Kholm

a city and administrative center of Kholm Raion, Novgorod Oblast, RSFSR. Kholm is located on the Lovat’ River (which empties into Lake Il’men’), 103 km south of the Staraia Russa railroad station on the Dno-Valdai line. The city has a logging and timber distribution establishment.

Kholm became known in the 15th century as part of Novgorod Land. It was seized and destroyed several times in the 16th and 17th centuries by the Lithuanians, Poles, and Swedes. It was made the district city of Pskov namestnichestvo (vicegerency) in 1777 and of Pskov Province in 1802. Soviet power was established in December 1917. In 1935, Kholm became the administrative center of a raion in Kalinin Oblast. From Aug. 2, 1941, through Feb. 21, 1944, the city was occupied by fascist German troops. It was destroyed, but was restored after the war. From 1944 to 1957, Kholm was an administrative center of a raion in Velikie Luki Oblast; since 1958 it has been an administrative center of a raion in Novgorod Oblast.