The Khatsun memorial complex is a special place for every Russian. The bell hanging under the vaults of the arch reminds us all of those millions of innocently killed and tortured adults and children who found their death at the hands of the Nazi invaders. Now, when every day there are fewer and fewer participants in the war, the concern for preserving the memory of those terrible years falls on the shoulders of the younger generations.
An ordinary village in Central Russia
The memorial complex "Khatsun" (Bryansk region) is located on the territory of the modern Verkhopolsky rural settlement belonging to the Karachaevsky district of the Bryansk region. An unremarkable, gradually dying place, of which there are thousands throughout Russia. However, the real story is happening not only in capitals and megacities, but also in such small settlements.
The name itself - "Khatsun" - has been known since the middle of the nineteenth century. At that time, this term denoted a small forest tract with a gatehouse located in it. In the 1920s, withWith the establishment of Soviet power, a small village arose on the site of the tract, the inhabitants of which were mainly engaged in logging.
Currently, only eight people live here, almost all of them very old. The Khatsun memorial complex became an opportunity for this settlement to preserve not only itself, but also the memory of those terrible events that unfolded here in October 1941.
Black October 1941…
"Khatsun" is a memorial complex, a photo of which can be found in almost any album dedicated to the Great Patriotic War. Its creation is connected with the events that took place in this settlement on October 25, 1941.
In the autumn of 1941, the German Wehrmacht, straining all its strength, rushed to Moscow. One of the directions of their offensive passed through Bryansk, around which fierce battles unfolded in September-October. The city was continuously subjected to powerful bombardments, due to which a significant part of its inhabitants were forced to move to the nearest villages. One of these villages was Hatsun.
On October 24, a small group of Red Army soldiers, who were making their way to their own from the encirclement, entered into battle with three Germans who were escorting prisoners of war. Two guards were killed, but the third, despite being wounded, managed to escape. As the surviving residents of Khatsuni later recalled, everyone understood that a punitive operation was inevitable, so in the evening almost everyone left the village. On the morning of October 25, most of them returned to the village,to visit the cattle and carry away the necessary things. The Khatsun memorial complex later became a monument to them.
Atrocity not to be forgotten
The German punitive detachment surrounded Hatsun at dawn on October 25, 1941. Everyone who wanted to enter was quietly let through, but no one could go back. The first victim was six-year-old Nina Kondrashova, who was pierced with a bayonet right in her crib. Her neighbor Nina Yashina was nailed to the gate of her house after they found something that had previously belonged to the Red Army.
But the Germans were not going to limit themselves to individual terror. With the help of butts and bayonets, all the inhabitants, among whom were not only adults, but also children who did not understand anything, were gathered in one place. First, automatic shots rang out, after which machine guns began to fire. 318 people were killed, and all buildings, including barns and a well, were burned. For edification to the inhabitants of neighboring villages, the decomposing corpses were forbidden to bury, they lay on the streets for two weeks. Only seven people managed to survive (largely by chance).
Memory Preservation
Khatsun is far from the only village in the Bryansk region that faced such a terrible fate. In total, during the occupation in this region, more than nine hundred rural settlements were destroyed, thousands of residents were shot or driven to Germany. The fate of the Belarusian Khatyn is known all over the world, but many Russianthe village was in for a no less terrible fate.
Talking about the need to perpetuate the memory of those shot in Khatsuni began almost immediately after the liberation of the Bryansk region from the Nazi invaders. However, the real implementation of this idea began only in 1977. The memorial complex "Khatsun" was planned as a whole series of structures that were supposed, on the one hand, to show respect for the dead, and on the other, to become an educational tool for future generations.
Not all ideas were fully implemented, therefore, until the end of the 2000s, Khatsun was considered by many as not a very good copy of Khatyn, especially since their names are very similar. Much has changed since Vladimir Putin came to power.
Memorial complex "Khatsun": rebirth
Restoration work in Hatsuni began in 2009. At the same time, not only old facilities were reconstructed, but a number of new ones were also created. As a result, at present, the complex includes a small functioning chapel, a museum with an exposition dedicated not only to the memorable events of October 25, 1941, but also to other Nazi atrocities in the occupied land, a mass grave with the remains of the dead residents.
A visit to the wall of memory, designed by the famous sculptor A. Romashevsky, and an inspection of 28 steles with memorial plaques placed on them causes a particularly poignant feeling for all guests. The central place in the complex is occupied by an obelisk dedicated to Soviet soldiers - participants in thebloodiest war in history.
A very impressive delegation attended the opening of the memorial complex, which included representatives of Russia, Germany, Belarus, Ukraine and some other countries. The Russian delegation was headed by Vladimir Putin, which was an excellent advertisement for this place. If earlier many did not know that there was a memorial complex called "Khatsun", no one could say how to get to it, but now there is simply no end to those who want to visit the complex.
Event in honor of the 70th anniversary of the Victory
After the reconstruction, Hatsun became one of the most important objects participating in various commemorative events. Usually they are timed to coincide with Victory Day and Memorial Day on October 25th. So, in the course of preparations for the celebration of the 70th anniversary of the Great Victory, another event was held at the Khatsun memorial complex. On April 18, 2015, the governor of the Bryansk region, A. Bogomaz, opened a solemn rally held as part of the campaign “The memory of generations is immortal.”
During this event, which was attended by almost all the leaders of the region and district, medals were awarded to the most deserving residents of the Karachay district. The rally ended with the laying of flowers and a festive concert.
"Khatsun" (memorial complex): how to get from Bryansk
The growing popularity of the memorial place led to the fact that special bus tours from Bryansk were organized. At the same time, you can get here on your own: enough from Moscowcome by train to Bryansk, and then by bus to the Verkhopolsky settlement. Buses run almost every day from morning to evening.
