History 02/02/20 As Stalin wanted to drown the Germans at Moscow in 1941
of Course, history has no subjunctive mood, but you always want to know what would turn around certain important events differently. For example, during the defence of Moscow from Nazi troops, the Soviet leadership ordered to flood the floodplains of the rivers Istra, Yakhroma and Sister to cover the capital from the North-West. But few people know that the rate of Supreme commander I. V. Stalin developed the plan to flood Moscow and in case of defeat it could be implemented.
the Flood in the defense of the capital
In late 1941, the situation at the front became critical. The Germans were eager to Moscow, hoping for a quick victory. In November the enemy’s encirclement began to shrink. The attack unfolded on three directions: North to the town of Klin and Dmitrov; from the South, on the Kashira and Serpukhov; in the center of these “ticks” were Volokolamsk.
Despite the heroic resistance of the red army, Moscow was virtually surrounded. The evacuation of the government to Kuibyshev (Samara). There was a discussion about leaving the besieged capital of I. V. Stalin. The situation was complicated by the fact that the Nazis from the North-West were sent armored and infantry units 52 of the army of the Wehrmacht. Strong frost has bound the Moscow river, and it seemed that the advance of German armored vehicles is nothing to prevent. But the offensive petered out.
the Famous historian Iskander Kuzeyev, in the article “the Flood Moscow”, which was published in the newspaper “top secret” July 29, 2008, I wrote about the secret operation that enabled to stop the Wehrmacht troops moving on the capital from the North-West. The fact that the Supreme commander ordered to throw water with them and Istra reservoir. And this secret operation, the population was not notified, so that the residents of villages located on the banks of the Istra, SRoma and Sister died from the water stream, mixed with crushed ice.
Iskander Kuzeyev, refers to the memoirs of Marshal B. M. Shaposhnikov, under the editorship of which in 1943, the military publishing has released a brochure entitled “the Defeat of German troops near Moscow”. Under a signature stamp “for office using” this edition has lain in the archives of the Ministry of defence until 2006.
Here is what we read here: “on 24 November, the Germans came close to the turn of the Istra reservoir, the river Istra. With the approach of the Germans to this point the floodgates of the dam was blown up (at the end of the crossing of our troops), resulting in the formed water stream with a height up to 2.5 m for up to 50 km to the South of the reservoir. The attempts of the Germans to close the floodgates failed”.
Subsequently, the researchers found the scene, talking with experts and raising other archival documents. Streams of water washed village, located on the shores of Istra, with the civilian population. And reset the Ivankovo reservoir killed at least 30 villages and other small settlements, situated near these rivers.
local Historian Igor Somersaults in the article “”Yakhromskiy key” Colonel Savelova,” published on the portal devoted to the Moscow canal, brought memories of a direct participant of those events, provided by his grandson.
Fyodor Mikhailovich Savelov was a Colonel of the engineer troops of the Western front. He wrote: “a Huge avalanche of water, around two million m3, — lifting the ice, flooded rivers floodplain of the Yakhroma and Sisters area of about 300 ha. Formed an artificial sea. Creates an impassable barrier for tanks and infantry. The Nazis did not expect such obstacles. The flooding has made them a great moral influence. The command of the Nazis could not imagine how much will be raised the level of the spilled water. The advent of the fascist troops was suspended.”
To the Nazis suspected nothing, the operation was prepared and carried out in the conditions of deep secrecy. The cornlay of the surrounding villages, no one was warned and many died.
Who wanted to flood Moscow
Iskander Kuzeyev, along with other historians believe that a similar fate could befall the residents. The researcher argues that in the case of the failure of the defense of the capital of I. V. Stalin Supreme commander would be evacuated to Samara. After that, the NKVD had to blow up the dam Khimki.
In the article “the Flood Moscow” are the words of the former head of FSUE “Moscow Canal” Ivan Rodionov: “We are sitting on the third floor in the building at the highest point of the hill. Calculations show that the water flow would come down here to the third floor and the upper floors of many tall buildings in Central Moscow are on a much lower level”.
That is, capital would flood completely. As the level of the Khimki reservoir in 1941 amounted to 162 meters, and the level of the Moscow river, about 120 meters, meter shaft of icy water swept would be on its way almost all the buildings, including the Kremlin.
Apparently, Stalin decided to use the experience of the great commander Mikhail Kutuzov, who took the decision to burn Moscow during the Patriotic war of 1812. Only this time it was planned to destroy the ancient city of fire and water. However, in the early XIX century, the inhabitants were warned in advance of the approach of enemy troops and set fire to their homes, so they have not got the French.
But, knowing the methods of Stalin, we can assume that no one would notify people about the coming flood, as the inhabitants of villages off the coast of Istria, Sisters and Yakhroma. Millions of Soviet citizens would have died along with the approaching Nazi troops. It would be the mass murder of the civilian population for all of the great Patriotic war.
Okay, we’re talking only in the subjunctive mood.
a Former engineer of the FSUE “Moscow Canal” Valentine Barkovsky wrote a collection of short stories, the documentary “Secrets of the Moscow-Volgostroy” (Moscow, 2007 edition), which mentioned about the role of the channel in the defense of the capital. The author informed the readers: “When in the eighties dismantled an old bridge on the Dmitrov highway, at the base of it found dozens of tons of explosives loaded on the mound since the war”.
V. S. Barkowski suggested that in the embankment of the Khimki dam since 1941, is not less hazardous substances — not casually after all in the Park “Pokrovskoe-Glebovo”, where is the site of the dam, are still fixed hour security.
Or is it a historical myth
However, not all researchers believe that Stalin was planning to flood Moscow after his flight. There is an alternative point of view on this difficult period in the life of the Soviet people. Among experts, there have been fierce disputes.
for Example, a well-known journalist Arsen Martirosyan in his book “the Tragedy of 1941” (Moscow, 2008 year of publication) wrote that the myth of the flight of Joseph Stalin from Moscow was the first to launch another propaganda Minister of Nazi Germany Joseph Goebbels to break the morale of the red army. In fact, according to the historian, the head of state never planned to leave Moscow, knowing how important this fact is for all the people.
And the fact that especially for I. V. Stalin was prepared the train for the purpose of evacuation in Kuibyshev, A. B. Martirosyan explains the usual precaution of staff responsible for the safety of the first person in the state. Moreover, at the airfield named after Frunze head of the country was awaiting the aircraft “Douglas”, ready at any moment to rise into the air, accompanied by fighters.
But the commander in chief, according to the testimony of many witnesses, on all issues of military and security officers answered: “No evacuation will not be here until the victory.”
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