Press release: Khatyn – a monument of national sorrow, tragedy and courage of the Belarusian people

Having occupied the territory of Belarus in the summer of 1941, the Nazi invaders established the so-called “new order” – the regime of terror, violence and slavery on our land. They deprived Belarus of state independence, and the Belarusian people of basic civil rights and human freedoms.

According to the General plan OST 75 percent of Belarusians were supposed to be evicted and killed, with the remaining ones to be Germanized or turned into slaves for future German colonists. During the three years of occupation (1941-1944) on the territory of Belarus fascists turned 209 cities and towns into ruins, destroyed 9200 villages, including 628 villages that were annihilated together with all residents. 186 villages have never been revived.

Every year, meeting the next spring, we congratulate and thank the few heroes who gave us a free life under a peaceful sky, and we honour the memory of the victims of the war. The tragedy of the village of Khatyn destroyed by the Nazis became a symbol of such victims and sufferings of Belarusians.

On March 22, 1943, after the retreat of the partisans, the village of Khatyn was plundered and burned to the ground by the police and SS units. 149 inhabitants of Khatyn were burned alive in the fire. Among them – 75 children.

The memorial complex “Khatyn”, which embodies the idea of courage and resistance of the Belarusian people was erected on the site of the village of Khatyn. The opening of the memorial took place on July 5, 1969 – during the celebration of the 25th anniversary of the liberation of Belarus from Nazi invaders. The complex repeats the layout of the former village, with obelisks on the site of all burnt houses. The obelisks are crowned with bells. They simultaneously ring every 30 seconds in memory of those who gave their lives, but did not submit to the enemy.

There is a symbolic “Cemetery of villages” erected to the memory of all Belarusian villages destroyed by the Nazis along with people and not revived to life. Earth from 185 villages of Belarus, which shared the fate of Khatyn, was taken to the cemetry. The 186th one is Khatyn itself.

433 Belarusian villages that survived the Khatyn tragedy were rebuilt and revived after the war. The “Symbolic trees of life” tell about them.

The mournful sound of the bells of Khatyn also recalls the tragic fate of the Russian villages of Krasukha and Hatsuni, Ukrainian village of Kortelisy, Lithuanian Ablinga, Czech Lidice, French Oradour-sur-Glan and many other settlements wiped out by the Nazis from the face of the earth during World War II.

Over 36 million people from almost every corner of our planet have visited the state memorial complex “Khatyn” over the years. Visiting the memorial makes people realize the fragility of peace and the necessity to fight racism and war-mongering.

We remember!

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