Kyiv, a scenic city of close to 3 million people situated on the Dnipro River, is the bustling capital of Ukraine. Ancient Kievan Rus, which reached its greatest period of ascendancy during the 11th and 12th centuries, was a centre of trade routes between the Baltic and the Mediterranean. Once a powerful force on the European scene, Ukraine's fate in modern times has been decided in far-off capitals. As a result, modern Ukrainian history, for the most part, has been defined by foreign occupation. But after gaining the independence by Ukraine in 1991 it significantly restored its political and economic weight.
The famous Chilean poet Pablo Neruda once called the Crimea " the most magnificent medal on the breast of the Earth". The reason for his praise lies in the natural beauty of the Crimea Peninsula and its almost subtropical climate, combined with large number of sand and pebble beaches, warm sea and picturesque landscapes. The Crimean coastline is broken by several bays and harbours.
The southeast coast is flanked from the sea by a parallel range of mountains, the Yayla Mountains. The terrain that lies beyond the sheltering Yayla Mountains range is a narrow strip of coast and the slopes of the mountains are smothered with greenery. This "Russian Riviera" stretches along the southeast coast from Cape Sarych, in the extreme south, to Theodosia and is studded with summer sea-bathing resorts such as Alupka, Yalta, Gurzuf, Alushta, Sudak, and Theodosia. During the years of Soviet rule, the resorts and dachas of this coast served as the prime perquisites of the politically loyal. In this region are also vineyards and fruit orchards; fishing, mining, and the production of essential oils are also important. Numerous Crimean Tatar villages, mosques, monasteries, and palaces of the Russian imperial family and nobles are found here, as well as picturesque ancient Greek and medieval castles.
The famous Chilean poet Pablo Neruda once called the Crimea " the most magnificent medal on the breast of the Earth". The reason for his praise lies in the natural beauty of the Crimea Peninsula and its almost subtropical climate, combined with large number of sand and pebble beaches, warm sea and picturesque landscapes. The Crimean coastline is broken by several bays and harbours.
The southeast coast is flanked from the sea by a parallel range of mountains, the Yayla Mountains. The terrain that lies beyond the sheltering Yayla Mountains range is a narrow strip of coast and the slopes of the mountains are smothered with greenery. This "Russian Riviera" stretches along the southeast coast from Cape Sarych, in the extreme south, to Theodosia and is studded with summer sea-bathing resorts such as Alupka, Yalta, Gurzuf, Alushta, Sudak, and Theodosia. During the years of Soviet rule, the resorts and dachas of this coast served as the prime perquisites of the politically loyal. In this region are also vineyards and fruit orchards; fishing, mining, and the production of essential oils are also important. Numerous Crimean Tatar villages, mosques, monasteries, and palaces of the Russian imperial family and nobles are found here, as well as picturesque ancient Greek and medieval castles.
Historical Background
The Crimean War (1854 - 1856) devastated much of the economic and social infrastructure of Crimea. Crimean Tatars had to flee from their homeland en masse, forced by the conditions created by the war, persecution and land expropriations. During the Russian Civil War, Crimea was a stronghold of the anti-Bolshevik White Army. It was in Crimea that the White Russians led by General Wrangel made their last stand against the invading Red Army in 1920.
Crimea was a scene of some of the bloodiest battles in World War II. The leaders of the Third Reich were anxious to conquer and colonize the fertile and beautiful peninsula as part of their policy of resettling the Germans in Eastern Europe at the expense of the Slavs. The Germans suffered heavy casualties in the summer of 1941 as they tried to advance through the narrow isthmus of Perekop linking Crimea to the Ukrainian mainland. Once the German army broke through they occupied most of Crimea, with the exception of the city of Sevastopol. The city held out from October 1941 until 4 July 1942 when the Germans finally captured the city. From 1 September 1942, the peninsula was administrated as the Generalbezirk Krim (general district of Crimea) und Teilbezirk 'and sub-district' Taurien by the Nazi Generalkommissar Alfred Eduard Frauenfeld
In 1944, Sevastopol was liberated by the Soviet troops. The City of Russian Glory once known for its beautiful architecture was entirely destroyed and had to be rebuilt stone by stone. Due to its enormous historical and symbolic meaning for the Russians, it became a priority for Stalin and the Soviet government to have it restored to its former glory within the shortest time possible.