| Taganrog underground resistance movement | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Leaders | Vasily Afonov, Semion Morozov |
| Dates of operation | 1941-1943 |
| Active regions | Axis-occupied Taganrog, its suburbs and neighboring villages |
| Ideology | Communism |
| Size | 500 |
| Part of | Soviet partisans |
| Allies | Allied powers, Soviet Union |
| Opponents | Axis powers |
Taganrog underground resistance movement was an Antifascist underground group of young Komsomol members acting in occupied Taganrog in 1941-1943.
In November 1941, Semion Morozov and Vasily Afonov organized an underground resistance group, which consisted mainly of young Komsomol members.[1]
As of early December 1941 only 11 young people were members of the Taganrog resistance movement, while in early 1943 more than 500 people who were divided into 27 partisan groups acted against occupation forces in Taganrog.
On February 18, 1943 were arrested Semion Morozov and the core of the underground movement's activists. In spring 1943 Gestapo agents infiltrated the underground movement. After several mass arrests in February–May 1943 over 200 members of the Taganrog underground resistance movement were detained, tortured and killed (including 27 women and 2 children). The last execution by firing squad was carried out on July 12, 1943.[2]
In 1965-1966, 126 members of the Taganrog underground resistance movement were awarded with orders and medals, the Commissar of the Taganrog's underground Semion Morozov was posthumously made Hero of the Soviet Union, the leader of the partisan group Vasily Afonov was posthumously awarded with an Order of Lenin.[3]
The monument "Oath of the Youth" (Russian: "Клятва юности") to heroes of the Taganrog resistance movement was inaugurated on August 30, 1973 on Spartakovski pereulok, in front of the Chekhov Gymnasium.
Apart from the group of young people led by Afonin and Morozov, in Taganrog acted at least 2 Soviet partisans groups organized by NKVD before the Soviet troops left the city. The members of the groups acted separately and were not permitted to go into contact.[1]
