Vocabulary

1. timber – древесина

2. a lard factory – салотопленный завод

3. a nobleman – дворянин

4. to withdraw (ir.: withdrew, withdrawn) – выводить (о войсках)

5. a horse-drawn tram – конка

6. a ward-fee – плата за палату

7. navigation college – мореходное училище

8. industrial college / school – ремесленное училище

Exercises

1 Answer the following questions:

1. Compare the situation in economy, industry, education and health protection in Rostov at the beginning and at the end of the 19-th century.

2. Why was the 19-th century so important in the development of Rostov?

3. What factors were favorable for its development and growth?

4. What cultural institutions, places of interest and houses of the 19-th century do you know in Rostov?

5. What branches of industry were developed in our town at that time and why?

2 Choose the correct answer:

1 Rostov connected Russia with the countries of

1. Asia;

2. Europe and Asia;

3. America.

2 At the beginning of the 19-th century industry

1. was not well-developed yet;

2. was highly developed;

3. was only developing.

3 The alarming days for the Rostovites came when

1. the town was attacked by the enemy;

2. the epidemic of plague broke;

3. the sea-battle broke in the Azov Sea;

4. the harvest of wheat perished.

4 The boys from the middle-class families could study

1. in a church school;

2. in a number of colleges;

3. in a co-educational gymnasium.

3 Say, if the statement is true or false:

1. Health treatment in Rostov was free in the 19-th century.

2. The first horse-drawn tram ran along Moskovskaya Street.

3. In Rostov there were two theatres but the most fascinating thing was cinema.

4. Rostov had occupied the second place in Russian export of wheat by the end of the 19-th century.

5. The most developed branches of industry in Rostov were leather processing, tobacco, brick, etc.

6. The fair took place once a year in Rostov.

7. At the end of the century children of the poor still could not get education.

8. Foreign merchants did not live in Rostov, they came only to the fair.

9. By the end of the 19-th century the population in Rostov was 120 people.

Text 11

The Memorial Days of the Great Patriotic War

When the Great Patriotic War broke in June 1941 the inhabitants of the Rostov region as well as all the citizens of the Soviet Union rose for the battle against the enemy. Everybody understood that Rostov being the gates to the Caucasus occupied a strategically important position and the fascists who were rapidly making their way through the country would try to conquer it. It was vitally significant not to allow them to realize their plans as many factories and plants were concentrated in and around the city. Besides the Rostov region provided the country and the army with agricultural products: wheat, meat and others. The workers and peasants of the Don land worked enthusiastically under the motto: «Everything for the front, everything for the victory!» Thousands of volunteers went to the front and heroically defended their Motherland. The Don Cossacks formed two Volunteer Divisions which were later transformed into the 5-th Don Cavalry Corps which made its glorious contribution into the liberation of the country from the Nazis.

For the first time Rostov was captured in November 1941 for a week-period. But the fascists met a strong resistance and had to withdraw their troops. The defeat of the Nazis on the Don land influenced on the result of the battle for Moscow: the fascists lost their initial assurance and the Russian people acquired a new impulse in their sacred struggle. For the second time the fascists entered the town in July 1942. Taking revenge for the undermining activity of the partisans who exploded bridges and annihilated the enemy soldiers the Germans tortured to death and executed about 40,000 people. During both occupations they destroyed more than half of the buildings, the beautiful town laid in ruins. But the inhabitants and the soldiers gave their word of honour to restore it. On February 14, 1943 Rostov was liberated and now this day is celebrated as a holiday. The first factory resumed its work already on February 18, on March 1 the town switched on the electricity.

The battle for Rostov made the turning point in the Great Patriotic War closer. The liberation was achieved thanks to the joint efforts of the Soviet Army, the heroic activity of 160 partisan detachments and underground organizations as well as the extraordinary courage and patriotism of the Don population. Recently Rostov-on-Don has been awarded an honourable name “The Town of Combat Glory”.