MINSK, 9 May (BelTA) – Today Belarusians celebrate a great anniversary. The Soviet nation won the Great Patriotic War 76 years ago. The scale and fierceness of the battle against the Nazi invaders had never been seen before. The battle lasted for 1,418 days and nights…
The scale and the perseverance of the people's resistance to the enemy had never been seen before either. It became one of the most significant and tragic pages in Belarus' history. The Great Patriotic War lasted for nearly four years and affected every Belarusian one way or another since every third resident of the republic died during the war.
Partisans, underground resistance movement fighters, soldiers and officers of border guard stations, the immortal garrison of the Brest Fortress, heroes of the legendary and decisive Operation Bagration… United by the common goal, the Belarusian nation withstood this blow and defended its right to live and its right to freedom in the face of the enemy. The destruction of the German army in Belarus became one of the most important battles of World War Two and the Great Patriotic War.
About 34.4 million Soviet military personnel, including over 1.3 million Belarusians and natives of Belarus, participated in combat operations during the war. Over 300,000 of them were awarded orders and medals in recognition of their valor and heroism. As many as 444 soldiers and officers received the title of the Hero of the Soviet Union, including 88 members of the underground resistance movement and the partisan movement of Belarus. As many as 70 people became full cavaliers of the Order of Glory. Four Belarusians became two-time Heroes of the Soviet Union.
