Belarusian diplomats paid tribute to memory of Soviet soldiers who died in battles for Austria
A solemn laying of wreaths at the Soviet military cemetery in the municipality of Oberwart (federal state of Burgenland) took place on the day of the 80th anniversary of the entry of the Red Army into Austria, with the participation of Ambassador of Belarus Andrei Dapkiunas, heads of diplomatic missions of the Russian Federation, representatives of the Austrian Black Cross organisation, the diaspora and clergy, sb.by reports with reference to Belarus’ Foreign Ministry
The ceremony participants honoured the memory of the fallen with a minute of silence and laid wreaths with national ribbons. The Belarusian and Russian diplomats expressed gratitude to the partners from the Austrian Black Cross organisation for their co-operation in preserving historical memory.
The wreath-laying event in Oberwart opened a series of commemorative events in celebration of the 80th anniversary of the Victory, which will continue in Vienna and other Austrian cities in the coming weeks.
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It was in these places on March 29th-30th, 1945, that the advanced units of the Red Army crossed the Austro-Hungarian border and began the final stage of the Vienna offensive. The liberation of Austria from Nazi occupation became an important step towards its neutrality and the restoration of democratic statehood. More than 38,000 Soviet soldiers died during that operation.
The Soviet military cemetery in Oberwart is one of the largest ones in the region: 819 Red Army soldiers who died in the battles for the city, because of wounds, diseases and while performing post-war duties are buried here. The memorial complex was officially opened after reconstruction in October 1966.
Among those buried at the cemetery is the Hero of the Soviet Union, Captain Aleksei Martsinkovsky, who showed exceptional courage in the battles for hill 403 near the Vargauber River.
Today, there are 19 tombstones in the cemetery: four individual and 15 mass graves, in which natives of the former Soviet republics, including from Belarus, as well as citizens of Turkiye, are buried.
