Throughout its history, Belarus was the

scene of many destructive wars. In

contemporary history the largest and most

brutal was the Great Patriotic War 1941-

1945, a most significant part of the Second

World War. The Great Patriotic War was

fought between the Soviet Union, including

Belarus (the Belarusian Soviet Socialist

Republic, BSSR) on the one hand and

Germany from 22 June 1941 to 9 May

1945.

In Belarus, military operations were

conducted from 22 June 1941 to 28

July 1944.

22d of June 1941. The German fascists

attacked the Soviet Union.

The Great Patriotic War began.

From the first hours of the war Belarus

became the scene of severe fighting.

The defenders of Brest Fortress were the first to take the

strike of German invaders on themselves on June 22, 1941

The fascists were attacking the Fortress during the whole week. The Soviet soldiers had to repel 6-7 attacks a day. There were women and children helping soldiers. They

looked after the wounded, loaded the machine-gun discs and belts with cartridges and even took up rifles to help defend the

Fortress from enemy attacks. By the end of June the enemy seized the

main part of the fortress. On June 29, the enemy delivered an ultimatum to the

fortress defenders: they would have to surrender or else the fortress would be

totally destroyed. But the defenders didn’t give up. The last days of the defence are

covered with legends. During those days the inscriptions were made by the last

defenders.

They said: "We'll die but we'll not leave the fortress". "I'm dying but I won't surrender.

Farewell, Motherland. 20.VII.41."

For the people of Belarus Brest Fortress remains a famous symbol of the Soviet resistance during the World war II. It commemorates the epic and courageous defense of the frontier stronghold during the initial stage of the German-Soviet War.

“This is “Thirst”, a large monument depicting an injured soldier trying to get some water from the river. The monument reflects the bravery of the last remaining soldiers who defended the Fortress for many days without food or water.

Despite bravery and heroism, the enemy

was not stopped; and by September the

whole area of Belarus had been

occupied by the Germans.

The Germans established the so - called

“new order” based on terror. They moved

Belarusian, German and Czech Jews in

Minsk ghetto. Mass executions of

prisoners from the Minsk ghetto in

Tuchinki occurred until October 1943.

But Belarusians didn’t want to get up and at the end of 1941

partisan movement began in Belarus and became the biggest

movement in Europe before 1944.

The Belarusians is one of the nations who suffered most in this war. Belarus lost over half of its national wealth. 209 towns and 9,200 villages were destroyed and burned down. But the most painful and huge loss was the loss of life. About three million people - almost

every third resident of Belarus - perished in this war.