Today is celebrated the 71st anniversary of Uman liberation from German-fascist invasion. To honour those who died for the sake of our Motherland protecting her from invaders, delegation of our university headed by Oleksandr Bezlyudnyi took part in wreath laying down to the Fame’s Obelisk in Uman.

One of the most determinant dates in Uman history is the 10th of May, 1944. The feelings of happiness, liberty and peace cannot be forgotten. The dark night of occupation was ended. There were fierce fightings for Uman. The battle was carried out for each city block, each street. From one side, the enemy had a lot of losses, from the other side many our soldiers died for Uman…

Centuries have passed, new city blocks appeared, new generations of Uman citizens have been born, but are always grateful to our rescuers: not only by naming streets after commanders, marshals, involved in the event. The city dwellers will always remember and honour the warriors, partisans, members of an underground organization who have approached the date of the liberation.

Eternal commemoration to perished rescuers for our city! A profound bow is to our fellow countrymen, veterans of that battle. Their recollections and stories about war is a living history for young generations, an example of self-sacrificing service for our land.

Today we make a low bow to commemorate known and unknown heroes of those battles. Eternal fame to them!

Reference.

Uman-Botoshansk rescue operation lasted from the 5th of March until the 17th of April. It takes a considerable place among important events and victories of the Second World War. From all the operations, this one was the most difficult. In the history of the wars there was no such a complicated and extensive operation in operative meaning. The enemy was not waiting for attack. Uman-Botoshansk operation leaded to Cherkasy region liberation from German-fascist invasion on the 10th of March, 1944.

The attack was carried out by force of three fronts. There was a task – to launch a blow from the line Kirovograd-Zvenygorodka-Shpola in the general direction to Uman, to defeat enemy group and capture border line Ladyzhyn-Gayvoron-Novoukrainka, and after continue the attack and come to Dnister.

Uman-Botoshansk operation was executed in difficult meteorological conditions, there were a lot of the Germans. But the attack didn’t allow the Gitler’s followers to build defensive line. On the 6-7th of March the Soviet soldiers built 11 bridges and 2 river crossings on the river Girskyi Tickych. On the 7th of March Mankivka was set free. On the 7-8th of March there was a batlle at Potash station of Mankivka region. It was one of the biggest tank battles in the history of the Second World War; according to some testimonies, there were hunderds (at about thousand) of tanks. Red army had won, besides they acquired grand trophies. It is mentioned in a lot of documents.

During 8-9th of March troops of the second Ukrainian front moved forvard 30 km, on the 9th of March Khrystynivka, Talne, Katerynopil were rescued. Uman was announced by German forces as a fortress, which was ordered to hold out even in attack situation. The Gitler’s followers set up fighting points on the roofs of the houses, cellars, streets, cities suburbs they placed their heavy artillery to resist Soviet forces. Among the first to make their way to Uman were 73rd military unit of General P.F. Batytskyi, 29th tank corps came to Uman too. On the airfield were captured enemy’s planes. The 4-a division of Guards headed by K. M. Derevyanko set free villages of Uman. On the 10th of March 1944, at 1.30 Uman was seized by Soviet Army. It also captured villages of Talyanky, Legedzyne, Dobrovody, city of Monastyryshche until the end of the day. Cherkasy region was rescued. The Uman-Botoshansk operation was prolongued, but from that time, not in the territory of Cherkasy region.

According to the data, on the territory of Cherkasy region were killed at about 120 thousand of population. Before the war, the population f Uman comprised more than 50 thousand people, the fascists killed more than 25 citizens in Sukhyi Ravine. Besides, every day 60-70 captives were killed in Uman camp for prisoners of war, so-called “Uman pit”. During the occupation were distroyed more than 10 villages.

It is worth mentioning that members of 30 organizations, 39 underground organizations, 24 partisan detachments, 2nd Ukrainian partisan brigade, 4 regional and interregional anti-nazi centres of resistance were fighting on the territory of Cherkasy region. Everybody was fighting against invaders – men, women, teenagers, party memebers and unaffiliated, believers and disbelievers. Resistance movement in Cherkasy united at about 15 thousand patriots. They were headed by P. A. Dubobyi, I. M. Borovykov, E.R. Petrov in Kholodnyi Raven, P. M. Mogylnyi, M. O Dudchenko in Korsun-Shevchenkivskyi, detachment named after Pozarskyi (commander - D. Goriachyi) in Smila, partisan detachment named after Voroshylov (commander – A. S. Kutsenko) in Kamianets district, Kuzma Gryb in Talne, and the others who approached Cherkasy region liberation from invaders.

The further are those days, the more heroi seem to be heroic deeds of our soldiers during the war of 1941 – 1945.

We want to believe, that aggressor will not succeed in destroying territorial unity of Ukraine. Ukraine was and will remain forever free!