On May 7, Saratov State University and Saratov State Medical University held a meeting dedicated to the 79th anniversary of Victory Day.
The veterans, the teaching staff, and the students of the two universities gathered at the Memorial to the SSU and SSMU staff and students who died in the Great Patriotic War.
The solemn meeting was opened by SSU Rector Alexei Chumachenko.
‘Every year, we gather at this square, near this monument, to honour the memory of the heroes of the Great Patriotic War, remember our colleagues who gave their lives for the Victory. At the very beginning of the war, more than 600 people – the employees, teaching staff, and students of Saratov State University – volunteered for the front, including a young guy, a student of the Faculty of History Nikolai Kazakov. In October 1943, he was awarded with the highest title – Hero of the Soviet Union – for his feat in crossing the Dnieper. Together with his soldiers, he was one of the first to move to the right bank of the river, seized a bridgehead, and waited for the arrival of the main troops. This is just one small episode of the heroism of Soviet soldiers and our colleagues in the Great Patriotic War.’
Rector Alexei Chumachenko recalled that 145 students, 168 teaching and other staff of the university were awarded with orders and medals for military and labour heroic deeds.
He spoke about the contribution that the students made to the Great Victory over Fascism by helping wounded soldiers, participating in agricultural work, haymaking, harvesting, building defensive structures, harvesting firewood for the heating season, as well as gathering money for the construction of the Chapaev tank corps.
All this forced the university's curriculum to be changed.
‘There were new lessons dedicated to military affairs and patriotic education. The research seriously changed. Already in 1942, there were 67 projects aimed at the tasks of the defence industry. Physicists, chemists, geologists, biologists, geographers were involved in their implementation,’ Alexei Chumachenko marked.
The rector summed up his speech by saying that today many professors and students volunteer to go to the front.
‘They do exactly the same as their colleagues in the Great Patriotic War. And we believe that our people who are now at the front will return to us, to our classrooms, with a victory.’
The colleagues and veterans were congratulated on the main holiday of the country by SSMU Rector Andrei Yeremin.
‘On the eve of the great holiday, we remember the heroes who defended the independence, honour, and sovereignty of our great Motherland at the cost of their lives during the war. Not many years have passed, and we are facing with similar events again. And, today, our friends, acquaintances, and university staff are honourably fulfilling their duty. We must wish health to all the fighters who are defending our country today so that you and I can stand here calmly today. So that our children can safely go to school, so that you and I can live in a free country.’
The programme of the traditional event was accompanied by a concert prepared by the SSU Student Club and SSMU performers. Touching songs of the war years sounded from the improvised stage. Soldiers in tunics and girls in dresses performed a waltz.
The event was attended by Chair of the Association of SMO Veterans of the regional public organisation Ilya Gubert. Dmitrii Lygin, a member of the Saratov regional branch of the Combat Brotherhood, addressed the participants of the meeting.
‘I am very proud to be in the same line with you! Today, we are paying tribute to our veterans, who, despite the pain, blood, and all the hardships of military service, have done a lot for us. They won the Victory for us, you and I remember them – they all live in our hearts. I congratulate you on this holiday!’
The head of the Heroes’ Wives. Saratov Region project, Head of the Museum of the SMO History Natalia Rechman spoke about the heroism of the Russian people during the war.
‘We celebrate Victory Day over Fascism every year on the ninth of May. And it seemed that there would be no more war in our country. But, unfortunately, history repeats itself. And, now, brave warriors, soldiers who are bringing peace to our country at the cost of their lives, have stood up to defend our state. You and I must become a strong home front, reliable support for our soldiers. And then such a necessary word for all of us will definitely sound again, Victory.’
The role of the family in a difficult time for the country was noted by the head of the branch of the state foundation for support of participants in the special military operation in Saratov Region, Defenders of the Fatherland, Dennis Belousov.
‘This year, we are celebrating the 79th anniversary of the Great Victory. But, we must also remember that 2024 is the Year of the Family. Each family has its own heroes who took part in the battles of the Great Patriotic War. Today, we are once again facing with political challenges, and inevitably the events of distant years are more keenly remembered. At such moments, it is difficult to overestimate the importance of the feat of our relatives and compatriots.’
After a minute of silence, the meeting participants laid flowers at the Memorial to the SSU and SSMU staff and students who died in the Great Patriotic War.
On the same day, the SSU History Museum hosted a solemn presentation of the book Life for One's Friends, which consists of the stories of participants in the special military operation. One of the authors, Dmitrii Lygin, a member of the Saratov regional branch of the Combat Brotherhood, presented one of the books to the university.
According to Head of the regional branch of the Defenders of the Fatherland Foundation Dennis Belousov, the book Life for One's Friends will be the first exhibit of the exposition dedicated to the heroes of the SMO. It will be exhibited at the History Museum of Saratov State University.
