Zemlyanka

Zemlyanka (Russian or Ukrainian: Землянка, Polish: ziemianka) is an Eastern Slavic name for a dugout or earth-house which was used to provide shelter for humans or domestic animals. Based on a hole or depression dug into the ground, these structures are one of the most ancient types of housing known. Zemlyankas can be partially or fully recessed into the earth, with a flat roof covered with branches or sod, or dug into a hillside. The use of natural earth for insulation and protection for underground living has evolved into the "earth shelter" technology used today in architecture.

World War II

Zemlyanka used by partisans near Nýrov, Czech Republic, preserved as a World War II memorial

In World War II, partisans, or armed resistance fighters in Eastern Europe sometimes lived in zemlyankas which were used as underground bunkers to provide shelter and a hiding place from enemies. Notably they were used by members of the famous "Bielski partisans" in modern-day Belarus.^[1] In Poland they were called ziemianki.

In popular culture

Zemlyanka was the name of an Eastern Front (World War II) song written by A. Surkov (lyrics) and K. Listov (music) in 1941 during the Battle of Moscow.^[2] The use of zemlyankas by soldiers is mentioned in the song. However, due to its pessimism, the song was considered to be unpatriotic by the Soviet government at the time.

See also

• Barabara
• Burdei
• Dugout
• Pit-house, also known by its German name grubenhaus

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Dugouts (shelter).

Hut dwelling designs and semi-permanent human shelters
Traditional immobile	Barabara Beehive house Bothy Burdei Bure Cleit Clochán Dugout Earth lodge Goahti Hogan Humpy Icelandic turf house Igloo Jacal Log cabin Maloca Mitato Musgum mud huts Nipa hut Oca Orri Palloza Pit-house Qargi Qarmaq Quiggly hole Quinzhee Rondavel Roundhouse Ruka Sassi di Matera Shieling Sukkah Tongkonan Trullo Wigwam, wickiup and wetu Zemlyanka
Traditional mobile	Chum Nomadic tents Shepherd's hut Tipi Yaranga Yurt and ger Ger district
Open-air	Beach fale Cabana Chickee Gazebo Palapa Pergola Ramada
Modern	Beach hut Hopper hut Iris hut Nissen hut Quonset hut Jamesway hut Romney hut Rondavel Slab hut Weatherport hut Wilderness hut Alpine club hut Mountain hut Winter room
Named huts	Bill Putnam hut Charit Creek Lodge Cootapatamba Hut Daveys Hut Granite Park Chalet Geehi Hut High Huts of the White Mountains High Sierra Camps Horse Camp Keebles Hut LeConte Lodge Len Foote Hike Inn Narcissus Hut New Pelion Hut Phantom Ranch Old Pelion Hut Seaman's Hut Sperry Chalet
Related topics	Cabanes du Breuil Circular linhay Earth sheltering Shack Shed Skellig Michael Stilt house Tent Thatching Transhumance Tree house Vernacular architecture Village des Bories
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