| The history of the town Elnja, situated at a distance of 85
km to the East of Smolensk, has more than eight centuries. It was first mentioned in 1150. The
history of this small town on the bank of the Desna is intereting. It took part in many
war battles. The headquarters of Field-Marshal Kutusov had been situated in Elnja for some
period of time during the war with Napoleon. The forests of Elnja sheltered brave
soldiers, such as: D. Davidov, A. Seslavin, A. Figner. But during the Great Patriotic war
(1941–1945) the town played a special role. Elnja became the first town freed by the
soviet troops as a result of successful counter-attack. Four divisions were renamed into
Guards divisions for heroic actions. Elnja is thought to be the motherland of The Soviet
Guards.
Novospasskoe Village is among memorial places of this region. It is the motherland of
the founder of Russian classical music M.
I. Glinka..
The memorial to the warriors died in the Village Uvarovo during the great Patriotic War
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The monument to the Soviet Guards
The bust of M.I. Glinka in Elnja
The Svjato-Iljinskaja Church, XX century
The Church Vozdvizhenija, the Village Dokudovo, the beginning of the XIX century
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