The original Stalin Line was a line of fortifications along the western border of the Soviet Union. Work began on the system in the 1920s to protect the USSR against “western aggression.” The line was made up of fortified bunkers and gun emplacements, similar but less elaborate than the Maginot Line (and equally ineffective). Following … Continue reading
This was my first real view of Minsk – a big burst of Soviet-style architecture in the form of a new library. For the record, I love these sort of grandiose and ambitious projects. This was the view from my hotel room. We were told the building closest to us housed some sort of secret … Continue reading
On our first full day in Belarus, we hired a driver to take us out to the remote Khatyn Memorial. This “village” is deep in the forest, down the road pictured below. However, you will not find this small Belorussian village on even the most detailed geographic map today. It was obliterated by fascists on … Continue reading
The Velvet Rocket 