On cooperation between the institution «Belarusian State Archive of Film and Photo Documents» and the Vitebsk Regional Council of Veterans of the Belarusian Public Association of Veterans.

The establishment «Belarusian State Archive of Film and Photo Documents» (hereinafter – BGAKFFD) has established cooperation with the Vitebsk Regional Council of Veterans of the Belarusian Public Association of Veterans. The provided archival materials are actively used in the work aimed at preserving the historical memory of the Belarusian people. At meetings with schoolchildren, the public of the region, activists of the Vitebsk Regional Council of Veterans talk about the reliable facts of the crimes of the Nazi invaders during the war years on the territory of the Vitebsk region, captured in newsreels.

So on January 25, 2023, an extra-curricular event dedicated to the history of the Vitebsk region during the Great Patriotic War was held for students of secondary schools No.2 and No.21 in Orsha. The speaker was the Deputy Chairman of the Vitebsk Regional Council of Veterans of the Belarusian Public Association of Veterans M.A.Leshchinsky with a story about the genocide of the Belarusian people on the territory of Vitebsk region during the war years. Also, the schoolchildren were shown the chronicle of the military tribunal in Bobruisk over German war criminals, among whom Lieutenant General G.Traut was convicted. Particular attention was paid to the feat of the Hero of the Soviet Union Yuri Vasilyevich Smirnov.

Reference:
On the night of June 24, 1944, Yuri Smirnov participated in a night tank assault that broke through the enemy defenses in the Orsha direction. In the battle for the village of Shalashino (Orsha district of the Vitebsk region) he was seriously wounded and captured by the enemy. After severe torture, Yuri Smirnov died. The interrogation was personally attended by Lieutenant General Hans Traut, later captured and sentenced by a military tribunal to 25 years in prison.

Such work allows not only to acquaint citizens of the country with unique archival documents, but also contributes to the spiritual and moral education of the younger generation, the formation of civic and patriotic qualities of young people. Enlightenment, the formation of a reliable picture of the historical past of Belarus is the main goal of the joint work of the BGAKFFD and the Vitebsk Regional Council of Veterans.

As part of the agreements reached, further joint work is planned to promote archival documents in educational activities in the Vitebsk region and other regions of the country.