En Name: | Totskoye |
Ru Name: | То́цкое |
Pushpin Map: | European Russia#Russia |
Federal Subject: | Orenburg Oblast |
Adm District Jur: | Totsky |
Inhabloc Cat: | Rural locality |
Totskoye (Russian: То́цкое) is a rural locality (a selo) and the administrative center of Totsky District of Orenburg Oblast, Russia. Population:
The settlement was founded in 1736.
During World War I, it was the site of a prisoner-of-war camp that became notorious for a typhus epidemic in the winter of 1915-1916. More than 9,000 of 17,000 prisoners died.[1] Czech writer Jaroslav Hašek was one of its survivors.
During World War II, it was the site of a prisoner-of-war camp for Polish prisoners. In 1941–1942, the 6th and 7th Infantry Divisions of the Polish Anders' Army were formed and stationed in Totskoye.[2] Poles were housed in makeshift camps in dire conditions, mostly in tents and dugouts, and suffered from shortages of food, medicine, warm clothing and footwear.[3] Due to extreme cold reaching, the Poles were relocated to Shahrisabz and Karmana in early 1942.[3] [4] A monument for Polish soldiers is erected there.
In 1954, the Totskoye range was the site of the Soviet nuclear tests. Totskoye is also the site of the Totskoye air base.