Nazi Occupation Sign on Primorsky Boulevard in Sevastopol, 1944

October 27, 2025 - Reading time: 4 minutes

Photograph of a Nazi occupation warning sign at Primorsky Boulevard in Sevastopol, 1944, showing the restrictions imposed on civilians.

Photograph of a Nazi occupation warning sign at Primorsky Boulevard, Sevastopol, Crimea, 1944, restricting access under threat of execution.

This photograph captures a chilling relic of the German occupation of Sevastopol in 1944: a warning sign posted at the entrance to Primorsky Boulevard. The sign reads: "Sperrgebiet! Zutritt nur mit Sperrgebietsausweis. Запретная зона! Кто будет дальше итти, будет расстрелян." — translating to "Restricted area! Entry only with a permit. Anyone proceeding further will be shot."

During the occupation of Crimea, the German military imposed strict control over key urban areas, ports, and promenades to secure their positions and prevent civilian interference. Primorsky Boulevard, a central promenade of Sevastopol, became part of these restricted zones. Such signs were a stark reminder of the ruthless enforcement measures and the dangers faced by residents and returning Soviet partisans.

By May 1944, Soviet forces had liberated Sevastopol during the Crimean Offensive, and these symbols of occupation were removed. Today, surviving photographs like this one by Yevgeny Khaldei serve as a poignant record of the human cost of war and the oppressive nature of the Nazi regime in occupied territories.

Technical photo data:

📍 Location: Sevastopol, Crimea, USSR
📅 Date: 1944
📝 Event: German occupation, warning sign at Primorsky Boulevard
📷 Author: Yevgeny Khaldei