In the French province opened a monument to the Russian Expeditionary Force
In the city of Kursi (department of the Marne) on Sunday, a monument to the Russian Expeditionary Corps, which fought in France during the First World War, was opened, the newspaper reported Look with reference to tass.
Vladimir Medinsky, the head of the Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation, said at the opening ceremony: “Russia and France are united by a special bond - the two countries were allies in the two most terrible military conflicts in stories of our civilization - the First and Second World Wars. "
Speaking about the participation of Russian soldiers in the battles "on the Western Front of the First World War on the side of the French Army," the minister drew a parallel with the history of the famous Normandie-Neman air regiment formed by French soldiers in the Soviet Union during the Second World War.
“Many French officers, having left occupied France for England, could simply wait for the conscription, the opening of the second front, the unification of the Resistance forces by General de Gaulle,” noted Medinsky. “But the heart of the French officer did not bring this down.” They took the risk of traveling across Europe to the Soviet Union and volunteered to join the Soviet army. ”
In the same way, the minister continued, “Russian soldiers and officers in 1916-17 went to an outstanding feat, standing shoulder to shoulder with the French brothers arms and went to the end in the fight against the common enemy. "
“When the king was overthrown in 1917, all the soldiers were released from the oath and could return to their families,” he said. - However, most of them no longer shared in the heart of Russia and France, and they remained to fight. These were extraordinary people, made of steel, with a huge heart and a special idea of honor. We all need to take an example from them. ”
Mayor Kursi Martin Jolly, in turn, noted that this day will be a memorable date for local residents in the history of their city.
“This is a big day for our entire commune, the completion of a project started with the support of the Russian embassy in 2012 year,” said the head of the city hall. “It is a great honor for us that the choice fell on our city, and now we have witnessed an important event that points all of us to the duty of memory that we must convey to our descendants.”
The monument is a bronze sculpture of a Russian soldier holding a French girl in his arms. The author of the monumental composition is the sculptor Alexander Taratynov.
In France, this is the 2 th monument to the Russian Expeditionary Force. The first is open at 2011 in Paris.
The newspaper reminds that in 1916 Russia sent to Europe to help allies in the First World War an expeditionary force numbering about 45 thousands of soldiers and officers. The older generation of French never forgot how Russian troops in the battle of Reims stopped the advance of the German divisions and in the 12 hours of battle they fought back at least 5 attacks. The corps also played an important role in offensive operations deployed in the Champagne-Ardenne region in the spring of 1917.
Vladimir Medinsky, the head of the Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation, said at the opening ceremony: “Russia and France are united by a special bond - the two countries were allies in the two most terrible military conflicts in stories of our civilization - the First and Second World Wars. "
Speaking about the participation of Russian soldiers in the battles "on the Western Front of the First World War on the side of the French Army," the minister drew a parallel with the history of the famous Normandie-Neman air regiment formed by French soldiers in the Soviet Union during the Second World War.
“Many French officers, having left occupied France for England, could simply wait for the conscription, the opening of the second front, the unification of the Resistance forces by General de Gaulle,” noted Medinsky. “But the heart of the French officer did not bring this down.” They took the risk of traveling across Europe to the Soviet Union and volunteered to join the Soviet army. ”
In the same way, the minister continued, “Russian soldiers and officers in 1916-17 went to an outstanding feat, standing shoulder to shoulder with the French brothers arms and went to the end in the fight against the common enemy. "
“When the king was overthrown in 1917, all the soldiers were released from the oath and could return to their families,” he said. - However, most of them no longer shared in the heart of Russia and France, and they remained to fight. These were extraordinary people, made of steel, with a huge heart and a special idea of honor. We all need to take an example from them. ”
Mayor Kursi Martin Jolly, in turn, noted that this day will be a memorable date for local residents in the history of their city.
“This is a big day for our entire commune, the completion of a project started with the support of the Russian embassy in 2012 year,” said the head of the city hall. “It is a great honor for us that the choice fell on our city, and now we have witnessed an important event that points all of us to the duty of memory that we must convey to our descendants.”
The monument is a bronze sculpture of a Russian soldier holding a French girl in his arms. The author of the monumental composition is the sculptor Alexander Taratynov.
In France, this is the 2 th monument to the Russian Expeditionary Force. The first is open at 2011 in Paris.
The newspaper reminds that in 1916 Russia sent to Europe to help allies in the First World War an expeditionary force numbering about 45 thousands of soldiers and officers. The older generation of French never forgot how Russian troops in the battle of Reims stopped the advance of the German divisions and in the 12 hours of battle they fought back at least 5 attacks. The corps also played an important role in offensive operations deployed in the Champagne-Ardenne region in the spring of 1917.
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