4, 5 and 6 December are important dates in the history of the Great Patriotic War. 75 years ago a counter-offensive of the Red Army was launched near Moscow, which resulted in the first major defeat of the Nazis during the entire war. The roots of this turning point lay many kilometers away from the Soviet capital, in the feat of the home front, in the opposition to the blitzkrieg by the first cities to face the attack and delay the advance of the Nazis to the East, and in the partisan and underground resistance movement organised in the early days of the German occupation.
One of the crucial points of the war resistance in the early days was Vitebsk. Captured in July 1941, the strategic city became one of the most powerful anti-fascist centres. Starting with two underground groups, by the end of the war Belarus’ northern capital was home to about 66 organised brigades involving over 1,500 people. Many clandestine groups were disclosed by German agents, including Vera Khoruzhaya’s group, which was considered one of the most powerful and famous for its international line-up.
It is a seldom mentioned fact that, along with Belarusians, the Great Victory was fought for by Chinese counterparts.
