In the surroundings of Astracha, which is near the Tikhvin district, it is a memorial dedicated to those who died during the Great Patriotic War soldiers. Under the memorial there is dumping 600 soldiers. According to tradition, each year on May 9 of this place begins running, passing the town of Boksitogorsk, and then here come the participants of the blockade, as well as war veterans from neighboring villages.

The discovery of the remains took place in winter 1968 during the land reclamation works. It turned out that the soldiers fighting for Tikhvin. Burial found the bodies decided to produce on the outskirts of the village, in whose territory the autumn of 1941 was held the defense - in a place where there was a mass grave. In this place on the Victory Day in 1969 it was held the funeral ceremony; a year later opened here Memorial.

According to historical records, the village Astracha become an insurmountable obstacle to German troops in autumn 1941. In late autumn the Germans were able to capture Tikhvin - the oldest Russian city, which took place on the territory of a bloody battle, which played a huge role in the life of Leningrad. After the capture of the city of fascist troops were going to move to Leningrad, to which was only 100 km. The plan was that completely block the road across Lake Ladoga, then the city would have been in a closed ring.

According to the calculations of the Nazis, it was to wage war fiercely for Moscow, for which reason it can not allocate the right amount of soldiers to defend Leningrad. But the plan went wrong when the Soviet leadership sent every effort to interrupt the path of the enemy at Tikhvin. The commander of the troops was appointed General KA Meretskov.

In November 1941, the area Astrachi reinforcements arrived from Moscow led by PK Koshevogo Also here was aimed 46th brigade under the leadership of VA Koptsov A Hero of the Soviet Union. After all forces have been collected and the action plan provided, November 19 was ordered for an immediate attack.

During the attack, many soldiers have given their lives for the good of their country. Among these people was, and committee secretaries Boksitogorsky peat plant and bauxite mine Zhukov and Ivan V. Kostenko, as well as employees of an alumina refinery, including Smirnov I.P .. In difficult battle near the village of Astrachi great fighters showed their prowess Soviet artillery regiment. He showed incredible courage Manana Ildar that in serious condition continued to advance, covering a slugger Nazis of our troops. For his exploits Manana Ildar received the title of Hero of the Soviet Union. Fearless on the battlefield behaved Lieutenant Artillery Regiment Petrushok VK, who secretly made his way to the rear of the enemy, and then adjust the direction of the fire on the bunker and manpower of the enemy. Petrushok overnight remained unnoticed, and only in the morning returned to his troops, but was mortally wounded.

In winter, December 5 began the decisive battle of Tikhvin. That's fighting near the village of Astracha completely turned the tide in the battle for the city. As a result of the offensive operations the fascist troops were pushed back far beyond the river Volkhov that Hitler thwarted plans for the formation of a ring of blockade, thereby capturing Leningrad, and then move to Moscow.

In 1975, not far from the memorial began operating the Museum of Military Glory "Astracha 1941". The museum is located in a preserved during the war previously existing school building for primary school, which was built long before 1917. School Corner has become a major component of the museum, in which students collected all the results since the war things. Of great importance were the so-called "Red Pathfinders" - high school students in the city Boskitogorsk and schoolchildren Tikhvin district.

In the early days of its existence, the museum "Astracha 1941" worked only on a voluntary basis, but over time he became one of the branches of local history museum in the town of Pikalevo, after which in 2001 is a subsidiary of the state Boksitogorsky regional cultural institution "Museum Agency".