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Thursday, February 26, 2026

Belarus - Brest Fortress-Hero


Entrance to Memorial Complex in the form of five-pointed star.

Sent by Natalia from Minsk, Belarus.

Brest Fortress (BelarusianБрэсцкая крэпасцьromanized: Bresckaja krepasćRussianБрестская крепостьromanized: Brestskaya krepostPolishTwierdza brzeskaLithuanianBresto tvirtovė), formerly known as Brest-Litovsk Fortress, is a 19th-century fortress in BrestBelarus. In 1965, the title Hero Fortress was given to the fortress to commemorate the defence of the frontier stronghold during the first week of Operation Barbarossa, when Axis forces invaded the Soviet Union on 22 June 1941. The title "Hero Fortress" corresponds to the title "Hero City" that the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the Soviet Union awarded to twelve Soviet cities.

Brest Fortress has sustained its original outline of a star shaped fortification since its construction in the early 19th century. The Citadel, the core of the fortress, was on the central island formed by the Bug River and the two branches of the Mukhavets River. The island was skirted by a ring of a two-storied barrack with 4 semi-towers. The 1.8 km long barrack comprised 500 rooms to accommodate 12,000 soldiers within thick walls built from super strong red bricks. Originally there were 4 gates to enter the Citadel. Today only Kholm Gate and Terespol Gate can be seen; most of the barrack lies in ruins (read more).


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