#WeRemember. Khatyn Memorial

Khatyn Memorial is a tribute to almost three million Belarusians who were killed during the Second World War.
Until 1943, Khatyn was an ordinary peaceful Belarusian village. But on March 22, 1943 after a skirmish nearby in which a Nazi officer was killed, the occupying Nazi forces encircled the village. All the inhabitants were rounded up and taken to a barn, which was then set on fire. 149 people, including 75 children, died. Khatyn’s story is not unique. In the Great Patriotic War (World War 2) the inhabitants of 628 Belarus villages were burned alive by the Nazis. 186 of these villages have never rebuilt.
In 1969, in memory of all Belarusians who died during the Second World War a memorial complex was opened on the site of the former village.

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