A very small city by world standards, with a very ancient history, Choibalsan in Mongolia) is the fourth largest in its country. It is named in honor of the Mongolian communist and political figure - Marshal Khorlogiyin Choibalsan. In Soviet times, an aviation and tank regiment and other parts of the USSR armed forces were based here.
general information
Choibalsan (Mongolia) is the administrative center of the East (Dornodsky) aimak (modern administrative unit). It is one of the largest settlements in the country. Located on the banks of the famous Kerulen River (Mongolian, Harlan) on Mount Harlanm, at an altitude of about 747 meters above sea level. The territory of the city covers an area of 271 square meters. km City buildings stretched for 20 km.
It is located at a distance of 655 km from the Mongolian capital Ulan Bator. As a legacy from the Soviet military town located here, there was a railway connection with Russia and the airfield.
The population of Choibalsan in Mongolia is about 41, 000. Of these, the economically active population is about 64.5%, 29.9% are children from 0 to 16 years old, and people over 60 make up 5.6%.
Foundation of the city
In ancient times, the territory of modern Choibalsan (Mongolia) was located at the intersection of caravan routes and served as a resting place for tired travelers of numerous trade caravans. The emergence of a large settlement is associated with the construction of a large Buddhist temple, Sain-Beixing-Hure, which was built at the confluence of trade routes to China and Manchuria.
In the XIX century, the settlement became the administrative center of the district and until 1921 was called San Beise. The year of foundation of the settlement is 1931. In 1938, in accordance with the decree of the Council of Ministers of the Mongolian People's Republic, it was renamed the city of Bayantumen. And in 1942, by a decision of the Presidium of the Small Khural of Mongolia - the Parliament of the country - it was again renamed in honor of the head of the country. At the same time, an outstanding fighter for independence and a revolutionary, twice Hero of the MPR, Marshal Khorolghiyin Choibalsan was then still alive.
At the beginning of the twentieth century
Choibalsan in Mongolia has long been a small settlement on caravan routes and only by the 19th century had grown to the size of a city. In 1826, on the initiative of the Mongol prince Mingjuurdorj, the first building of the Administration of the Hoshun (district) was built and became the center of religious activity.
After the victory in the Mongolian people's revolution of 1921, cultural and educational institutions began to open in the settlement, and traffic was organized. Earned the first communications institutions, post office. Craft artels were opened, the trading sphere, cooperatives, and the oil base began to develop. The Bayanbulag deposit was actively developed, where the first coal was soon mined.
Times of military conflict
In 1923, according to the decree of the People’s Government of the country, Bayantumen Khan-uul Hoshun became the center, and since 1931 - the regional center of the Bayantumen aimag. By this time, the city had become the economic and political center of eastern Mongolia. At the same time, many Buddhist temples were destroyed, and the monks were either arrested or dispersed.
In 1937, in accordance with the Protocol on Mutual Assistance, parts of the Red Army began to unfold in the country. When the fighting began on the Halkin-Gol River, Mongolian and Soviet troops were stationed in the village, who fought with the Japanese - Japanese aircraft bombed the city. There was also a military hospital. In subsequent years, the 61st Panzer Division was redeployed from the Trans-Baikal Military District. In Choibalsan, Mongolia, part was before the Japanese war.
The opening of the memorial
In Choibalsan, in Mongolia, in connection with the 25th anniversary of the victory in the military conflict, in 1964, a memorial to Soviet pilots who died during battles with Japanese troops was built on Bunkhan-tolga hill. It is believed that the project was initiated by Vladimir Aleksandrovich Sudets, Deputy Minister of Defense of the USSR, Air Marshal and Commander of the country's Air Defense. During the battles at Halkin-Gol, he served as the chief instructor of the Mongolian Air Force.
The names of 112 pilots who took part in the battles, not only those who died in Mongolia, are carved on the monument. Among them are three twice Heroes of the Soviet Union - S. I. Gritsevts, G. P. Kravchenko and Ya. V. Smushkevich. Many pilots died in air battles and died from wounds in city hospitals or went missing. Five pilots were awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union posthumously, and the legendary fighter pilot Viktor Rakhov died on the day he was awarded the title Hero.
The legend of the monument
A few years after the opening of the memorial, a story was born about the sleeping sleeping monument in Choibalsan (Mongolia). Among the Soviet military was transmitted the legend of a negligent soldier who fell asleep on guard, through the fault of which enemy saboteurs killed an entire regiment of pilots. The most popular version was that they were Chinese saboteurs. A legend was born at that time. when Sino-Soviet relations were very tense.
The story of a sleeping daylight was spread throughout the country by the demobilization that served in this city, overgrown with mythical details. It got to the point that the aviation regiment was cut out by two Chinese women who killed pilots with a ramrod in the ear. With the advent of the Internet, the legend of the sleeping sleeping monument was finally entrenched in the mass consciousness.
The legend is told to Russian tourists visiting the Memorial complex to Soviet pilots in Choibalsan (Mongolia). Photo of the monument is stored in the albums of most Russians who visited the city.
In Soviet times
The most favorable times for the city came in the post-war era, when, due to the aggravation of relations with China, a group of Soviet troops was stationed here. A modern military airfield and a large landscaped garrison were built in the bare steppe. It included a training railway regiment, the 43rd aviation regiment, and the 90th tank regiment. In Choibalsan (Mongolia), a military town was built in which there were 4 Soviet schools.
Thanks to the presence of the Soviet military and the help of the Soviet Union, the city was actively built up and landscaped. Urban infrastructure developed, public utilities, trade and construction institutions began to work. In the period from 1960 to 1990, numerous enterprises were built: wool processing, flour mill, food processing, carpet and meat processing plants. To supply the city with electricity, a heat and power station was built and production began at the Adunchulunsky coal mine. A large group of Soviet civilians and military lived in the city. Many of them share their memories of those years on the Choibalsan / Mongolia / Nostalgia online forum.
Post-Soviet time
After the withdrawal of Soviet troops in 1990, the city experienced an economic crisis. Soviet specialists left the city, some industries fell into decay. Reforms began in the country, private entrepreneurship was allowed, and small businesses — hotels, cafes, and manufacturing companies — were opened. The city began the construction of new residential complexes - "Town of Miners" and "Bumbat". Despite this, only about 40% of the city’s population lived in comfortable apartments with utilities, and the rest - in private houses and even in yurts.
The city of Choibalsan in Mongolia is developing in accordance with the Master Plan, the Concept for the development of the city until 2020. Recently, music school No. 12, a sports complex, the Wedding Palace, a drama theater, etc., were built and began to work.
Urban economy
Choibalsan (Mongolia) is the main development center for the entire Eastern region of the country. Large enterprises still built under the Soviet Union are still operating efficiently here. The city is supplied with electricity by the Choibalskaya CHPP (East Region Energy System Joint-Stock Company), which operates on local brown coal from the Berkhe open pit. Coal mining company Adunchulun ships coal for export to Russia and China. The largest food industry enterprises JSC Dornod Guril produces flour and animal feed, JSC Dornod Guril produces meat and meat products.
New hotel complexes have been built in the city, including Eastpalace, Tүshig, Bolor and the Herlen Nomin business center. There are numerous catering establishments, markets and shops (over 800 outlets).
There are 140 small enterprises in the city that are engaged in the production of building materials, iron and sewing products, food products and products from wool and wood.
In the outskirts of the city, farming is developing, raising beef and dairy cattle. The number of livestock is 122, 000 heads, most of which (89.5%) are privately owned.
Social infrastructure
Choibalsan (Mongolia) is a regional educational and medical center. The entire Eastern region is served by a modern Treatment and Diagnostic Center, the Center for Traditional Mongolian Medicine, many private and state clinics, hospitals and pharmacies.
The city has an Institute of Eastern Mongolia, which provides training for various sectors of the economy. Vocational school and vocational training center conduct training in 27 specialties, including for the oil and mining industry. About 35.4% of the city's residents are children who attend 12 public and several private schools.
In the city of Choibalsan (Mongolia) there are cultural and educational institutions, including a music and drama theater, youth entertainment centers and a central regional library.
