Veterans from Odessa: this is the most expensive holiday for us

In Odessa, from the beginning of the great Patriotic war became a frontier city And 73 days heroically kept the defense in 1941, today home to more than 30 thousand veterans - among them, two Hero of the Soviet Union. This year, the celebration of the anniversary of the Victory stretched in for those 3 days, but the festive mood in Odessa is not felt.

Hero city receiving this title was one Of the first, met the enemy in the summer of 1941. In the defense of Odessa have lost their lives, tens of thousands of soldiers And residents. In 1941-1944 Odessa was occupied, during this period of time tens of thousands of civilians were executed or died from hunger, cold And disease. From 201 thousand Odessa Jews who lived in the city before the war, killed 99 thousand. In the end fierce fighting on April 10, 1944 troops of the Third Ukrainian front, With the assistance of the forces of the black sea fleet liberated Odessa.


traditionally met the Victory Day with great magnitude Odessa this year will mark his more than modest. On the Central streets have no posters on the Victory, only sometimes meet up banners with the symbols of a new holiday - day of memory And reconciliation: red poppies, the dates 1939-1945 "And the slogan" Remember. Win." Due to the tense situation in the country strengthened the security of the city - there are a lot of police patrols.

The Ukrainian government this year decided to celebrate the Victory of "European" And introduced a new holiday on 8 may. Veterans until undecided with regards to a new memorable date And meet her warily.

"A little disturbed the normal way of memory. I don't mind, that was memorial Day, but a Little problem is the same occasion, " said veteran Alexey Vinogradov, a retired Colonel.

Miss Veterans And Soviet tradition to celebrate this Day with a military parade." I own persona regret that there is no parade: when was the Soviet Union, each year there were two parade. As well as among them in Odessa. How could you forget?" says 90-year-old Vladimir Doview.


Festive events were started in Odessa on may 7 Veterans received From the hands of the authorities of the city awards, flowers And gifts. Several Of them were awarded the order of Bogdan Khmelnitsky And medals in honor of the 70th anniversary of the Victory. The vast number of received badges And certificates from the authorities of Odessa.

"I met the 70th anniversary of Victory with such feelings that words can not give. I spent two years at the front, know what war is And what a Victory. I have a sense of pride for victorious despite heavy losses, the pride in our people, the former country - the USSR, now Ukraine, " said Fins news Doview.

"Victory is Victory. And feeling good And it's good that we don't forget anybody: And gone, And the rest. I fought since 1940, when he was drafted into the army. I went through the whole war. 3rd of may 1945 I was in Berlin, " says Vinogradov.

According to veterans, the joy of the holiday can not overshadow nothing - And neither could then, in 1945.

"As a met in 1945? And in any way. Because the devastation


sections: Politics