Abstract:

The defensive operation of Odessa in 1941 is recognized by Russian historians as one of the successful operations of the first, most difficult period of the war for the USSR. The evacuation of troops from Odessa was carried out on the Orders of the VGK headquarters in strict secrecy. The successful operation was complicated by the failure of the flight of the air defenders of Odessa to the Crimean airfields. The clarity of the organization of the evacuation of the troops of the Odessa bridgehead is considered exemplary in the history of the great Patriotic war.

Keywords: Great Patriotic War, defense of Odessa, evacuation, Soviet Navy, Soviet air force, the army of Primorye, General of the army I. E. Petrov, Vice-Admiral G. V. Zhukov