What Luhansk was like in the twentieth century: historical photos of the city that was taken away by Russia

The first mention of a settlement on the territory of modern Luhansk dates back to the mid-eighteenth century when the Cossack village of Kamianyi Brid appeared here. In 1795, the Luhansk Foundry was founded, and a workers' village grew up around it. The plant manufactured military products (cannons) for the Black Sea Fleet and was particularly prominent during the Crimean War.

In the nineteenth century, Luhansk turned into a major industrial center. An iron foundry and a steam locomotive plant, as well as other enterprises, started operating. The city became an important transportation hub thanks to the construction of a railroad. Archival photos of Luhansk in the XX century were shown online.

In the early 20th century, Luhansk became one of the largest industrial centers in the region. Metallurgy, mechanical engineering, and heavy industry developed here.

During the Revolution, Luhansk was part of the Ukrainian People's Republic as part of the Polovetska Land administrative-territorial unit with its center in Bakhmut.

During the First Soviet-Ukrainian War, the city was occupied by the Bolsheviks. In December 1918-January 1919, an insurgency grew on the outskirts of Luhansk, as the local population was not satisfied with the order established by the Bolsheviks. Unfortunately, the resistance was quickly suppressed. Later, the city finally came under Soviet occupation.

In 1935, the city was renamed Voroshilovgrad in honor of Soviet military leader Kliment Voroshilov.

During World War II, the occupation of the city lasted from 1942 to 1943 and was accompanied by numerous war crimes and destruction.

In 1990, the city was returned to its historical name, Luhansk.

We offer an interesting selection of historical photographs of Luhansk taken in the XX century.

The photo shows a view of Magnitogorska Street from the Alekseev quarter in the 1970s.

In 1969, chestnut trees were planted – the main attraction of the square.

This is what Gorky Park looked like in 1938.

This is an old house from the Kamianyi Brid settlement in the early 20th century.

A photo of the then Frunze Street was taken by an Italian military photographer in the summer of 1942.

"Voroshilovgradsky" grocery store, 1970s.

The building of the Pedagogical Institute was a real decoration of Luhansk. The photo shows Bankivska Street in the 1920s.

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