Historical Memory: A Tour of Gomel's Military Glory Sites for International Students

On November 26, a memorable date for Gomel — the Day of the City's Liberation from Nazi Invaders — students of the International Faculty of Foreign Languages ​​organized a significant event: a thematic tour of the sites of the Great Patriotic War for students of the Faculty of International Students. With the assistance of the Deputy Deans for IWR and FIS at the International Faculty of Foreign Languages, E.V. Gandysh and E.V. Rankovich participants had the opportunity to connect with the history of Gomel and pay tribute to the heroes' heroism.

The tour route included key memorial sites associated with the events of 1941-1943:

 

A monument to the militiamen who defended the city. Here, students learned about the heroic resistance of Gomel civilians in August 1941 who despite having no military training stood up to defend their hometown.

Mass grave of Soviet soldiers and underground fighters (Eternal Flame). At the central memorial on Truda Square participants honored the memory of more than two thousand soldiers and underground fighters who gave their lives for the liberation of the Gomel region. The burning Eternal Flame has become a symbol of enduring memory.

The Rumyantsev-Paskevich Palace. Tour guides recounted the tragic fate of Gomel's architectural gem during the occupation — the looting and destruction of its priceless collections and the building itself as well as the subsequent years of restoration.

Monument to the Lizyukov brothers. In the square named after the heroes, students learned about the heroic deeds of three Gomel brothers: Alexander, Peter and Yevgeny Lizyukov, who became symbols of courage and self-sacrifice.

The monument to the liberating soldiers (T-34 tank) at the Station Square. The tour concluded at the monument symbolizing the decisive contribution of the Soviet Army to the liberation of Gomel. Here the students once again felt the scale of this heroic act.

  

The students expressed their sincere gratitude for the opportunity to experience Belarus's heroic past. The event became a vivid example of how history and memory unite people of different cultures and nationalities fostering a shared understanding of the values ​​of peace and freedom.