«Khatyn: Tragedy and Memory» – Information Hour, as part of the national «Archives to School» campaign

On March 19, 2026, in the lead-up to the 83rd anniversary of the tragedy in the Belarusian village of Khatyn, and as part of the «Archives to School» campaign, Yulia Gryadovka, a first-category archivist in the Document Management Department of the State Archives in Orsha, held an information hour titled «Khatyn: Tragedy and Memory» for sixth-grade students at the B.L.Khigrin Secondary School No.2 in Orsha.

The event included a lecture on the village’s tragedy, a viewing of copies of archival documents and photographs reflecting Nazi policies toward the civilian population, and a discussion on the importance of preserving the memory of this tragedy. Participants emphasized that the Belarusian village of Khatyn has become a symbol of courage and sorrow for all humanity. The students noted that such initiatives help the younger generation understand the value of peace and prevent the mistakes of the past from being repeated.

The students were shown films about the village of Khatyn and the village of Ola, where 1,758 people, including 950 children, were killed at dawn on January 14, 1944. This village has been almost completely forgotten in books, no documentaries have been made about it, and eyewitnesses to these distant events are no longer alive.

Pictured: Yulia Gryadovka, First Category Archivist, Document Management Department, during an information hour for sixth-grade students at Orsha Secondary School No.2 named after B.L.Khigrin.