By Orkhan Yelchuyev exclusively for Vestnik Kavkaza
The 69th anniversary of the Great Victory of the Soviet people over Nazi Germany is marked today. All nations of the USSR were fighting together in the war, everyone demonstrated courage and honour. Belarus turned into an arena of dreadful confrontation between the German forces and the Red Army in the first days of the Great Patriotic War.
Azerbaijani servicemen took part in the liberation of Belarus, fighting both on land and in the air. The name of pilot Adil Kuliyev is a symbol. Before the Bagration operation he downed six German planes, but at the end of the war he was proud of taking part in 265 missions and downing 18 planes. For his valour, Kuliyev was decorated with the order of Hero of the Soviet Union.
The history of war is full of examples of bravery, bold spirit and heroism. Among such heroes are soldiers of the Melik Magerramov company, which on September 27, 1943 crossed the Dnieper in the vicinity of Nedanchichi and thus cleared the way for the liberation of Belarus. For this feat of arms Magerramov and the bravest of his fellow servicemen were decorated with the order of Hero of the Soviet Union. The story of the 23-year-old Azerbaijani officer was known throughout the whole Belarusan front. Congratulating the military man, Marchal Rokossovsky said: "In addition to your valour you managed to raise noble people. I will be honest. I have never seen such brave people, there is no other company in which 15 people are decorated with the order of Hero of the Soviet Union." After crossing the Dnieper the company covered the whole division so that it could cross the river as well.
There were even divisions formed only of Azerbaijani soldiers. During the most important stage of the Bagration operation, when all four Belarusan fronts were trying to liberate Minsk, the 77th rifle division established in Azerbaijan in 1922 arrived in Belarus. Before that the division served in Crimea. Fighting on roads and in forests the division made its contribution to the victory over the Nazi forces in Belarus.
Commander of the 2nd brigade of the Belarus front Aslan Vezirov was one of the most prominent people fighting for Belarus. His brigade took part in the operation from the very beginning. It overwhelmed the German defences, cleared bridges, buildings and streets of mines. The brigade distinguished itself during the battles of Orshy, Minsk and Mogilyov. For the valour it showed at the battle of Mogilyov the brigade was named after the city. For his personal bravery the Presidum of the Supreme Soviet decorated Aslan Vezirov with the order of Hero of the Soviet Union.
On July 18, 1944 five armies of the 1st Belarusian front started an offensive and reached the Western Bug, the State border of the Soviet Union. Future orientalist Ziya Buniyatov distinguished himself during the operation. In the summer of 1994 Marshal Zhukov coordinated the efforts of the 1st and the 2nd Belarusian fronts, which took part in the Bagration operation. Buniyatov was proud to served under the leadership of Zhukov. Buniyatov's company was ordered to take part in the battle of the River Pilitsa. For the valour he showed while taking part, Buniyatov was decorated with the Golden Star of the Hero of the Soviet Union, the supreme military award of the USSR.
During the Belarusan operation the Soviet army defeated the central group of the German forces. 17 divisions and 3 brigades of the adversary were totally destroyed and 50 divisions incurred heavy losses.
Many Azerbaijanis took part in the guerrilla movement.
In order to commemorate the 65th anniversary of the liberation of Belarus the President of the former Soviet republic, Alexander Lukashenko, ordered the establishment of a new medal, which was awarded to World War II veterans in the Belarusan Embassy in Baku. Azi Aslanov and Aslan Vezirov were declared honorary citizens of Smorogon and Mogilyov. A monument to Vezirov was unveiled in Mogilyov. One of the streets was named after Nadzhafgulu Rafiyev. The names of Azerbaijanis who fought for Belarus were inscribed on memorial stones in Brest.
