MARCH 22 – ANNIVERSARY OF THE TRAGIC DEATH OF KHATYN RESIDENTS

On March 22, 1943, the Belarusian village of Khatyn was burned. Together with the village, 149 people were burned or shot, including 75 children under the age of 16. 6 people survived and were recognized as witnesses to the tragedy: the only adult I. Kaminsky and five children.

In memory of the victims of fascism, the Khatyn memorial complex was created in 1969. A tragic moment from the life of I. Kaminsky is the basis for the sculpture “The Unconquered Man”.

On the territory of the complex there is the only “Village Cemetery” in the world.

Over the years, the memorial has been visited by 40 million people from 100 countries.

During the years of occupation on the territory of Belarus:

more than 140 major punitive operations were carried out,

250 Nazi death camps were created,

more than 2.2 million people died at the hands of the occupiers,

more than 9.2 thousand settlements were destroyed and burned,

209 out of 270 cities turned into ruins,

628 villages were destroyed along with their inhabitants,

188 villages could no longer be revived.

The memorial complex created on the site of Khatyn has become a world symbol of the countless sacrifices, suffering and courage of the Belarusian people in the Great Patriotic War.