Photo courtesy of sb.by
GOMEL, 14 January (BelTA) - A commemorative rally brought together Belarusians of different generations at the Ola memorial complex in Svetlogorsk District to mark the anniversary of the tragedy during the Great Patriotic War, BelTA has learned.
Despite the frosty weather, Belarusians of all ages gathered at the site where, on 14 January 1944, retreating occupiers burned and shot 1,758 peaceful residents of the small village of Ola. This tragic episode of the Great Patriotic War is among the most brutal examples of the genocide of the Belarusian people.
This is a shared pain for the entire country, believes Dmitry Shabetnik, Chairman of the Svetlogorsk District Executive Committee. According to him, not only Svetlogorsk and Gomel Oblast remember the tragedy in Ola. “The entire country remembers the terrible acts committed by these monsters. This is forever seared into the Belarusian memory. It is important to remember and pass on our shared memory to future generations. This must not be forgotten. We do not allow ourselves to forget, and we will not allow our children to forget. This is the main purpose of creating such memorials and gathering in these places of memory,” he emphasized.
Archbishop Stefan of Gomel and Zhlobin called on everyone to deeply feel the tragedy of the village's residents with all their hearts, as this would also reflect on their respect and love for the Motherland. “The memory of Ola and the martyrs who perished here must always remain in our hearts. This place [the memorial complex at the site of the tragic events] is a focal point for each of us. Here, the moans and cries of those who suffered innocently seem frozen for eternity. We must feel all this with our hearts in order to truly feel love for our Motherland. Only then will we genuinely stand guard over peace on our land,” he said.
Despite the frosty weather, Belarusians of all ages gathered at the site where, on 14 January 1944, retreating occupiers burned and shot 1,758 peaceful residents of the small village of Ola. This tragic episode of the Great Patriotic War is among the most brutal examples of the genocide of the Belarusian people.
This is a shared pain for the entire country, believes Dmitry Shabetnik, Chairman of the Svetlogorsk District Executive Committee. According to him, not only Svetlogorsk and Gomel Oblast remember the tragedy in Ola. “The entire country remembers the terrible acts committed by these monsters. This is forever seared into the Belarusian memory. It is important to remember and pass on our shared memory to future generations. This must not be forgotten. We do not allow ourselves to forget, and we will not allow our children to forget. This is the main purpose of creating such memorials and gathering in these places of memory,” he emphasized.
Archbishop Stefan of Gomel and Zhlobin called on everyone to deeply feel the tragedy of the village's residents with all their hearts, as this would also reflect on their respect and love for the Motherland. “The memory of Ola and the martyrs who perished here must always remain in our hearts. This place [the memorial complex at the site of the tragic events] is a focal point for each of us. Here, the moans and cries of those who suffered innocently seem frozen for eternity. We must feel all this with our hearts in order to truly feel love for our Motherland. Only then will we genuinely stand guard over peace on our land,” he said.
The participants in the rally honored the memory of the fallen residents of Ola with a minute of silence and laid flowers and wreaths on the granite slabs.
Today, schools across the country held the themed remembrance lessons titled “Ola: A Sister of Khatyn”.
Follow us on:
