MINSK, 23 February (BelTA) – Belarusians celebrate the Day of Fatherland Defenders and the Armed Forces today. It is a holiday that symbolizes patriotism and dedication to military duty.
The history of the holiday dates back to 1918 when Red Guard units secured their first victories over regular army units of Imperial Germany outside the Russian cities of Pskov and Narva. In 1922 this date was officially declared Red Army Day. After the Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945 it was renamed into the Soviet Army and Navy Day. After the collapse of the Soviet Union it was renamed into the Day of the Fatherland Defender. In sovereign Belarus the holiday has been preserved and has not lost its significance. It received its current name in 1998 when Belarus President Aleksandr Lukashenko signed Decree No.157, which established the full name of the date: the Day of Fatherland Defenders and the Armed Forces of the Republic of Belarus.
This day is rightfully considered a nationwide holiday in the republic, a day to remember the courage and heroism of all generations of defenders of the Fatherland who fought for the freedom and independence of their native land. Belarus has repeatedly been the arena of bloody battles and fierce fights that decided the fate of the Fatherland. And soldiers and defenders always stood in the way of the enemy.
The current generation of military personnel continues the glorious heroic traditions of their grandfathers and fathers with honor. Soldiers of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Belarus reliably protect the peaceful labor of their compatriots. Nowadays the Belarusian army has a sufficient level of combat readiness and combat capability. It is compact and mobile, well trained and equipped. In turn, the state takes all possible measures to increase the prestige of military service in Belarus.
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