Dorogobuzh
Description
Dorogobuzh is a historic town and the administrative center of Dorogobuzhsky District in Smolensk Oblast, Russia, straddling the Dnieper River and located 125 km east of Smolensk, the administrative center of the oblast. Population: 10,720 (2010).
History
First mentioned in 1150, it was established as a fortress defending eastern approaches to Smolensk. In 1508, Vasily III sent Italian masters to build a wooden fort there. Dorogobuzh was ravaged during the Time of Troubles, with its population reduced to ten people in 1614. Between 1611 and 1668, it belonged to Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth as a part of Smolensk Voivodeship. Subsequently, it survived other foreign invasions and numerous fires.
Pre-1917 view of the Dnieper River in DorogobuzhDorogobuzh was occupied by the German Army during World War II first from October 5, 1941 to February 15, 1942 (when it was liberated by three partisan detachments and some Soviet troops), then again from June 7, 1942 to September 1, 1943.
