Bakhmach

Bakhmach Бахмач
Town
Station building of Bakhmach-Pasazhyrsky railway station
Flag Coat of arms
Country	Ukraine
Oblast	Chernihiv Oblast
Raion	Bakhmach Raion
Area
• Total	18 km2 (7 sq mi)
Population  (January 1, 2005)
• Total	20,300

Bakhmach (Template:Lang-uk, Ukrainian pronunciation: [ˈbɑxmɑt͡ʃ]) is a city located in the Chernihiv Oblast (province), in northern Ukraine. It is the administrative center of the Bakhmach Raion (district), and is located at around 51°10′59″N 32°49′47″E. As of January 1, 2005, the city's population is 20,300.

History

Main article: Battle of Bakhmach

Bakhmach was first mentioned in 1147 in the Hypatian Codex. Rapid development began in the 1860s and 1870s when the Libau–Romny Railway line nearby was under construction. The Battle of Bakhmach (Bitva u Bachmače in Czech) was fought between the Czech legion in Russia and German forces occupying Ukraine. Following a Legion victory the Germans negotiated a truce. In January 1919, the city was the site of battles between the invading Bolsheviks forces and the Chornomorska Division, which was attempting to keep the Left-bank Ukraine under the control of the army of the Ukrainian National Republic (UNR). During World War II, Bakhmach was under German occupation from 13 September 1941 and was liberated 9 September 1943 by the 75th Guards Rifle Division.

Economy and transport

Bakhmach has a local history and geography museum, eight libraries, a central Raion administrative building, three health centers, a culture club, and more. The city also has three railway stations: Bakhmach-Pasazhyrsky, Bakhmach-Kyivskyi, and Bakhmach-Homelskyi.

External links

• City Site
• City's Newspaper "Poradnik"
• The murder of the Jews of Bakhmach during World War II, at Yad Vashem website.