Kholm, Russia

History

The Lovat River was a part of the trade route from the Varangians to the Greeks, one of the oldest trading routes passing through Rus'. The settlement was first mentioned in 1144 as Kholmsky pogost (Холмский погост). During the Middle Ages, the town, then a seat of the Princes of Kholm, withstood innumerable sieges by Lithuanians, Poles, and Swedes.

In 1777, it was elevated in status to that of an uyezd town of Pskov Viceroyalty and given its present name. In 1796, it was transferred to Pskov Governorate. In August 1927, the uyezds were abolished and, effective October 1, 1927, Kholmsky District was established, with the administrative center in Kholm. Pskov Governorate was abolished as well and the district became a part of Velikiye Luki Okrug of Leningrad Oblast. On June 3, 1929, Velikiye Luki Okrug was transferred to Western Oblast. On July 23, 1930 the okrugs were abolished and the districts were directly subordinated to the oblast. On January 29, 1935, the district became a part of the newly established Kalinin Oblast.

During World War II, it was occupied by the Wehrmacht from August 3, 1941 to February 21, 1944, when it was liberated. It was the scene of the Kholm Pocket from January 21 to May 5, 1942. The town was completely ruined and even now its current population is only a third of the pre-war one.

From the History section of Kholm, Kholmsky District, Novgorod Oblast on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.