, with many sacrificing their lives for the cause.
Partisans fought from the city's catacombs, vast underground tunnels where forces could hide and launch attacks.
The liberation of Odesa began in April 1944. Despite heavy snow and thaw, Red Army forces reached the city by April 8. Street battles raged on through the night of April 9. On April 10, Soviet troops raised the red flag over the Opera House.
Odesa's liberation was guided by the partisans. They killed many enemy soldiers, sabotaged German plans to destroy key buildings and helped ensure the city's survival. With little damage to the city, the Reds claimed Odesa and the war moved on.
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