Saratov State University has joined the annual patriotic project entitled The Test on the History of the Fatherland. This year, it is timed to coincide with the 80th anniversary of Leningrad freed from the Nazi siege.

The main task of the dictation is to popularise knowledge about the Great Patriotic War, the siege of Leningrad and its breaking, as well as about the final battle on the Karelian Isthmus, the victory in which allowed to free the city from the Nazi.

One of the dictation venues was SSU Bldg. 11. The SSU students and staff, the students of the Military Training Centre, Saratov State Technical University, cadets of the Zhukov Order Saratov Military Red Banner Institute of the National Guard of the Russian Federation, cadets, schoolchildren of Saratov and Engels schools, members of veteran, military-patriotic, and youth public organisations gathered in Room 408. Each of them came to the test not only to check their knowledge, but also to show an example of respect for the memory of the heroes who, at the expense of their lives, snatched victory from the hands of the Nazi invaders.

The event began with an introductory speech by Chair of the Saratov regional public organisation entitled The Union of Saratov Cadets Alexander Grankov.

‘We dedicate our meeting at the main university of Saratov Region to the Day of Russian Military Glory – the day that is inextricably linked with such great concepts as fortitude, courage, honour, dignity, and selfless love for our Homeland – the 80th anniversary of the breaking through the Nazi siege of Leningrad. No other significant date in Russian history can be compared with the feat of the Leningraders. Of course, the test questions will not give a complete picture of the severity of the event, but I am sure that when you come into contact with history, you will feel the need to learn more about the Battle of Leningrad,’ Alexander Grankov said.

He expressed gratitude to the Institute of History and International Relations for the opportunity to conduct the test at SSU and preserve this tradition for four years.

The audience was shown a video with a song that was specially written for the Memorial Day of the Defenders of besieged Leningrad. Everyone listened to the song standing up.

Addressing the project participants, Director of the Institute of History and International Relations Tatyana Cherevichko noted that writing a dictation hides deep respect for the memory of the Leningraders. ‘We are going to write not just a test. After all, the fates of real people and the history of our great country are behind each of the questions. Answering them, you should feel the grief that the residents of Leningrad had to face, and, at the same time, the joy they experienced when the city was besieged. Therefore, I believe that today we are not holding a test, but paying tribute to the memory of our great people,’ she explained.

Parting words before writing the test were said by First Deputy Minister of Internal Policy and Public Relations of Saratov Region Dennis Poponov and First Deputy Chair of the Saratov Regional Council of Veterans of War, Labour, Armed Forces, and Law Enforcement Agencies Evgenii Uskov, Chair of the Department of National History and Historiography Victor Danilov, who had helped prepare the test tasks, a teacher of history and social studies of the highest category, Honoured Teacher of Russia, and Hero of Labour Lyudmila Kornilova.

After the ceremonial part, the participants began performing the test. It was conducted by a member of the Council of the Saratov Cadets Union, Professor of the Department of International Relations and Foreign Policy Vitalii Tsyplin.

The test consisted of thirty questions. Everyone received a personal certificate for participating in the project.