Smorgon. Memorial complex "Line of Confrontation".

Before the outbreak of the war, Smorgon was a prosperous and prosperous city with real prospects for becoming a regional industrial center. However, the unexpected war brought its own sad consequences.

In one of the most brutal battles, the Russian army steadfastly resisted the enemy, holding the line for 810 days. The battles for Smorgon were incredibly fierce. On September 25, 1915, one of the bloodiest days, a lot of blood was shed in battle: 3,500 Russian soldiers and about 5,5 thousand German soldiers died. Later, Smorgon will be completely destroyed and burned, and the city itself will be named the "dead city". At the end of the war, about 130 out of 16,000 residents will return here.

August 1, 2014 became a special day for the Belarusian nation and numerous allied countries. A memorial complex in memory of the heroes and victims of the First World War in Smorgon was opened at the highest state level. It was installed on the territory where bloody battles were fought a hundred years ago.

The memorial is located in the picturesque expanses of Memory Alley and includes monumental sculptures dedicated to fighters and refugees. A little further away is the "Memory and Sorrow Zone" with a bronze map of the past years and special urns filled with earth taken from soldiers' graves. There is also a cozy chapel, a "Memorial Stone" with touching words addressed to future generations, and a St. George's Cross placed at the entrance.