Smolensk () is a city and the administrative center of Smolensk Oblast, Russia, located on the Dnieper River, west southwest of Moscow.

The Principality of Smolensk was founded in 1054.

History Medieval origins Smolensk is among the oldest Russian cities.

It was made the seat of Smolensk Governorate in 1708.

After the Germans captured the city in 1941, they found the intact archives of Smolensk Oblast Committee of the Communist Party, the so called Smolensk Archive.

During World War II, Smolensk once again saw wide scale fighting during the first Battle of Smolensk when the city was captured by the Germans on July 16, 1941.

From then on the embassy was headed by Smolensk merchant Vasily Poznyakov.

Smolensk Oblast (, Smolenskaya oblast ) is a federal subject of Russia (an oblast).

The last sovereign monarch of Smolensk was Yury of Smolensk during his reign the city was taken by Vytautas the Great of Lithuania on three occasions in 1395, 1404, and 1408.

In August 1812, two of the largest armies ever assembled clashed in Smolensk.

The rare title of Hero City was bestowed on Smolensk after the war.

Three Smolensk regiments proved decisive during the Battle of Grunwald against the Teutonic Knights.

In August 1941, German forces captured Smolensk, an important stronghold on the road to Moscow.

During his childhood, he lived and studied in the city of Vitebsk, now part of Belarus, and later spent 10 years in Smolensk living with his grandparents and attending the Smolensk Grammar School, spending summer vacations in Vitebsk.

On October 27, 1943, Kluge was badly injured when his car overturned on the Minsk Smolensk road.

The census took place in all parts of the Golden Horde, including Smolensk and Vitebsk in 1274 75.

Over 93 of the city was destroyed during the fighting the ancient icon of Our Lady of Smolensk was lost.

After the measured victories at Smolensk and Borodino Napoleon occupied Moscow, only to find it burned by the retreating Russian army.

Early years Lissitzky was born on November 23, 1890 in Pochinok, a small Jewish community southeast of Smolensk, former Russian Empire.

Apart from other military monuments, central Smolensk features the Eagles monument, unveiled in 1912 to mark the centenary of Napoleon's Russian campaign.

In De Administrando Imperio (c. 950) he described Smolensk as a key station on the trade route from the Varangians to the Greeks.

To commemorate this event, the Tsar founded the Novodevichy Convent in Moscow and dedicated it to the icon of Our Lady of Smolensk.

In 1632, the Uniate bishop Lew Kreuza built his apartments in Smolensk they were later converted into the Orthodox Church of Saint Barbara.

By the end of the 12th century, the princedom was one of the strongest in Eastern Europe, so that Smolensk Dynasty frequently controlled the Kievan throne.

In March 1918, while the city remained a part of Russia, Belarusian People's Republic, proclaimed in Minsk under the German occupation, declared Smolensk a part of it.

The Germans attempted to stabilise their eastern front along the hastily fortified Panther Wotan line, however, the Soviets broke through it at Smolensk and by the Lower Dnieper Offensives.

The Dnieper River is one of the major rivers of Europe (fourth by length), rising near Smolensk, Russia and flowing through Russia, Belarus and Ukraine to the Black Sea.

April 10 The President of Poland, Lech Kaczyński, is among 96 killed when their airplane crashes in Smolensk, western Russia while on their way to commemorate the Soviet Katyn massacre.

After the successful Battle of Smolensk, Hitler ordered Army Group Centre to halt its advance to Moscow and temporarily divert its Panzer groups to aid in the encirclement of Leningrad and Kiev.

Population The walled city in the center of Smolensk (along with the outskirts) was destroyed several times throughout its long history because it was on the invasion routes of both Napoleon and Hitler.

The town was first attested two decades earlier, when the Varangian chieftains Askold and Dir, while on their way to Kiev, decided against challenging Smolensk on account of its large size and population.

Modern history Smolensk has been a special place to Russians for many reasons, not least for the fact that the local cathedral housed one of the most venerated Orthodox icons, attributed to St. Luke.

Between Russia, Lithuania, and Poland Although spared by the Mongol armies in 1240, Smolensk paid tribute to the Golden Horde, gradually becoming a pawn in the long struggle between Lithuania and the Grand Duchy of Moscow.

It was in Smolensk that they supposedly mended any leaks and small holes that might have appeared in their boats from being dragged on the ground and they used tar to do that, hence the city name.

Through a series of long marches Napoleon pushed the army rapidly through Western Russia in an attempt to bring the Russian army to battle, winning a number of minor engagements and a major battle at Smolensk in August.

Later years In the Russian campaign Junot's record was erratic he was blamed for allowing the Russian army to retreat following the Battle of Smolensk (17 August), but at the Battle of Borodino (7 September 1812) he commanded the 8th Corps competently.

According to Russian Primary Chronicle, Smolensk (probably located slightly downstream, at the archaeological site of Gnezdovo) was located on the area settled by the West Slavic Radimichs tribe in 882 when Oleg of Novgorod took it in passing from Novgorod to Kiev.

Kutuzov now held the rank of Field Marshal and had been awarded the victory title of His Serene Highness Knyaz Smolensky (Светлейший князь Смоленский) having achieved this title for a victory over part of the French army at Smolensk in November 1812.

Twin towns and sister cities Tomsk is twinned with Monroe, Michigan, United States Toledo, Ohio, United States Tbilisi, Georgia Novorossiysk, Russia Smolensk, Russia Ulsan, South Korea See also Akademgorodok in Tomsk References Notes Sources External links Tomsk Cultural treasure in the taiga Pictures for the 400th anniversary of Tomsk The Pictures of Tomsk on Flickr.com Tomsk live webcams Pictures of Tomsk