Odessa was first established by the Greeks some 2,200 years ago,
named Odessus.In the 14th century Tatars build a fort,but in 1396
Lithuania captured the fort. In the 16th century Tatars recaptured it
and soon after Turks captured it from the Tatars. In 1789 Russians
captured it from the Turks.In Oct. 1917 the Ukrainian Rada occupied
the town, in Jan.1918 the Bolsheviks captured the town and proclaimed
a Soviet republic.In March German and Austro-Hungarian troops
occupied Odessa and established Ukrainian Hetman State.The Hetman
State invited the Entente troops and French, Serbian, Polish and
Greek troops were landed. In April 1919 a second Soviet government
was established but was overthrown by Denikin in August. In Feb. 1919
the Soviet finaly captured Odessa and it became part of the Ukrainian
S.S.R.
The Charge of the Light Brigade in 1854 took place in Balaclava in
Crimea, just east of Sevastopol,and has nothing to do with Odessa.
Balaclava is some 200 miles east, across the Black Sea, from Odessa
or 500 miles by land. The most famous person associated with that
battle is Florence Nightingale.
Roman Skulski
West Vancouver
