Flame of Peace Solemnly Marched Across the Country
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Belarus traditionally celebrates Victory Day on May 9th — Fearlessness a holiday to remember the and heroism hard-fought battle for the reflected in vibrant, freedom and independence of the Motherland 2 eloquent images 9 PUBLISHED SINCE FEBRUARY 2003 NO. 18 (784) THURSDAY, MAY 16, 2019 WWW.SB.BY Torchbearer of the 2nd European Games Flame of Peace torch relay — Flame Olympic champion Yulia Nesterenko of Peace solemnly marched across the country The 2nd European Games torch relay has arrived in Belarus. The meeting ceremony was held at the Belarusian-Polish border at the international Varshavsky Most checkpoint. The torch relay procession arrived The Flame of Peace torch relay began in the Republic after completing its on May 3rd in Rome and will finish on foreign stage. A torch lighting ceremo- June 21st with the solemn lighting of ny was held on the border, to follow the Olympic flame bowl at the central the Flame of Peace across Belarus, arena of the 2nd European Games, the completed by the 100m race Olympic Dinamo National Olympic Stadium. champion, Yulia Nesterenko. In total, the flame will travel through In Brest, the 2nd European Games 55 towns in 8 countries (Italy, Slova- flame arrived on May 12th-13th. The kia, Slovenia, Hungary, Austria, the torch was carried through the central Czech Republic, Poland and Belarus) streets of the regional centre to high- and the route stretches for 7,700km. light the large-scale event to residents 450 torchbearers, 100 volunteers and and visitors. Among the torchbearers 10 keepers of the flame will take part were well-known Belarusians, in- in the relay. cluding natives of the Brest Region. European Games II will be held in Minsk from 21st to 30th June at 12 sports grounds. More than 4,000 athletes from 50 countries will compete for 200 sets of medals in 15 sports. A day smelling of gunpowder and tasting of the bitterness of losses Belarus traditionally celebrates Victory Day on May 9th — a holiday to remember the hard-fought battle for the freedom and independence of the Motherland FOCUS roes of the Soviet Union. Belarus lost more than half of its national wealth in the war. 209 cities and district centres were destroyed and burned. The human losses were huge. According to modern researchers, during the Great Pa- triotic War, 2.5-3m people died in Belarus. The contribution of Belaru- sians to the Great Victory and the defeat of fascism has been rec- ognised all over the world. The international conference — con- vened on April 27th, 1945 in San Francisco to establish the UN — decided to include the BSSR on the list of the founding countries of this international organisation. In Belarus, the memory of the Great Patriotic War has been By Vladimir Velikhov Minsk and Mogilev stood firm. over 140 punitive operations preserved throughout the post- On July 14th, Soviet ‘Katyusha’ ACCENT in Belarus, during which 5,454 war years. Minsk, the capital of This is not a mere holi- rocket launchers were used for The memory of our villages were completely or par- Belarus, was awarded the honor- day for Belarusians but also a the first time against the ene- soldiers has not only tially destroyed. The village of ary title of Hero City, in addition day of memory, deep respect my near Orsha. Resistance to Khatyn is a tragic symbol of the to 11 other Soviet cities, for its and gratitude to all those who the enemy in battles in Belarus remained on monu- mass destruction of civilians: mass heroism and courage in the brought the Great Victory clos- made it possible to disrupt the ments, obelisks and 149 inhabitants were killed, and fight against the aggressors. The er. Belarus honours the heroism German’s plans for a rapid of- mass graves: it lives 28 homes were burned. 618 vil- Brest Fortress received the title and fearlessness of the Mother- fensive against Moscow. How- on in the hearts of all lages shared the fate of Khatyn of Hero-Fortress. Other cities of land’s defenders — those who ever, despite their courage and Belarusians. The best and 188 of them have never Belarus received awards. Nu- believed in victory and fought heroism, Belarus was occupied proof of this is the been restored. merous obelisks, monuments, courageously for their land. The by the Germans by early Sep- traditional Belarus Re- There were about 250 camps memorials, and burial sites — whole country greatly appre- tember 1941. members! campaign. for Soviet prisoners of war and which number almost 6,000 in ciates the dedication of home After the start of the oc- 350 places of detention operat- Belarus — testify to the vic- front workers and all those who, cupation in Belarus, unprece- trolled by partisans from March ing in Belarus. Among them was tims of the war and the nation’s in the post-war years, raised the dented resistance to the enemy 1942 and, by early 1944, occu- the fourth largest death camp achievement. destroyed cities and villages was seen, both in its extent and pied a territory of 3,000 sq.km in Europe — Trostenets, where In the annals of Belarus there from the ruins. tenacity. The partisan move- (over 70,000 civilians were un- more than 200,000 people were has never been any other battle On May 9th, 1945, the So- ment became the main form of der the protection of 18,000 par- killed. 34.4m Soviet servicemen crueller than the Great Patriotic viet people achieved their vic- the national struggle; during the tisans). The Polotsk-Lepel zone — including over 1.3m Belaru- War, nor has there been a feat tory in the Great Patriotic War, war, over 374,000 partisans were was created in the autumn of sians and natives of Belarus — more significant than that of the The Minsk Times which lasted 1,418 days and involved, and the anti-fascist un- 1942 and, by late 1943, covered participated in the hostilities dur- Soviet soldiers who defended the Thursday nights and began, for Belarus, derground numbered more than 1,220 settlements and involved ing the war. More than 300,000 Motherland from the enemy and May 16 on June 22nd, 1941. In the first 70,000 people. Representatives more than 73,5000 civilians. of them were awarded orders saved mankind from Nazism. 2019 days of the war, enemy aircraft of different Soviet nations, as The area was liberated, and So- and medals for courage and her- The memory of the terrible war bombed railway junctions, well as anti-fascists from the viet power restored, overseen by oism. 444 soldiers were award- and the Great Victory cannot airfields, Brest, Grodno, Volk- European countries, battled in 16 partisan brigades and remain- ed the honorary title of Hero of fade; it is forever inscribed in ovysk, Baranovichi and other guerrilla groups alongside Bela- ing under the control of guerril- the Soviet Union, including 88 the history of the Motherland Belarusian cities. The border rusians. las almost until the liberation of members of the underground for every Belarusian family. The guards were the first to meet During the war, there were Belarus. and partisan movement. In Be- past tragedy and subsequent vic- the enemy, but none of the posts about 30 guerrilla areas the fas- Belarusians are one of the larus, 70 people became Full tory are an eternal source of pain surrendered to the invaders. The cists failed to occupy. The Kli- nations most affected by the Cavaliers of the Order of Glory and bitterness, pride and glory of 2 defenders of the Brest Fortress, chev area, for example, was con- war. The fascists conducted and 4 Belarusians are twice He- the Belarusian people. Memory of those who died for freedom President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko laid a wreath at the Victory Monument in Minsk By Olga Korneeva Committee, representatives of the diplomatic corps, the Bela- Flowers were also laid at the rusian Orthodox and the Roman monument by the sons of the Catholic churches. Head of State. The ceremony was A minute of silence was ob- Alexander Lukashenko supports Belarus Remembers! youth initiative attended by leaders of national served in tribute to the memory performance in Pobedy Square. Youth Union showed the Pres- and towns around the country, FOCUS government bodies, the National of those killed during the Great After the event, Mr. ident the Belarus Remembers! where others will be able to add Assembly, the courts, the Securi- Patriotic War. The Guards of Lukashenko talked to veterans album featuring photos and photos of their family members. ty Council and the Armed Forc- Honour of the Minsk Military of the Great Patriotic War, rep- brief stories about their fami- The book will take its place in es, law enforcement agencies, Commandant’s Office marched resentatives of the diplomatic ly members who fought in the the Belarusian State Great Pa- youth organisations and public past the guests. The event con- corps and youth. Activists Great Patriotic War. This album triotic War History Museum by associations, the CIS Executive tinued with a festive theatrical of the Belarusian Republican will be taken to different cities Independence Day. Events and heroes Belarus will of the past should remember never be forgotten By Alexandra Potvorova complex — a monument to partisan glory — was unveiled Capsules containing soil on the site. from memorials and mass Soil from the grave of the graves of the Great Patri- Hero of the Soviet Union, sen- otic War laid in the crypt of ior officer of the medical service All Saints Church and medical instructor, Zinaida The event was organised Tusnolobova-Marchenko, was by the All Saints Church par- brought from Polotsk to the ish and the Belarusian Union crypt.