Zhdanov Metallurgical Works

(full name, Il’ich’ Zhdanov Metallurgical Works), one of the oldest full-cycle metallurgical enterprises in the USSR. It produces cast iron, steel, rolled sheet, large-diameter pipe, and other products. It is in the city of Zhdanov (the former Mariupol’), Donetsk Oblast, Ukrainian SSR.

The factory was built in 1897 as the Nikopol’ Metallurgical Works and belonged to the Nikopol’-Mariupol’ Mining and Metallurgical Society. The enterprise was well known for major strikes. G. I. Petrovskii worked there as a lathe operator beginning in 1906. During the Civil War and military intervention of 1918–20 the works was destroyed, and rebuilding was begun in 1921. During the prewar five-year plans (1929–40) it was redesigned. In the first days of the Great Patriotic War (1941–45), it began to turn out tank armor. During the fascist German occupation of Mariupol’ (1941–43), the works was completely destroyed. In the postwar period it was rebuilt and expanded. Between 1952 and 1965 a “4,500” plate mill, a large-capacity blast furnace, an openhearth shop with large-capacity furnaces, and oxygen-converter and cold-rolling shops were added, together with a complex of highly complicated power, machine, and rail-road systems. The works was awarded the Order of Lenin in 1947 and the Order of the October Revolution in 1971.