70th anniversary of the Great Victory

MINSK, 7 May (BelTA) - The whole world owes a great debt of gratitude to the Soviet people for their feat, President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko said at the solemn meeting dedicated to the 70^th anniversary of the Soviet nation’s victory in the Great Patriotic War held on 7 May, BelTA has learned.

“The whole world should be eternally indebted to the Soviet people who paid an incredibly high price – the lives of 30 million people – for the Victory. These were people who were killed in the battlefield or died from wounds, tortured to death in Nazi death camps, burned alive in such places as Khatyn, died from starvation and cold in besieged Leningrad or who worked to death in the rear,” the head of state stressed.

The President reminded that the courage and heroism of Soviet soldiers put an end to World War Two which lasted for almost six years in Europe. European countries gained freedom and independence, and could determine their way of development themselves.

Alexander Lukashenko thanked those who fought on the side of the Allies of World War Two, activists of the Resistance Movement. “They have made a contribution to the fight against fascism. The Western Front opened in 1944 helped smash the enemy in its stronghold. But the historical truth is as follows: the leading and major role in the common fight against fascism was played by the Soviet Union. The Soviet-German frontline was four times longer than the western frontlines altogether,” the Belarusian leader noted.

The head of state also stressed that Belarus was the first country to face the tremendous attack of the enemy; it did not surrender. It became a live shield on the way of the aggressor. Even before the opening of the Western Front local partisans took under their control 60% of Belarus’ territory occupied by the Nazis. About 38,000 square kilometers were free from Nazi invaders. This area can be compared to the territory of the Netherlands and Belgium. More than 1.3 million Belarusian natives, including over 200 generals and admirals, fought in the Red Army. The Hero of the Soviet Union title was conferred on 4,500 Belarusians.

“We will never betray the memory of millions of people – soldiers and peaceful citizens killed by the Nazis. No one is forgotten and nothing is forgotten! We did not forget that Belarus lost one third of its population. More than a half of our national wealth was destroyed, over 200 towns and villages were demolished. Nazi invaders set up 260 death camps and 170 ghettos on the territory of Belarus. More than 200,000 Soviet and European people died in the Trostenets concentration camp near Minsk alone,” Alexander Lukashenko stressed.