In the Belarus Republic, there is a museum called the “Line of Stalin”. It is supported by the president of Belarus (as stated on their website) and they don’t curse Stalin here, they don’t praise him, but they glorify Stalin’s fortification system to protect the Soviet Union. So they have a monument of Stalin with flowers and wreaths, their official logo features Stalin in what looks to me to be a heroic image:
This place is located thirty kilometers from Minsk. An entry ticket costs some 3 euros.
This was one of the resistance areas, but Minsk was invaded by the Nazis very quickly and most of the objects of this Line were blown up, but some have still been preserved.
They started to restore the Line of Stalin nine years ago, the museum was finally opened by the 60th anniversary of Victory Day.
“Soviet borders are sacred and inviolable”.
This place does not convey the tragedy of the past, it sooner resembles a historic-entertainment site, full of propaganda about brave soldiers, fearless partisans and inhuman fascism.
For an extra cost, one can shoot various weapons, have a quad ride, go for a spin in an armoured personnel carrier or even in a legendary T-34 tank, sail in a boat or taste soldier’s porridge.
Those who wish to may even have a company function here.
Just imagine those drunk smiling faces and full tables amidst such decorations.
Apart from this, they still have a lot to show there.
Interesting planes and helicopters, for example.
Anti-aircraft guns, missile systems, single-stage medium range ballistic missiles.
There are also nice samples of construction and loading equipment, and military structures here.
UAZ vehicles were a salvation on Russian mud-locked roads.
The richest part of the exhibition is devoted to tanks.
Self-propelled weapon “Pion”, self-propelled howitzer “Acacia”, cannon “Shilka”…
And finally – the fortifications themselves.
Belorussians have restored them quite well.
Here you may feel you have come from the future to the past…
Stands for visitors – VIP seats are under the roof.
Firing position.
They have a big collection of German, Polish, and Soviet armoured turrets from different places and periods of time.
The place is interesting for both adults and children.
At the same time the propagandistic aspect of the museum leaves no doubt that you are in the territory of a powerful dictatorial state with big military ambitions.
Some pictures before the reconstruction:
And after the reconstruction:
More turrets..
And more fortifications.
Inside.
Another mass murderer…..
As of the Bush family?
We don’t speak that name.
I’ll speak it. Bush the second and his unfunded mandates cost me my job, my health insurance, and all of my savings. Then Obama came along and destroyed the economy, wiping out a lot of small businesses with his crappy policies. American politicians can stink as hard on dry ice, as any other countries politicians can.
Stalin signed a pact with Hitler and they were comrades. History is being re-written, however those of us who know the truth.
Tho Stalin did sign the pact with hitler that was only after the western allies refused assistance with Germany after the Germans annexed Austria and Czechoslovakia and violated the Treaty of Versailles i am not trying to justify all Stalin’s actions but he and Hitler were never “comrades”
What about the starvation of Ukraine 1933-34 where 10 million ‘people’ perished?
Is there a memorial for this?
who cares about ukrainians.
Interesting. Where is the Stalin Memorial Urinal? I’d like to give old Uncle Joe a golden shower!
Near to Minsk.
Huh, I guess Russia still won’t live up to its past? Still with the “glory of the Soviet Union”. Nothing about how more people died UNDER Stalin, than anything else?
Victims of Stalin slightly exaggerated) Totalitarian regime often destroys disagree, but nevertheless myths that in the Gulag hundred million sat absolute nonsense. Thousand and fifty and not more than this from the criminals.
Its a nice and cool museum. I was there in the summer. You can even drive a tank ( BT-7, T-34.) And they have a functional Stug-III too 🙂
Stalin = The greatest man that ever lived !
Very good.
Stalin is a true hero.
The vital thing for me is to integrate the history from above with the history from below because only in that way can you show the true consequences of the decisions of Hitler or Stalin or whomever on the ordinary civilians caught up in the battle. Read more at http://www.augustagoldira.com
And again our western cumrades-moralfaqs come to enlight us with ebil Stalins atrocities!
It is very sad that so any people today in Russia still favor this man as a hero. He is proven as a man who had very bad judgement of many things.
1. Killed Trotsky
2. Stole testament addressed from Lenin to Soviet leadership
3. Lysenkoism was his fault
4. Selling of crops to the west when Ukrainian people had nothing to eat
5. Took Spanish gold and provided very little support for Spanish Republicans and communists in return
6. Abandoned Greek revolutionaires
7. Threatened Tito and friendly Yugoslavia
8. Changed concepts of Marxist Leninism and introduced his own modified theory as “original”
9. Abandoned concept of World revolution introduced by Lenin and took Communism in one country approach
10. And of course Great Purge of intellectuals and Red Army cadre which almost caused USSR to fall to Nazis
Whoever knows few facts about this man knows that he was actually Okhrana agent. Not communist.