ORIGINAL DIARY CRIMEA SEVASTAPOL MAXIME GORKI GUNS
[Original]

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162 Pages
128 Photos
2 unique maps
 
This is a one-of-a-kind large format 20 x 26.5 cm war diary written by a German 88 Flack soldier. The text has been typed so it is easy to read and from May 6, 1942 until August 20 1942 including the seige of Sevastepol. The actual book in it's current form was put together by the author in December of 1944.
 
History of the Russian Maxime Gorky guns:
Maxim Gorky I was located east of Ljabimorka, north of Severnaya Bay which formed Sevastopol's harbor), and contained two twin gun turrets which could fire four 30.5 cm guns. Once the Germans had broken through the Perekop Isthums in October 1941, they advanced on Sevastopol but were confronted by Maxim Gorky I. They deployed the 800mm rail gun Dora to destroy it. On June 6, 1942, heavy guns and mortars managed to make direct hits on the battery which destroyed one of the gun turrets and damaged the other. None of these were successful in eliminating the Maxim Gorky I, however, and it was not until June 17 that it was put out of action by German assault engineers. According to the Soviets, the batteries guns ran out of ammunition, firing was forced to cease, and the fortification was subsequently blown up by the crew.