The troops and organs of the NKVD of the USSR in the defense of Sevastopol 1941–1942: composition, functions, significance

Introduction. In 2024, on the 79th Anniversary of the Great Victory Day, another key date was celebrated – May 9th, 1944, exactly 80 years ago, during the Crimean offensive operation, the city of Sevastopol was liberated. But this is not the only historical anniversary celebrated by the entire Russian people this year. More recently, in March 2024, another significant anniversary was celebrated – the decade of the reunification of Crimea and Sevastopol with Russia: on March 16, 2014, the people of Crimea and Sevastopol voted in a referendum for joining the Russian Federation on the rights of subjects. Significant anniversaries are always celebrated with attention to the historical context of an event. The triumph of the liberation and return of the territory of Crimea and Sevastopol to their homeland will always be emphasized by the heroism and steadfastness of people who have stood up for it at all times. Of particular importance in the fate of the city belongs not only to its return to Russia, but also to its defense against the Nazi invaders and their satellites in 1941–1942. Materials and Methods. The research is based on scientific works on certain aspects of the history of the Internal Affairs Bodies and the NKVD troops of the USSR, legal acts regulating the organization and activities of such units as fighter battalions, reports and statistical materials on the defense of Sevastopol. The work used the historical method of studying cognizable phenomena, which was supplemented by the chronological method. The systematic method made it possible to combine disconnected data from research on related issues of the history of the organs and troops of the NKVD of the USSR. The Results of the Study. The article reveals the relevance of studying the role and significance of the organs and troops of the NKVD of the USSR in the defense of Sevastopol during the Great Patriotic War. The author highlights the heroic pages of the activities of the troops and organs of the NKVD of the USSR in the Battle for Sevastopol in 1941-1942, which are not widely spread in scientific literature. Findings and Conclusions. The article reveals the issues of relevance of studying the role and importance of the role and troops of the NKVD of the USSR in the defence of Sevastopol during the Great Patriotic War. The author highlights the heroic pages of the heroic activities of the troops and bodies of the NKVD of the USSR in the battle for Sevastopol in 1941-1942, which are not widespread in scientific literature.