I was looking through Wikipedia and noticed that Ukraine and other countries have “hero cities” which is used to commemorate the strength of cities during hard wars or battles like in WW2 or in current conflicts.

What city/ies would you consider the title of a hero city in your country?

25 comments

  1. While they are not official titles, the city of Copenhagen and the town of Fredericia, perhaps also the village of Dybbøl, could fall under such a categorisation:

    The reason for Copenhagen is obviously the [Siege of Copenhagen 1658-1660](https://media.lex.dk/media/36010/standard_Koebenhavns_belejring.jpg). The Swedes had [crossed the frozen belts](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/1f/T%C3%A5get_%C3%B6ver_Lilla_och_Stora_B%C3%A4lt.png) and laid siege to the capital city for two years! But Copenhagen held, and when the Swedes, halfway through the siege, [attempted to storm the city,](https://historiskerejser.dk/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Frederik-III-Stormen-paa-Koebenhavn.jpg) they suffered almost 2.000 casualties, to the Danish 14! This was in no small part due to the citizens of Copenhagen, who rallied to the defences, with [students from the University forming a sort of “elite corps.”](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/18/Rosenstand_-_Studenternes_deltagelse_i_K%C3%B8benhavns_forsvar.jpg) The Swedes ended up needing to abandon the siege, in part due to the help Denmark received from our Dutch allies at sea. The war ended in a tactical Danish victory, but simultaneously a final concession of territory to the Swedes.

    Fredericia’s status would come from the 1st Schleswig War, or the “Three-Years War,” 1848-1850. Fredericia functioned as a fortress, along with a series of other Danish towns and villages on the eastern coast of Jutland, and when the Holsteiners rebelled, and the Germans attacked, the strategy was to retreat to these fortresses and use them as staging points for attacks into the flanks of armies advancing into Jutland. On the [6th of June, 1849,](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/16/Niels_Simonsen_-_Slaget_ved_Fredericia_den_6._juli_1849_-_KMS846_-_Statens_Museum_for_Kunst.jpg) one day after the signing of the first liberal constitution, Danish forces launched their assault on the Holsteinian forces, utterly defeating them, and breaking the German advance, resulting in Prussia entering into a seize-fire and evacuating from Jutland, meaning that the pro-German Holsteiners were now on their own, leading to their devastating defeat in the largest battle in Danish history, the battle of Isted Heath.

    While the first two were victories, the third one was be a defeat. During the 2nd Schleswig War—a stupid war caused by the hubris of the liberals, after “their” victory in the first war—Dybbøl, a fortified position like Fredericia, became a strongpoint for Danish forces, in an attempt to repeat the success of the above assault. But, having learned from the last war, and with vastly more modern technology, the Germans didn’t walk into the trap this time. Instead of advancing up into Jutland, they dug in around Dybbøl, stationed modern howitzers out of range of Danish artillery, and send only a secondary force upwards into Jutland. Dybbøl [became a slaughterhouse](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/dd/S%C3%A5rede_soldater.jpg). Danish soldiers, [cramped in trenches](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c1/Dybbol_Skanse.jpg) and old fortresses, were showered with highly accurate and extremely deadly artillery-fire. And when the [Prussians stormed the last line of defenses](https://images.bonnier.cloud/files/his/production/2019/09/09123633/dybboel1-4o37bmlrjeodiqoceculoa.jpg), to the tune of the [_Düppeler Schanzen-Sturmmarsch_](https://youtu.be/ysQT6rstbGc?t=42)(lit. “March for storming the positions at Dybbøl”)(This is historically dubious; while the Prussians did bring an orchestra to the frontline in order to demoralise Danish troops, them playing _Düppeler Schanzen-Sturmmarsch_ is unlikely; it is generally agreed that they played Beethoven’s [_Yorkscher Marsch_](https://youtu.be/dRNwkdJQ3vo?t=8) instead) they were [attacking what was the breathing and conscious husks of formerly living men, defending ruins.](https://images.bonnier.cloud/files/his/production/2019/09/09123633/dybboel1-4o37bmlrjeodiqoceculoa.jpg)

    Those are my three candidates. But I also feel the need to say, that I would despise them being named as such: I do not believe it is right to honour the slaughter of man, which is all war is. In Clausewitz’s words, war is the continuation of politics, into the slaughter of men. I despise war, I despise imperialism, and I despise the social conditions that make the world descend into the madness that is war. As with all things, the words of Luxemburg during the 1st World War, society stands at a crossroads: Socialism or barbarism.

  2. In Germany it’s Leipzig for two reasons:

    1. The peaceful revolution ending communism.
    2. The Battle of Leipzig, the largest battle in history (600,000 soldiers) defeating Napoleon and have him retreat from Germany.

  3. In the 80 years war it would be bergen op zoom, [to the point a song about it used to be practically the second anthem](https://youtu.be/ehDnHcKey1o), currently Rotterdam is really the symbol of post war ww2 Netherlands after being practically leveled with bombs at the start of the war eventhough marines defended it bravely.

  4. The destoyed villages, or communes death for France, are nine villages that were destoyed during WWI in the north of France, they’re now unpopulated but still has the status of communes and a mayor, as a tribute to preserve the memory.

  5. [Den Briel](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capture_of_Brielle) (today known as Brielle) is a small Dutch town that was taken by Spanish invaders during the 80 years of war that started as an uprising. The invaders were kicked out eventually which became a big turningpoint in the war. It was during this war against the Spanish how our country was born. Even Zelensky adressed this event during his speach in front of the Dutch House of Representatives some daye ago.

  7. Okay, my fellow Spaniards are going to kill me cause we are supposed to hate Madrid but I think that **Madrid** would be the hero city.

    Recent story: 1939. Last stand against fascism in the civil war. “No pasarán”. Right before world war.

    Before: 2 May 1808, the first “guerilla warfare” ever, beating the French Napoleon’s army in Madrid streets with knifes, scissors, pipes, stones, pans and flower pots.

    Now all others can come to talk about how their city is better, I’m not from Madrid but those are my thoughts about recent story concerning the whole country.

  8. Italy has Cassino, the city that was at the foot of Monte Cassino, and that was utterly razed during the eponymous battle, to the point the city proper has no pre-WW 2 buildings left around whatsoever. It officially recieved that title in 1949.

    While there are cities and entire regions who recieved the Gold Medal for Military Valor, it’s the only city to have been declared a “martyr” in itself.

  9. For the UK it’s definitely Fishguard. Last landing site of a hostile country on Great Britain and the UK back in 1797. Every British citizen is imbuded with the spirit of Jemima Nicholas during a national emergency.

  10. Vukovar is definitely considered a hero city, even semi-officially, because of the 1991 [Battle of Vukovar](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Vukovar) which saw the city’s defenders fend off an overwhelming force for around 3 months. It got completely destroyed in the process.

    Zagreb was also called a hero city in Yugoslavia, because of its developed resistance movement in World War 2.

  11. The UK doesn’t really have one, but we did give Malta the George Cross to thank them for their steadfastness during WW2 (it’s even on their flag), so that might count

  12. In Belgium that would probably be Ieper. The medieval town was completely levelled during WW I, since it lay on the frontlines for years. The British thought it would be a good idea to keep the ruined city as a monument to destruction of the Great War, but the inhabitants didn’t want that and, thanks in part to American funding, the city was completely rebuilt in the original style.

  13. No doubtedly the title will go to Belgrade (it actually held that title in Yugoslavia). It was fought over in 115 wars and it was raised to the ground 44 times.

  14. Warsaw, because there was numerous battles for that city and two uprisings against Germans during WW2.

    Częstochowa known for it’s staunch defense against Swedes in 1655 (which was a turning point of the Swedish Deluge).

    Zamość which was besieged many times, the most famous was it’s defense against bolsheviks in 1920 (done mostly by Ukrainian soldiers).

    Hel which was one of the last places which surrendered during the September Campaign.

    Gdańsk because of the battle of Westerplatte and the big role in the anti-communist movement (birthplace of Solidarność).

  15. We don’t have a title like that.

    Closest thing that comes to my mind is the Order of the Cross of Liberty which has been awarded to two towns and they can use it in their coat of arms: [Vaasa / Vasa](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/1f/Vaasa.vaakuna2.svg) for acting as the capital for the whites during civil war and [Mikkeli](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/09/Mikkeli.vaakuna.svg/800px-Mikkeli.vaakuna.svg.png), which was the site for the headquarters of the Finnish armed forces during World War II.

  16. Probably Porto.

    Also called “Cidade Invicta”

    Invicta means invincible in Portuguese. This nickname is coming from the 19th Century Portuguese civil war, when Porto was never conquered and even survived a siege that lasted more than a year.

  17. Reading the title I was totally confused at first because the concept was completely foreign to me.

    As one may expect, we don’t really have an outlook like this on any of our recent history due to the bad things that occured during WW2 and our role as antagonist there that makes it unpalatable to celebrate people involved in our side of it as heroes.

  18. There are countless “hero cities” in Turkey. For example after the Turkish war of independence, the southern cities of Anatolia which fought against the French occupation were renamed in honor of the resistance the local people put up. Antep became Gaziantep (lit. veteran Antep), Maraş became Kahramanmaraş (hero Maraş). Çanakkale is one of the more internationally known hero cities as the Gallipoli campaign was fought there, every year families of ANZAC veterans and Turkish veterans meet at Çanakkale as the Gallipoli campaign was important landmarks in Australian and New Zealand road to independence.

  19. In my region vicenza has 2 medals for military valour, 1 during the risorgimento and the unification of Italy, thanks to their resistance against the Austrians during the Venetian insurection and one for WW1

    Edit: I was wrong the 2 was for WW2 not WW1, for partisan resistance against the Germans when northern Italy was basically turned in a puppet state after the armistice. Anyway its the only one in Italy with 2 medals

    CITTA’ DI VICENZA – M.O.V.M. – Istituto del Nastro Azzurro
    http://www.istitutodelnastroazzurro.org/2021/04/12/citta-di-vicenza-m-o-v-m/

  20. I don’t know if it would be considered a “hero city” but I’d like to nominate Cadiz, it was the only city in Spain to never fall to Napoleon and was the headquarters of the Spanish resistance and government during the war. It was also the birthplace of the Spanish constitution

  22. That would be Messolonghi, which is famous for its siege during the Greek war of Independence.

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Third_siege_of_Missolonghi

    There is also a Delacroix painting about this.

    https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Eug%C3%A8ne_Ferdinand_Victor_Delacroix_017.jpg

    Other than that, I guess Heraklion should be mentioned as a hero-city as well. It the city that the second-longest siege in history happened. Back then it was called Candia.

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siege_of_Candia

  23. Warsaw. Since the start of the ww2 it was planned to be destroyed. In 1943, when people already knew the Warsaw Jewish Ghetto was to be liquidated soon (around 50k people remained there, the rest had already been killed and sent to camps)- the jewish underground forces began one of the first uprisings in german-occupied Europe. They had no chance of success. The city has been destroyed completely during the Warsaw Uprising in 1944- it failed, up to 200k civilians were killed, and another 150k sent to camps afterwards. It was rebuilt after the war, but it will never be the same again.

  24. Erzurum, for their impressive revolt against russian invaders back in the war of 93

    There are some cities that literally gained honorary titles in their names after the independence war. These are Şanlıurfa (Glorious Urfa) Gaziantep (Martyr Antep) and Kahramanmaraş (Heroic Maras)

  25. Pleven in Bulgaria would be qualify. It was really important during our liberation from Turkey. The battle there is commemorated with a museum called The Panorama, because of the 360 degree view it provides, combining a field with props seamlessly transitioning into a massive wall painting.

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