In Senno, the memory of the largest tank battle of the Great Patriotic War will be immortalized

August 25, Vitebsk / Diana Kurilo - BELTA /. On the eve of Tanker's Day, the memory of the largest tank battle of the initial period of the Great Patriotic War will be immortalized in Senno, acting head of the ideological work department of the Senno District Executive Committee Vladimir Kadysh told a BELTA correspondent.

This year marks the 70th anniversary of the tank battle that took place on July 6-10, 1941 near Senno. The six-volume "History of the Great Patriotic War of the Soviet Union 1941-1945" states that the troops of the 20th Army, under the command of Lieutenant General Kurochkin, launched a counterstrike from the area north and west of Orsha on the flank of the troops of the 3rd Panzer Group of the Wehrmacht. About 1,000 tanks participated in the counterstrike, and the enemy had the same number. Soviet tankers dealt crushing blows to the enemy and pushed the enemy back 30-40 km towards Lepel. The fascists had to organize a counteroffensive and mobilize significant motorized forces, as well as aviation, for this purpose. According to historians, more than 2,000 tanks participated in this battle on both sides, while the more famous Battle of Prokhorovka at the Kursk Bulge involved 1,200 tanks from the Soviet and German sides.

In the Battle of Senno, Joseph Stalin's eldest son, Yakov Dzhugashvili, was taken prisoner.

The authorities of the Senno district decided to immortalize the memory of Soviet soldiers and, with the support of the Ministry of Defense of Belarus and the residents of the district, created a monument in the central square of the district center. A Soviet IS-3 tank, transferred by the Ministry of Defense, will be installed here on a pedestal.

Tanker's Day is traditionally celebrated on the second Sunday of September. The monument opening ceremony is scheduled for September 6. -0-