Southern Battery (Fort) No. 1

The 1st Southern Fort (battery) is one of the 20 pearls in the necklace of fortifications of the capital of the Russian state. Its construction began in 1856 and took a total of 20 days — from March 2 to 25 according to the old style. Since the forts are located on artificial islands, piles were driven to create them. The island's mass consists of wooden log structures filled with earth and submerged in a specific order. Daily, 1,600 people were involved in the construction.

The 1st battery was equipped with only 13 guns — 2 bomb cannons and 11 six-inch guns, 2 of which were rifled.

In 1967, after the war ended, it was decided to reconstruct the temporary structure. A total of 198,231 rubles and nine and a quarter kopecks were allocated for this. No expenses were spared on the defensive structure. A specially created commission oversaw the quality of materials and work.

Up until the Great Patriotic War, artillery soldiers served a difficult duty at the fort. On September 16, 1941, the fortification entered into battle. The fort’s guns defended the Small Road of Life — the only lifeline connecting Leningrad with the mainland. Neither 9 aerial bombs nor 300 shells could wipe off the fortress built by Major General O. G. Dzichkanets.

Sources:

https://www.ptmap.ru/sight/1274