Polotsk. Monument to the Liberators of Polotsk

Belarus took the brunt of the fascist troops. Every city here bears the imprint of the war. Despite everything, grateful descendants strive to perpetuate the memory of the heroes by erecting monuments and monuments in their honor. There are many such memorial buildings dedicated to this great event in Polotsk. One of them is the Monument to the Liberators of Polotsk.

This significant monument was erected in honor of the liberation of the city from the German invaders in order to forever preserve the memory of those glorious days. The liberation operation, conducted from June 29 to July 6, 1944 by the troops of the 1st Baltic Front, went down in history as the 5th Stalin strike or Operation Bagration. The Soviet troops, showing heroism and bravery, were able to push the enemy back to a distance of 130 km. This made it possible to liberate Polotsk and its surroundings, as well as to take control of the most important infrastructure facilities: roads, railways and bridges. However, unfortunately, this significant victory was achieved at the cost of great human sacrifice.

Almost 40 years after those glorious events, in 1981, architect G. Aladov and sculptor V. Muromtsev created a monument that was erected on Freedom Square, at the burial site of 16 officers who died heroically during the liberation of the city. This monument has become a symbol of courage and memory of those who gave their lives for the freedom of Polotsk.

On Freedom Square, where the monument to the "Liberators of Polotsk" is erected, 16 soldiers of the 1st Baltic Front, who fought to the last and died defending the city during the Polotsk offensive, rest. Their feat has remained forever in the memory of people, and the monument serves as a reminder of the heroism and sacrifice of those days.