Trip to Belarus.

Just wanted to let everyone know that in about 16 hrs I leave for Belarus. My first stop there will be Brest. This was where the first shots of Operation Barbarossa were fired. They have what is left of the Citadel and several monuments there along with a train museum. If they have tanks ect I will get some good pics along with the rest. I will have great access to a T-34/85 in Gomel so if you want any pics of specific portions of the tank let me know. I may stumble across others, but I do not know how much time I will have to wander. I will be spending much quality time with my wife, one must have his priorities in order. I will have internet access so I can read your responses.

 

Lucku you ! Have a great trip and take as much of pictures as possible. I would love to see some of them posted on the forum.

 

Bring them on!

If the subjects are too covered in snow you can always go there later again for us

 

If I remember correctly, didn't Guderian capture Brest in 1939 but have to hand it over to the Soviets, meaning the Germans had to recapture it in 1941?
Have a great trip, look forward to your photos.

 

ENJOY, ENJOY and ENJOY!!!

Many great WW2 places to see there. Bring back as many pictures as you can and good hunting soldier, Mother Russia is counting on you!

 

I was thinking November would be kind of cool for a vacation but what the heck it may be really nice weather. Like the others, I look foward to the pictures.

 

Psst! He's going to a different Russia, Bielo-Russia. The last time I heard it was an independent country.

Is this the old imperialist reflex coming back to surface, hmm? I know elephants have long memories, but this is an outrage

Well, baby elephants should have shorter memories anyway...

 

On a serious note this is a very relevant statement. It is a different Russia but its very Slavic in all ways. I'm in Gomel now but I spent 2 days in Brest. It is a very beautiful city, not too big and well kept. Wide streets and there is not a street that is has not been repaved recently or is being paved now. Walking the streets will get you aquainted with General winter in about 3 minutes. There was a steady wind of about 20 knots the whole time and you get cold fast if your not dressed right. I feel for those German soldiers in their summer uniforms a long time ago. I made it to the Citadel, it was a very stirring and beautiful place with all of the trees and the monuments. All parks are beautiful places around here. The train museum was closed. I'll put up the pics as soon as I can, they are having big problems with power and internet connections here because of an ice storm. I've been bumped twice just writing this.

 

Hey Chuikov!
looking forward to the pics!!

hope you are having o great time!!

 

Sounds like a great time, will be looking forward to some good pictures. Just out of curiosity, what has temperature been around?

 

Thats what I love about this site,I can see the world without leaving the comfort of my house.Can't wait for the pictures.And stay warm.The Omega

 

Temp is keeping itself around 0 c with the wind coming and going. A lot of trees are down all over the place because of ice. Tonight we will have a BBQ at my wifes sisters house. Last winter it was so cold the beer froze in the mugs if you did not keep it close to the coals of the BBQ. I think it was about -40c that night. I think tonight will be very cold.

 

Sounds fantastic Chuikov, I'm envious! Can't wait to see the pics.

 

Yes envious indeed!!!

Make sure to visit the BANYA at least ones a day!

 

Okay, here is the first batch. The first 3 pics are the entance to the Brest Citadel, the second one is with my wife and guide. This place has a special meaning for her, she lost many family members in the Great War and as with many people in the Ukraine, Belarus and Russia no family was untouched by tragedy. Many family men of her grandfathers generation fought and died either in the Red Army or as partisans. I found out that one of her great uncles got to sign his name on the Reichstag. Her great aunt who is in her 60s now was born in the Pripyet marshes in a Partisan camp in the winter of 1942.
The fourth picture is the detention center just inside of the gate. The fifth is tanks just a short walk through it.

 

He's back and he brought gifts!!!!!

 

yes he did!

and great gifts at that!!
Welcome back!!
I must ask about the 4th pic, detention center?
thanks!!

 

First pic is past the tanks looking across the bridge towards the main monument. The second pic is the sculpture titled "Voda" which means water. It is next to the river at the place where Russian soldiers went to get water which was under German observation. 3rd pic is the monument from across the bridge. It is a very big monument. Look closely at the 4th pic, there is a bride and groom on the other side of the soldiers. It is customary for newly weddinged couples to make a pilgrimage to this place. Notice that 2 of the guards are women.

 

The "detention center" was supposedly used for interrogations, whether or not this is true I do not know. It seems to be a better place for a guard house to me being so close to the back gate. The walls all had tunnels in them but they were closed off, no doubt if the German tortured people there in the Citadel that was as good a place as any.

 

gotcha chuikov, thanks!!