Opinions & Interviews

Historian reflects on significance of Great Patriotic War victory

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MINSK, 16 July (BelTA) – Victory in the Great Patriotic War was a triumph of absolute good over absolute evil, Chairman of the Commission on Education, Culture and Science of the House of Representatives of the National Assembly of Belarus Igor Marzalyuk said in a recent episode of BelTA’s project True History. Lectures by Igor Marzalyuk.

The historian stressed that when Belarusians use the word ‘war’, they mean the Great Patriotic War, without the need for any further explanation. “This war is perceived by us, Belarusians, as a great tragedy that claimed the life of every third citizen of the country. Victory in that war is, for all of us, a triumph of absolute good over absolute evil. This is how the majority of our citizens see it. We are proud of that victory, when we stood shoulder to shoulder with people of other nations of the Soviet Union,” Igor Marzalyuk said.

He noted that the victory was achieved through the collective efforts of all citizens of the country known as the Soviet Union. “Together we defended our cities and villages, fought side by side and endured the horrors of occupation. Through our own experience, and through the memories and suffering of our relatives, we understand what it meant to live under Nazi occupation and what Nazism is. We remember it well. By telling the story of that war, we pay tribute to our ancestors, representatives of the Belarusian nation. Without them and their feats, none of us would be here today,” the historian said.

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