in detail
On 22 March 1943, the German SS Batallion Dirlewanger attacked the village of Khatyn in Belarus, confined its inhabitants in a barn and set all the village's buildings on fire, including the barn. Only the village blacksmith and a small number of children survived the massacre, because they were in the forest at the time. 618 villages were destroyed in this way in Belarus.
Today, approximately fifty kilometres north of Minsk, on the site where the village of Khatyn once stood, is the Khatyn Memorial, which was inaugurated in 1969, to mark the 25th anniversary of the liberation of Belarus. The memorial is a symbolic reminder of all destroyed villages and their murdered inhabitants. The places that were rebuilt after the War are listed on panels which together form the shape of a tree. In addition, three birch trees were planted and an eternal flame installed. On the site where the village houses once stood, their outlines and symbolic chimneys have been constructed of concrete. Name plates affixed to the chimneys commemorate the former residents of each house. Bells toll every minute.
On 22 March 1943, the German SS Battalion Dirlewanger attacked the village of Khatyn, locked the inhabitants in a barn and set all the village's buildings on fire, including the barn. The Khatyn Memorial is now located on the site of the village, and was inaugurated in 1969 to mark the 25th anniversary of the liberation of Belarus. The memorial is a symbolic reminder of all destroyed villages and their murdered inhabitants.
22 March 1943
The SS Battalion Dirlewanger murdered the inhabitants of the village of Khatyn and burned the village down.
1969
Inauguration of the memorial on the 25th anniversary of the liberation of Belarus.
Khatyn, August 2004, The eternal flame and three birch trees, SDJE.
Khatyn, August 2004, Statue of the village smith at the centre of the memorial complex, SDJE.
