On this day, 1944, the Deportation of Crimean Tatars began. All the women, children, elderly loaded onto cattle wagons and exiled across the soviet union.
When the men returned home from fighting the Germans they found their families gone and russians living in their homes.
As a result of the Deportation, or Sürgünlik, 46% of the Crimean Tatar population died. Families torn apart. Culture and history destroyed.
@hans yes - i actually typed about people saying it is 'mostly russians' initially, but i ran out of space with the other things i wanted to write too...