Buinichi field

To the right of the village Buinichi, Mogilev district, there is a majestic memorial “Buinichi field”-a field of soldier’s glory dedicated to the heroic defenders of Mogilev in 1941.

The soldiers of the 388^th rifle regiment and 340^th light artillery regiment, the 174^th tank destroyer division, the volunteers of the silk factory and other enterprises that defended Mogilev from German tanks and motorized units, accomplished an immortal feat there. The defense of the city continued for 23 days

In 1941 the defense line of Mogilev passed near the village of Buinichi. Fighting against German troops, the soldiers of Soviet Army blocked Mogilev-Buinichi road. The citizens of the city, the 172th rifle division, commanded by Major General Romanov, among the units of which there was the 388th rifle battalion (commander Colonel Kutepov), were involved in the defense of the city. On the German side there were infantry units, a tank division, support of aviation and artillery. On the 10^th of July, the Germans exposed the 388^th battalion to massive shelling and two days later, Soviet artillery opened fire on the enemy and inflicted significant losses. The Germans, going on the offensive, sent dozens of tanks to the enemy’s positions. As a result of a long battle, 39 tanks were burned and knocked out. The Red Army held their positions till July 22.

Today The memorial Complex Buynichi Field near Mogilev is one of the most popular attractions in Belarus. The entrance is framed by an arch, from which an alley leads to a 27-meter red brick chapel. On the right side of the chapel, you can see the remains of an anti-tank ditch that used to be here. The chapel is decorated with light marble slabs inside. Hundreds of names of those who gave their lives defending the city of Mogilev from German invaders are engraved on them. In the centre of the chapel there is a Book of Memory of the Buinichi memorial. There is also a crypt where the dead soldiers lie.

The events that happened in the Buinichi Field were immortalized by Konstantin Simonov in his war diary and novel The Living and the Dead. Konstantin Simonov considered the trip to Mogilev in 1941 the most important event in his life and devised his ashes to be spread over the Buinichi field. The Memorial stone of K. Simonov is also installed here. A boulder weighing 15 tons was brought to the Buinichi field from the republican boulder museum.