Slutsk and Rzhev to Become Sister-Towns

Belarusian town Slutsk and Russian Rzhev will become sister-towns in the near future. The initiative belongs to Rzhev City Council and Russian-Belarusian public association “Braterstvo”.

Belarusian town Slutsk and Russian Rzhev will become sister-towns in the near future. The initiative belongs to Rzhev City Council and Russian-Belarusian public association “Braterstvo”.

From June 1941 to June 1944, during the Great Patriotic War Slutsk was occupied by German fascist invaders. During the war the town was virtually destroyed. On the whole, about 30 000 people were killed in the town and district during the occupation.

Before the tragic war years Rzhev’s population amounted to 56,000 people. As a result of 1941-1943 action, 17 months of occupation, Rzhev was razed to the ground. Out of 20 thousand people that were trapped in occupied Rzhev and approximately the same number of people in the district, only 150 people in the town and together with the district – 362 lived to see the day of liberation on March 3^rd, 1943.

Rzhev City Council supported the initiative to establish sister-relationship between the towns. The Public Chamber of Rzhev also joined this public initiative. Then the appeal will be directed to the administration of Slutsk.