Belarus is a land of heroism, the first to bear the brunt of the Great Patriotic War. On 22 June 1941, German forces invaded, and it was here, at Brest Fortress, that the legendary defence began—a symbol of courage and resilience. With every kilometre, resistance only grew stronger: from Gastello’s fiery ramming attack to the first salvos of the Katyusha rockets near Orsha. The German blitzkrieg faltered as Belarusian fortified regions, now known as the Stalin Line, held back the enemy, giving the country precious time to mobilise.
But Belarus is remembered not only for the war’s outset—it was here that one of Europe’s most powerful partisan movements ignited. Forests and marshes sheltered thousands of fighters, creating entire liberated zones with their own airfields and headquarters. Here, the enemy faced fierce resistance that neither punitive expeditions nor burned villages could break. The tragedy of Khatyn, razed to the ground along with its inhabitants, became a symbol of this suffering.
And it was from Belarus that the monumental counteroffensive began. In the summer of 1944, during Operation Bagration, the Soviet Army liberated Minsk and thousands of towns and villages. This was not just a military battle—it was the rebirth of a people who paid a tremendous price for Victory.
Just twenty kilometres from Minsk lies a unique site, unmatched anywhere else in Europe—the Stalin Line Historical and Cultural Complex. This is not merely a museum but a true open-air military town. Here, you’ll find restored bunkers, pillboxes, machine-gun nests, and artillery pieces that once stood in the path of the German army. In the summer of 1941, these fortifications delayed the enemy’s advance, buying the Red Army invaluable time.
At the complex, you can not only see but also feel the wartime era: walk through concrete fortifications, peer through embrasures, hold the weapons soldiers used, and even ride in armoured vehicles. Every step here brings history to life, turning dry dates into vivid experiences.
The pride of the Stalin Line is its grandiose battle reenactments. Amid the roar of tanks, explosions, and artillery fire, the summer of 1941 comes alive, with spectators witnessing authentic historical events. Thousands of visitors come each year not just for knowledge but for emotion—leaving with a sense of connection to the heroic past.
The Stalin Line is where past and present meet face to face. This excursion will leave no one indifferent: it will make you reflect, marvel, and feel pride and respect for those who ensured we live under a peaceful sky today.
