Hill of Heroes in Tuapse is a small hill rising 50 meters above the historical center of the city. At the foot of the Hill there is a memorial dedicated to the events of the WWII. At the top of the Hill of Heroes are the Church of Metropolitan Alexey and the Museum of Local History.
In 1838, the Velyaminovsky fort was built on the Hill of Heroes. Then this hill was called Fortress Hill. The fort became an important stronghold during the Caucasian War with the highlanders supported by Turkey. It lost the Caucasian coast after the capture of the Turkish fortress Anapa by Russian troops in 1828 and the signing of the Peace of Adrianople. For several decades Turkey tried to return to the Caucasian coast and actively supported the struggle of the highlanders in the Caucasian War.
During the Crimean War of 1854-56, the landing of English-French troops destroyed the Velyaminovsky fort. However, by that time the Caucasian war with the highlanders was nearing completion, so it was decided not to restore the fort. A church was built on the hill and it was called Church Hill.
The name Church Hill existed until 1945. During the WWII, in 1942, fierce battles were fought in Tuapse. After unsuccessful attempts to storm the high-altitude Caucasian passes, the Germans concentrated large forces and attacked Tuapse. The height of the Shahumyan Pass, which leads from Maykop to Tuapse, is only 512 meters.
During the WWII, an anti-aircraft battery was located on the Hill, where the defense of Tuapse was created. As a result, the defenders of the city repelled several assaults, and the Germans stopped trying to break through to the Black Sea through Tuapse.
In 1945, the Church Hill was named the Hill of Heroes, in honor of the soldiers of anti-aircraft batteries that repelled the raids of German aviation. On the top of the mountain there is a mass grave of soldiers who died during the defense of Tuapse. The Eternal Flame is burning in front of it. In 1996, the Church of Metropolitan Alexey was erected near the mass grave.
In 1946, the Poletaev Museum of Local History was established at the top of the Hill of Heroes. Its collections were placed in a 19th-century residential building, which was partially destroyed during the war. After the war, the house was reconstructed and expanded. The museum was named after Nikolay Poletaev, who headed the administration of Tuapse in the 1930s.
