Stele «Khatyn»

The stele «Khatyn» was built of ash-gray color concrete. It is located on the 54th kilometer of Vitebsk highway. The monument was built here in the 60th years of the XX century to commemorate the village Khatyn that was destroyed by the Nazis during World War II for possible assistance to the guerrillas.

The Belarusian village disappeared from the earth surface on 22 March, 1943. Only old trees - silent witnesses of the terrible tragedy, and the memorial complex «Khatyn» remind about the past time.

After the war the genuine planning of the village was restored by the architects - Y.Gradov, V. Zankovich, L. Levin and the sculptor - S. Selikhanov. A symbolic wreath-log cabin and an obelisk were erected on the place where once an every of 26 houses burnt by the Natzi troups was located. The obelisks look like chimneys touched by fire. There is a bell ringing every thirty seconds in memory of dead people on top of obelisks. In the center of the architectural complex «Khatyn» is situated a six-meter bronze statue «Unconquered Man» - the figure of an old man with a dying child in his arms. Near you can see connected granite slabs, symbolizing the roof of the shed, where the Germans locked up and burned the local citizens. There is a Memory-wreath on the place of mass grave made of white marble. The former Khatyn street is layed out with gray, color of ashes, concrete slabs.

Today the memorial complex «Khatyn» is situated among the dense forests of Belarus, on the place where once the peaceful village of the same name ruthlessly destroyed by the German executioners during World War II was located. Being here at different times of year you can experience the fullness of the tragedy that occurred in March 1943 and destroyed hundreds of destinies, of which over seventy were children”s.