Perekop

The original name was of the Greek settlement of Taphros (Ancient Greek: Τάφρος) which means a dug-out locality. The people were called Taphrians (Ancient Greek: Τάφριοι)^[3]

Thereafter was the equivalent name of Or Qapı in the Crimean Tatar language meaning Or - trench and Qapı - gate, and subsequently the name Perekop in the Slavic languages which literally means an over-dug locality.

Due to its key position, Perekop has endured many sieges.

During the Russo-Turkish War (1735–1739), Russian field marshal Burkhard Christoph von Munnich successfully stormed the fortifications on June 17, 1736 and left the Tatar fortress in ruins. This was a serious, if not mortal, blow to the independence of the Crimean Khanate.

The town was virtually wiped out during the Siege of Perekop by the Red Army in 1920. The siege was a key episode of the Russian Civil War. The success of the Bolsheviks allowed them to oust Pyotr Wrangel's White Army from the Crimea. Twelve years later, the Soviets founded the new town of Krasnoperekopsk 32 km (20 mi) to the south.

During World War II, Perekop was occupied by the German Army from September 27, 1941 to November 1, 1943. The capture of Perekop (by both the Wehrmacht in 1941 and the Red Army in 1943) was used to cut off Crimea from Ukraine.

• Registration card at Verkhovna Rada^{[permanent dead link]}
• Description of Perekop at the geographical dictionary of Polish Kingdom
• Perekop's Coat of Arms
• A website dedicated to Perekop

46°9′42″N 33°41′34″E / 46.16167°N 33.69278°E / 46.16167; 33.69278