SUSU Students Meet with the Great Patriotic War Veteran

A meeting was held at the Faculty of Military Education of South Ural State University between the faculty students and a veteran of the Great Patriotic War, recipient of the Order of the Patriotic War 2nd class, of two “For Courage” medals, and three “For Battle Merit” medals, retired Lieutenant Colonel Grigoriy Vaganov.

As member of the БМ-13 Katyusha multiple rocket launcher division, Grigoriy Vaganov participated in liberating of Poland, a Soviet territory, from fascists and took part in the Battle of Berlin.

In the beginning of the meeting students watched a film titled Katyusha, featuring Grigoriy Vaganov, with great interest. They observed a minute of silence in tribute to the memory of those defenders of the Fatherland who perished in the war. Then the veteran thoroughly answered all of the students’ questions. The discussion was very interesting and informative. Students of the faculty asked Grigoriy Vaganov about his first battle, his medals, and how residents of the liberated territories met Soviet soldiers. Students were also interested to hear about how he returned to peacetime life and asked about his life after the war.

“These meetings are very helpful for young people because they can learn the truth about the most terrifying and fierce war in the history of mankind, the history of our Fatherland, the heroism of Soviet soldiers in defending their Fatherland, and the price of victory in the Great Patriotic War from people who actually were there. This contributes to the spiritual, moral, and patriotic education of students, teaching them respect to the heroic past of our country, and respect for veterans – defenders of the Fatherland,” says senior inspector for student affairs Yuriy Meshkov.

Meetings between students and veterans of the Great Patriotic War have become a tradition not just at the Faculty of Military Education, but across the university as well. In organising these meetings, the university top management is trying to introduce the younger generation to the great history of their homeland.

Marina Kovyazina
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