Occupied vyazma
Until now, it is not customary to discuss aloud the uncomfortable topics of concentration camps, life in the occupation, military failures of the Red Army. We celebrate Victory Day, but rarely focus on unpleasant (albeit true) details. And the poet Rozhdestvensky bequeathed - "At what price happiness was won - please remember!". I suggest taking a closer look at the price paid by the unfortunate Vyazma.
What awaits you
My excursion is not focused on the sights: the main emphasis is on the topic, archival photos and videos.
Acquaintance with the military Vyazma
From the central square of Efremov, our route winds through non-existent streets and squares. You will "visit" military hospitals and the German honorary cemetery, get acquainted with the occupation names of the streets, study the pre-war layout of the city and assess the irreversible changes in the development. Together we will count the few buildings that survived the war, and we will calculate a couple of impostors – post-war houses pretending to be 200-year-old monuments of architecture.
Written sources
For immersion in the era, we read the newspapers of 1943, the diaries of american and Soviet military officers, the memories of a signalman, a military doctor and a commander, letters from ordinary German soldiers.
Historical documents from a private collection
To clearly compare the peaceful modernity with the burnt forties will help film and photo documents. At our disposal will be not only modern reprints, but also 80-year-old originals – so you will literally touch the history!
Organizational details
The length of the route is ~ 3.5-4 km; although under your feet there will be mainly asphalt or paving slabs, do not forget about comfortable shoes and dress for the weather.