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Memory of Soviet partisans honored in Belgium

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Memory of Soviet partisans honored in Belgium


11.05.2021

Photo credit: Emilia_Baczynska / pixabay.com

The memory of the Soviet soldiers who died in Belgium fighting the enemy together with the heroes of the local Resistance movement was honored by Russian diplomats, government officials, historians, and public figures. The ceremony took place the day before, on May 10, TASS reports. Flowers and wreaths were laid at the monuments erected in the cities of Gouvey and Manet, located in the Ardennes mountains.

Russian Ambassador Alexander Tokovinin expressed deep gratitude for the careful attitude to the memory of the heroes, for the work aimed at preserving historical memory. The senior diplomat also visited the Battle of the Bulge Museum and met with its founder and director Patrice Dalrew.

Belgian historians discovered that in the spring of 1944,16 escaped Soviet soldiers joined the "Walloon Commandos" partisan group. All of them worked in captivity in coal mines. They became firends the Belgian partisans. Belgian fighters admired the discipline and endurance of Soviet soldiers.

The monument in Mane immortalized the feat of Alexei Gvozdarev and Vil Kapustin. They helped evacuate the residents of the city of Gran Halleu before the start of the Nazi offensive. During one of the voyages, the partisans stumbled upon enemy tanks, and they destroyed the car in which the Soviet heroes were.

The memorial was erected on the spot where the Soviet partisans were last seen alive. The installation of the monument was initiated by the Belgian side.

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