The Day of Liberation of Smolensk

To mark the 70th anniversary of the liberation of Smolensk from the Nazis on September, 25 there was a parade of the Smolensk garrison troops in the main square of the Hero-city Smolensk.

Military units were standing still in the precise ranks of the parade. Next to the officers who have gone through the hard school of military service and risked their life in combat missions there were young soldiers who will continue the heroic history of the Russian Armed Forces.

The aerobatic group "Rus", under the command of the 1st class pilot instructor Anatoly Marunko, painted the sky over the square in the colors of the Russian flag. The squadron "Rus" are the only pilots in our country who fly the light jet attack aircraft L-39 "Albatros".

At the Fire of Eternal Glory in Park of Heroes, where the graves of the Fatherland defenders are, there was a meeting dedicated to the special for each Smolensk resident day. It was attended by the war veterans, those who served on the home front, soldiers of the Smolensk garrison, representatives of public organizations, university and school students, visitors of the city from various regions of Russia, Belarus and other countries.

The participants of the meeting observed a minute's silence in memory of the killed, laid wreaths and flowers to the Eternal Flame and the graves of the Heroes.

There was a reconstruction of the victory flag hoisting over the "Smolensk" hotel. 70 years ago in 1943, on September, 25 it was this very hotel over which a soldier of the 331st Infantry Division Procopy Klepach hoisted the red flag. Smolensk was liberated from Nazi invaders. During the reconstruction of the memorable events the actors dressed in the uniform of the Red Army soldiers defeated the German soldiers and raised the banner over the hotel.

In the Smolensk sky over the embankment of the great Slavic river Dnieper the residents and visitors of Smolensk could watch the long awaited performance of the aerobatic team "Rus".

The Smolensk Drama Theater named after A.S. Griboedov hosted the meeting dedicated to the 70th anniversary of the liberation of Smolensk from the Nazis and the 1150th anniversary of the city.

In the evening, in the main square of the Hero-city there was a festive concert of Nikolay Rastorguev and the legendary band "Lube" who performed their best songs for the Smolensk residents, World War II veterans, visitors and official delegations. At the end of September, 25 there were festive fireworks.