As part of the celebrations marking the Independence Day of the Republic of Belarus and the 73rd anniversary of the liberation of Belarus from German occupation, the Bagration Festival was held 30 km from Minsk on 1–3 July 2017.*
For those who did not want to spend the weekend in the capital, it was an excellent opportunity to enjoy new experiences and broaden their horizons. More than 4,500 people attended the festival.
From early morning, a range of activities requiring plenty of energy were available at the Stalin Line Historical and Cultural Complex for both adults and younger visitors: an obstacle course, Ready for Labour and Defence (GTO) competitions, a tank crew school and an artillery school.
The 20 most active participants received prizes and enjoyed a free ride in a real tank.
The youngest visitors were entertained by Motya the Clown, a lively character who delighted the children.
Throughout the festival, the complex hosted the première of “Do Not Leave Me”, based on a play by the classic Belarusian dramatist Alexei Dudarev. Visitors tired after the physical activities could therefore enjoy some nourishment for the soul.
In the author’s words: “This play is about what MIGHT HAVE BEEN had events unfolded differently. It is about the courage that is so difficult to find and cultivate within ourselves — the courage to be prepared to die so that others may live.”
Most of the actors appearing in the play also took part in the reenactment of an episode from the liberation of Belarus on the battlefield, which became the culmination of the festival day.
The reenactment recreated an episode from life in a Belarusian village during German occupation and its subsequent liberation by Soviet troops during Operation Bagration.**
Alexander Metla, Executive Director of the “Memory of Afghanistan” Foundation:
«We decided to recreate an episode that was small in the context of the operation as a whole, but extremely important to the ordinary residents of a nameless village, and to show how difficult life was for our compatriots under the yoke of the invaders. Young people were deported to Germany for forced labour, people were stripped of their last possessions, and any resistance was brutally punished. Most painful of all was having to endure this at the hands of traitorous auxiliary policemen. It is hardly surprising that people joined the partisans, executed traitors and struck fear into the German rear. The liberation of Belarus would have been inconceivable without the support of the partisan movement. The arrival of the Soviet Army was a true cause for celebration for our people.»
In terms of the resources involved and the pace of the action, this was perhaps one of the best reenactments held at the complex in 2017.
However, the season was not yet over, and the festival organisers had prepared many more surprises for spectators at forthcoming events.
Based on material from travel.otzyv.by
Report by Vitaly Dorosh
Photo: Boris Prokazov
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