Last weekend, Stalin Line Historical and Cultural Complex hosted large-scale Tankers’ Day 2018 celebrations with the support of the Ministry of Defence of the Republic of Belarus.
The complex is particularly well suited to hosting this professional celebration for serving personnel and veterans of the armoured forces, especially as it is open to the general public. It has an extensive collection of original operational vehicles that have become symbols of the day, including T-34, BT-7 and KV-1 tanks. Military vehicle enthusiasts are also fascinated by the rare German Panzer III and Panzer 38(t) tanks, as well as an original German StuG III self-propelled assault gun.
All these historic military vehicles are operational and took part in a military-historical reenactment of the Great Patriotic War episode entitled «The Battles of Yelnya» (1941).
Tankers’ Day in Belarus has long since grown beyond a professional military celebration and is extremely popular with both older and younger people. Nor is its appeal limited to Belarus: more than 4,000 people visited Stalin Line Historical and Cultural Complex for Tankers’ Day 2018, including both residents of Belarus and visitors from countries near and far.
Visitors enjoyed a wide-ranging entertainment programme for adults and children alike, including an artillery school, a quiz, the «Reconnaissance Trail» obstacle course and air-rifle shooting.
As usual, the most active visitors received gifts and souvenirs, while the winners of the Ready for Labour and Defence (GTO) competition were given the opportunity to take part in an extreme leisure activity free of charge – A TANK RIDE!
A concert programme for «Tankers’ Day», featuring well-known performers and musical groups, created a wonderful atmosphere.
The food court operated smoothly throughout the day. As always, safety arrangements were of the highest standard.
The celebration culminated in a demonstration by the Belarusian tank biathlon team featuring a T-72 tank, followed by a competitive BMP-1 demonstration run incorporating elements of an Afghan War reenactment. Both performances prompted an enthusiastic response from the spectators.
T-72 crew:
Tank commander – Guards Lieutenant Aleksei BURAK;
Gunner-operator – Guards Senior Warrant Officer Denis MOISEENKO;
Driver-mechanic – Guards Junior Sergeant Aleksei ZABALUEV.
Team coach – Guards Captain Dmitry ARTEMOCHKIN
BMP-1 crew:
Vehicle commander and gunner-operator – Pyotr Petrovich BOIKO;
Driver-mechanic – Aleksei Ivanovich RYABTSEV.
Scenes from the reenactment of the Great Patriotic War episode «The Battles of Yelnya»
Scenes from the reenactment of an Afghan War battle:
Photo: Vitaly Dorosh. Based on material from the website travel.otzyv.by
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