Partizansk

Partizansk ( _ru. Партиза́нск Sinicized : 游击队城) is a town in Primorsky Krai, Russia.

*"Population": 43,670 people (in 2002).
*"Telephone area code": 423-630.
*"Railroad distance" to Vladivostok: 164 km.
*"Highway distance" to Vladivostok: 236 km.

History

Medieval history

From the middle of the ninth century, the kingdom of Balhae occupied Primorsky Krai, consisting of the Nanai, the Udege, the Evenks, the Mohe and other descendants of the Tungus-speaking people. Prior to this occupation, Partizanskand its neighbourhood were settled by Yulou Mohe (虞婁靺鞨 Hangul : 우루말갈 pinyin : Yúlóu Mòhé) tribes who were incorporated to Balhae Kingdom under King Seon's reign (818-830). During the Balhae kingdom period, a town called Jeongju (定州, Hangul :정주) was founded which was also the administrative centre of Jeongli Prefecture (定理府, Hangul : 정리부).

Modern history

The town was founded in 1896 as Suchan ( _ru. Суча́н), and its status as a town was granted in 1932. Soon after that Suchan was renamed Gamarnik ( _ru. Гама́рник), after Yan Gamarnik, a revolutionary commissar. After Gamarnik's arrest in 1937, the town was renamed back to Suchan. It was then again renamed as Partizansk in 1972, when the cleansing of Chinese names in Primorsky Krai took place.

A coal deposit in "Oleny Klyuch" (near mine #1) was for the first time mentioned by Vasily P. Margaritov, a member of the Geographic Society of Amur Krai. This place is now called "The First Coal" (as it was the first mine in the area). Today, the mine is no longer in operation, and is commemorated with a cast-iron sign placed there in 1932. The sign contains the following text: "In 1883 the first coal was found here. Here the mine begins."

The Pacific Fleet, which was based in Vladivostok, was in deep need of its own source of coal. Because of that, the Department of Mines sent a geological expedition to the area south of Ussuriysk, working there from 1888 to 1893. Coal was found, which could be mined and sent to Nakhodka for the needs of the Fleet. At the same time as the deposits were prospected, new roads and dwellings were built. In 1896, the Department of Mines made a large order for coal from Suchan.

Later in 1896, more detailed prospecting was organized in Suchan, and commercial operations started at around that time. Suchan miners were living in dug-outs, cabins, and tents, and living conditions were awful. Only in 1900, when 46 highly qualified miners from Gorlovka arrived, construction of the mine #1 and of ten houses started. Government-owned coal mines were also established at that time. The first migrants started to move to Suchan.

The government often neglected to maitain good living conditions for Suchan workers. For the period of 1896–1922, only one two-storey house was built. Suchan itself was just a group of several badly planned mine settlements. In 1905 and 1906 State schools were opened and a hospital for 50 people was built.

In the period of 1905–1914, several new mines were opened in Suchan. Wooden barracks and individual houses also appeared. Construction was carried out without proper planning, with each artel building a barrack for its workers. Some of those buildings remain intact to the present day. The founders of the Suchansky mine had not carried out much work up to 1914. After the beginning of World War I, development completely stopped. Many workers were called up for military service, extraction of coal reduced greatly, and construction works were cut down. Difficult years of need and hardship started.

In 1917 there were eleven mines which annually extracted up to 300,000 tons of coal. In 1918–1922, during the Russian Civil War, the supporters of the Bolsheviks conducted an active partisan struggle in the region. After the establishment of the Soviet Power in Primorye, coal remained the region's main production.

After 1922, restoration of old mines and building of new ones started. Spread settlements merged into one large locality. Construction of multi-storey buildings began.

At this time great attention was paid to cultural development of the town. In 1917 the People's House was built, which later transformed into a club of miners. It became a cultural center of the town. With the growth of mines and the population of the town necessity in new clubs arose. In 1926 a club for 350 people was built near mine #10. In 1932, a club for 200 people near mine #20 and for 250 people at timber plant were built. In 1933, the largest and the most beautiful Palace of Culture in Primorye with a hall for 1,200 people started functioning. In 1932 the Suchansky mining technical college and an underground first-aid station at mine #10 were opened. In 1935 construction of a well-equipped hospital was finished. At the same time a railroad was built.

Today, with the diminished importance of coal mining, the town is in the decline.

See also

* List of Provinces of Balhae

External links

*ru icon [http://www.suchan.narod.ru/introduction.html Brief History of Partizansk]
*ru icon [http://www.partizansk.org Official website of Partizansk]
*ru icon [http://www.partizansk.eu Unofficial website of Partizansk]
*ko icon [http://balhae.urinara.com/image/open/exit.gifThe formation of Balhae (발해의 선립과정)]
*ko icon [http://bluecabin.com.ne.kr/kyuwon/images/Kw30.gifThe capitals and the prefectures of Balhae Kingdom]