Kronshtadt

Kronshtadt or Kronstadt, military port in north-west European Russia, on Kotlin Island in the Gulf of Finland near St Petersburg. Kronshtadt is an important naval station for the Russian Baltic fleet. Tsar Peter the Great, recognizing the value of Kotlin to the defence of his new capital, St Petersburg, seized the island from Sweden in 1703. In 1710 a fortress was built here, and until 1885 the community also served as the port of St Petersburg. Kronshtadt's military personnel participated in the uprisings of 1825, 1882, 1905-1906, 1917, and 1921. The unsuccessful Kronshtadt rebellion of 1921, the first important anti-Soviet revolt after the civil war (1918-1920), was notable in influencing the government to adopt the reforms known as the New Economic Policy. During World War II Kronshtadt played a major role in the defence of Leningrad against the Germans. Population 40,525 (1995).