BREST, 22 June (BelTA) – Thousands of Brest residents and tourists came to see the military history reenactment “22 June. Brest Fortress” dedicated to the 78th anniversary since the Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945 began, BelTA has learned.
The reenactment began by showing peaceful life of the fortress garrison and showing how NKVD troops caught infiltrators. The peaceful life was replaced by an unexpected artillery bombardment by the Nazi. The third battalion of the 84th Rifles Regiment led by Samvel Matevosyan was one of the first units to come to grips with a German assault group. His role was acted by Oleg Kalashnikov from Voronezh.
Oleg Kalashnikov said: “Actually, it is difficult to imagine what people felt at that moment. There are no live explosions, shells, and bullets here. Although I am a man, I cannot help but cry. The feelings are indescribable when you lie down and gaze into the clear, calm, peaceful sky thinking you seem to be dead. Instead of grief, I feel pride for the defenders who, rather than surrender, fought to the last. I thank those who truly died here.”
Other heroic and dramatic episodes were shown as well: the surrender of civilians, a counterattack launched by soldiers of the Eastern Fort, the heroic deed committed by Major Piotr Gavrilov, heroism of artillery personnel led by Private First Class Vasily Volokitin, heroism of border guards of the Lieutenant Andrei Kizhevatov border service station. In order to make things look genuine, the reenactors used blank shells and pyrotechnics. Over 500 history fans from 14 countries took part in the performance.
“The core of the scenario of the Brest Fortress defense remains unchanged. We try to recreate the main historical episodes. We add new moments only to show heroism of as large a number of defenders as possible,” Chairman of the Council of the public association Military History Club Garnizon Yuri Kireyev noted.
The reenactment was organized by the administrations of Brest Oblast and the city, the Brest Oblast Center for Youth Creativity, the public association Military History Club Garnizon, the Brest Oblast military registration and enlistment office and the city one.
