▁had ▁reached ▁ 3 3 , 0 0 0 . ▁ ▁After ▁suffering ▁a ▁decl ine ▁during ▁the ▁First ▁World ▁War ▁and ▁the ▁Russian ▁Civil ▁War , ▁the ▁city ▁res umed ▁its ▁growth ▁in ▁the ▁late ▁ 1 9 2 0 s , ▁with ▁the ▁expansion ▁of ▁various ▁indust ries , ▁iron ▁ore ▁and ▁met all ur gy ▁in ▁particular , ▁and ▁by ▁ 1 9 3 9 ▁its ▁population ▁had ▁reached ▁ 1 0 4 , 5 0 0 . ▁ ▁Ker ch ▁in ▁World ▁War ▁II ▁ ▁On ▁the ▁Eastern ▁Front ▁of ▁World ▁War ▁II ▁from ▁ 1 9 4 1 ▁to ▁ 1 9 4 5 , ▁Ker ch ▁was ▁the ▁site ▁of ▁heavy ▁fighting ▁between ▁Red ▁Army ▁and ▁A xis ▁forces . ▁After ▁fier ce ▁fighting , ▁the ▁city ▁was ▁taken ▁by ▁the ▁Germ ans ▁in ▁November ▁ 1 9 4 1 . ▁On ▁ 3 1 ▁December ▁ 1 9 4 1 ▁the ▁ 3 0 2 nd ▁Mountain ▁R if le ▁Division ▁re capt ured ▁the ▁city ▁following ▁a ▁naval ▁landing ▁operation ▁at ▁Kam y sh ▁Bur un , ▁to ▁the ▁south ▁of ▁the ▁city , ▁five ▁days ▁earlier . ▁In ▁ 1 9 4 2 ▁the ▁Germ ans ▁occupied ▁the ▁city ▁again . ▁The ▁Red ▁Army ▁lost ▁over ▁ 1 6 0 , 0 0 0 ▁men , ▁either ▁killed ▁or ▁taken ▁P OW ▁at ▁the ▁Battle ▁of ▁the ▁Ker ch ▁Pen ins ula . ▁On ▁ 3 1 ▁October ▁ 1 9 4 3 ▁another