Today, we celebrate the end of the second World War in Europe, but did you know that Brno was liberated already on April 26, 1945 by the Red Army?
In 1939, Bohemia and Moravia was annexed by rapidly expanding Nazi Germany. All Czech higher education institutions were closed down soon after (November 17, 1939) including four major universities in Brno. 173 students were sent to Sachsenhausen concentration camp and Kounic’s dormitory was transformed into horrifying Gestapo headquarters with interrogatory rooms and prison.
Brno was liberated April 26, 1945 by Red Army led by Marshal Rodion Yakovlevich Malinovsky after more than two weeks of heavy fighting.
Soviet soldiers were seconded by Romanian troops who defected to the side of the Allies and fought later near Znojmo, Rosice, Tišnov, Zlín, and lower Haná.
On the title photo: Soviet tanks on Křenová street; picture by Wikipedia.org
More info at: Rok Smireni
