This unrecognized republic occupied an area equal to Belgium, and its army numbered 20,000 fighters with artillery, tanks and armored personnel carriers.
In 1941, the Soviet Union entered a bloody battle with Hitler's Germany. The Red Army retreated to Moscow, and the Germans began to host the abandoned territory. They established their order everywhere, except for the Lokot Republic. This unique formation was founded by two Russian engineers, whose orders even the Germans did not dare to challenge.
Konstantin Voskoboinik is one of the organizers of the Lokot Republic.
Bronislaw Kaminsky (3rd on the left, in a cap) communicates with the officers of the German police.
In 1941, the Wehrmacht pressed the Red Army and approached Smolensk. It was at this time that Voskoboinik and Kaminsky began active work. They organized a detachment of self-defense of 100 people to maintain order in the district. When Germans came to Lokot in October, Voskoboinik was appointed Oberburgomister, and Kaminsky was appointed Deputy. They were allowed to leave the armed detachment of the people's militia, which was called the "Russian People's Liberation Army" and eventually grew to 20,000 fighters with artillery, tanks and armored personnel carriers.
Military insignia of the Russian People's Liberation Army, also known as the 29th Grenadier Division of SS RONA (1st Russian).
Unlike many collaborators who simply worked for the Germans, Voskoboinik tried to make the present state of the "Lokot Parish Council". He even organized his own party "Viking".
Soldiers RONA (Russian People's Liberation Army) specify the combat mission of the Wehrmacht sergeant-major.
The German plans did not include the emergence of a new country, but the help of the local population was very welcome. Thousands of Russian policemen who knew the terrain were an invaluable help in the fight against the red partisans. That is why Lokotskoye municipality received support. The Germans did not interfere in the affairs of this territory.
Voskobojnik himself established laws, appointed taxes, collected them in the "treasury." The collective farms were dissolved, the land was given to the peasants. Lokte opened churches and schools, and had its own court. Once there even judged and executed two Hungarian soldiers, despite the protests of the German military command.
Administrative map of the Lokot Republic.
In January 1942, during the guerrilla operation, Constantine Voskoboinik was killed, and at the helm of the Lokotsky district stood Kaminsky. Under his direct leadership was an unrecognized republic, which occupied a territory equal to Belgium, with a population of 580 thousand people.
With the onset of the Red Army in August 1943, the Lokot Republic ceased to exist, and a year later its second and last leader, Kaminsky, was shot by the Germans.