The National Archives of the Republic of Belarus presents a book and documentary exhibition, «Wall of Courage Against the Fire of War: On the 85th Anniversary of the Beginning of the Great Patriotic War and the Defense of the Brest Fortress»
On June 12, 2026, the book and documentary exhibition, «Wall of Courage Against the Fire of War: On the 85th Anniversary of the Beginning of the Great Patriotic War and the Defense of the Brest Fortress», opened. Organized by the National Archives of the Republic of Belarus jointly with the National Library of Belarus, the exhibition opened.
June 22, 1941, the longest and most terrible day, dividing the lives of millions of people in our country into «before» and «after». This year marks the 85th anniversary of these events, which became the fiery line between peace and war. The exhibition features over 80 documents and publications: encyclopedias, scientific, popular science, literary and artistic publications, and albums, recounting the decisive combat operations of the Soviet armed forces in the first months of the Great Patriotic War, the difficult conditions under which Soviet troops had to fight against Nazi Germany’s treacherous attack on the USSR, and the mass heroism of Soviet soldiers.
The exhibition opens with a section titled «The First Strike and the First Echoes of War». It tells the story of the war, its victories and setbacks, and the military and labor feats of the Soviet people who defeated fascism. Editions of classic Belarusian literary works are also on display, in which the theme of the first days of the war on Belarusian soil resonates with particular drama and anguish for the native land. The publications presented in the section dedicated to the heroic defense of the Brest Fortress contain facts, archival documents, and photographs that tell the story of the invincible defense and the superhuman courage of its participants, as well as the creation of the Brest Fortress Defense Museum.
A separate section of the «Citadels of Courage» exhibition is dedicated to 42 settlements in our country that became symbols of fortitude during the Great Patriotic War. Each of these cities and towns has deservedly been awarded the honorary pennant «For Courage and Fortitude During the Great Patriotic War». This award was established on October 6, 2004, by Decree of the President of the Republic of Belarus, A.G.Lukashenko, to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the liberation of the Republic of Belarus from Nazi invaders. The National Archives of the Republic of Belarus presented copies of archival documents at the exhibition, including intelligence reports and special communications, minutes of the meeting of the Bureau of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Belarus on the German attack on the USSR, resolutions of the Military Council of the Western Special Military District, and others.
The purpose of this exhibition is to update the historical and documentary legacy of the Great Patriotic War, preserve the truth about the events of the first days of the Nazi invasion, and pay tribute to and pay deep respect to the memory of the soldiers who demonstrated unparalleled courage in defending the borders of the Motherland.
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| 1. M.A.Starostenko, Head of Department of the National Archives of the Republic of Belarus, talks to a Minsk-Novosti correspondent about the archival documents at the exhibition |
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| 2. M.A.Starostenko, Head of Department of the National Archives of the Republic of Belarus, presents the exhibition of archival documents |
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| 3-4. Introduction of visitors to the exhibition to archival documents |
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| 5-6. Archival documents at the exhibition |
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| 7. Book and documentary exhibition |