Commemorative March In the footsteps of the Romanian heroes fallen in the line of duty o the Western Front

State Secretary for the Liaison with the Parliament and Personnel’s Welfare, Eduard Bachide, participated on Saturday, April 26, in the commemoration ceremony of the Romanian heroes who fell in the line of duty in World War II on the current territory of the Czech Republic and were buried in the Plot of Honor in the Central Cemetery, Brno.

 

The historical context of the presence of Romanian heroes in Brno, 80 years ago, is tragic and marked by sacrifice. Between April 25 and May 9, 1945, during the offensive battle to liberate Czechoslovakia, the Romanian 1st Army played a crucial role in the area of ​​the city of Brno, an important political and economic center of the region. On April 26, 1945, the Romanian soldiers liberated the city, but many of them lost their lives in these battles.

 

During the ceremony, the officials laid wreaths, and the religious service for the commemoration of the Romanian war heroes was followed by the solemn reciting of the names of the soldiers buried in the Brno Cemetery, as a form of gratitude and respect. The restoration of the Romanian Heroes' Plot in the Brno Necropolis, in 2005, is proof of the good cooperation between Romania and the Czech Republic.

 

The event was attended by the representative of the Defence Staff, Brigadier General Cristinel-Dumitru Colibaba, the Romanian Ambassador to the Czech Republic, Her Excellency Antoaneta Barta, alongside representatives of the Czech Ministry of Defence, the Department for War Veterans and War Graves of the Czech Republic and the Brno City Hall. As a sign of respect for the hosts, the Romanian delegation laid a wreath at the Monument of the Czech Heroes erected in the Central Cemetery. 

 

After the ceremony, the Romanian delegation participated in the reception organized at the Brno City Hall, during which Romanian officials awarded commemorative medals and diplomas to the mayors of the Czech localities which were liberated by the Romanian Armed Force, who, through their constant care for the Romanian commemorative facilities in their communities, contribute to perpetuating the memory of the Romanian soldiers.

 

In his speech, State Secretary for the Liaison with the Parliament and Personnel’s Welfare, Eduard Bachide, stated that "each cross in the war necropolis here in Brno speaks of a destiny broken off in the prime of life, of a family that waited in vain for the return of a son, of a people that paid a high price for peace. We have the moral responsibility to preserve the memory of the nation's heroes, honoring with gratitude their sacrifice and valuing the courage that has been proven over the centuries, as a safeguard of our dignity."

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The event was the fourth ceremony of the Commemorative March "In the footsteps of the Romanian heroes fallen on the Western Front - Hungary, Slovakia, The Czech Republic", on the occasion of the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II. The project is supported by the Ministry of National Defence, the Department for Liaison with the Parliament and the Personnel’s Welfare and the Defence Staff.

This initiative reaffirms the commitment of the Ministry of National Defence to keep alive the memory of the nation's heroes and to pass on to future generations the importance of acknowledging and respecting history.

The Press Office