Soviet Army and Navy Day was one of the most widely revered holidays in the USSR.
Although the Soviet Union no longer exists, the occasion continues to be celebrated in our country, albeit under a different name. The Stalin Line Historical and Cultural Complex, together with the “The Stalin Line” Charitable Foundation, and the Ministry of Defence of the Republic of Belarus held a special event marking Defenders of the Fatherland and Armed Forces of the Republic of Belarus Day on 23 February 2019.
The winter festivities began with the opening of guided-tour and interactive areas for visitors. They could also complete the Stalin Line Ready for Labour and Defence (GTO) standards, take part in the “Gun Firing” interactive activity and the “Search for Small Arms” quest, visit the photo area, stroll around the complex, explore its exhibitions and take souvenir photographs. A children’s room was available for younger visitors.
“BATTLE FOR VITEBSK”
The main highlight of the celebrations was the traditional military-historical reenactment devoted to the Vitebsk Offensive, which the Red Army had conducted exactly 75 years earlier, in January and February 1944. Unfortunately, despite making some territorial gains and inflicting significant losses on the opposing forces, our troops were unable to capture the Belarusian city at that time.
This year’s performance took place on the museum complex’s main battlefield and featured military reenactors from several Belarusian clubs, the Latvian KVRK “Explorers” and the “Chinese Comrades” Military History Club from Beijing, as well as operational vehicles from the Historical and Cultural Complex: a Soviet KV-1 tank, German Pz III and Pz 38 tanks, a Sturmgeschütz self-propelled assault gun, a BTR-40 traditionally used to portray a German Wehrmacht vehicle, and a BMW R71 motorcycle.
The “iron performers” are carefully prepared for the action to ensure that they do not let anyone down during the battle.
“The tanks’ oil and fuel levels must be checked and topped up as necessary, and the filters and other components inspected. In the armoured personnel carrier, we check the coolant just as we would in an ordinary car,” explained park employee Dmitry Osmolovsky.
During the winter, the vehicles must also be warmed up to operating temperature beforehand. This takes a considerable amount of time.
Starting a motorcycle in freezing weather requires a charged battery.
“We charge it before the event because it may run down. The fuel and fuel filter must also be checked to ensure that the latter is not blocked,” said Alexey Yurevich, head of the Motorised Infantry section of the Soldiers of Victory Military History Club.
Sometimes the motorcycle engine does not start immediately, and the vehicle has to be pushed. Only after such effort can the engine be brought into operation. Preparing the gas-operated machine gun also presents its own difficulties.
Despite the bitterly cold day, a large audience gathered in the stands to watch “The Battle for Vitebsk”, a colourful 20-minute staged performance in five acts featuring small-arms fire, artillery and tank guns, accompanied by pyrotechnic explosions.
After the military-historical reenactment, all the participants formed up at the edge of the field in front of the assembled visitors, where the event organisers presented them with commemorative certificates.
Yuri Perepechin, head of the Soldiers of Victory Military History Club, was presented with a personalised pistol.
P.S. The final event of the festivities was a demonstration by dog handlers and their four-legged assistants, who displayed their skills in detecting explosives, guarding property and other tasks.
Yuri VLODAVSKY
Photograph by the author
Based on material from https://adt.by/
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