A minute’s silence was observed on Saturday morning on the Soviet War Cemetery as the invasion by Nazi Germany of the Soviet Union, exactly 83 years ago yesterday, was commemorated. The youngest volunteer and the youngest adopter of the Soviet War Cemetery Foundation, Charly Vink and Roy Berrens, placed a flower arrangement at the obelisk. The many dozens present then laid red carnations.
During his short speech, Remco Reiding, director of the Soviet War Cemetery Foundation, reflected on the disastrous consequences of the war for many families in the Soviet Union. “Consequences that are never more visible than on a war cemetery like this,” says Reiding.
Reiding talked about the fear and uncertainty that engulfed Vladimir Botenko’s family after the outbreak of war. “How will Alexandra with four children get through the war if Vladimir is no longer there to support her? And did Vladimir build his own house for nothing, now that war seems to be just around the corner?”
After the commemoration, historian Dr. Martijn Lak gave a lecture on Operation Barbarossa, the code name the Nazis gave to the invasion of the Soviet Union. The fighting on the Eastern Front claimed the lives of tens of millions of Soviet soldiers and civilians (and some 3.5 million German soldiers). (The PowerPoint presentation can be found here.)
With thanks to The Sheila Firm (sound), Rusthof Cemetery (electricity), Pim Kruithof (tattoo signal), the Red Cross (first aid) and Martijn Lak (lecture).
Photos: Stefan Roelfsema/Soviet War Cemetery Foundation
