Translation. Region: Russian Federal
Source: People's Republic of China in Russian – People's Republic of China in Russian –
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Source: People's Republic of China – State Council News
Yerevan, Aug. 28 (Xinhua) — China will hold celebrations on Sept. 3 to mark the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. Armenian soldiers who fought in the Soviet Red Army made a valuable contribution to the defeat of Japan's Kwantung Army in August 1945. Xinhua correspondents went to Armenia to meet with those who fought in those events, record their memories and thank them for the Victory. Today, only two veterans of China's liberation from Japanese invaders are still alive in Armenia. Both of them are honorary members of the Armenia-China Friendship Society.
IN THE HOUSE OF AGVAN
In a spacious house on the outskirts of sunny Yerevan, where high-ranking guests from China have often been received, a veteran of the Great Patriotic War, a participant in the Red Army operation to liberate Northeastern China, Aghvan Khachaturovich Poghosyan, sits modestly on the sofa in the living room. He speaks with difficulty and can hardly walk anymore. He is carefully surrounded by his sons and daughter, looking after their father, who will turn 103 this year.
A. Pogosyan was born on November 29, 1922. He met the beginning of the war with Germany in Odessa, served as a machine gunner. Subsequently, his unit was sent to the Far East, where he took part in battles against the Japanese army. “They gave me the rank of lieutenant and sent me to the Far East to fight the Kwantung Army,” says the veteran’s son Khachatur.
A. Pogosyan served as an artillery platoon commander in the 2nd Far Eastern Front. He was responsible for preparing the territory for the infantry to pass through and for the subsequent offensive. The veteran still remembers the Ust-Bureysky fortified area and the Zeya River (the left tributary of the Heilongjiang River). After crossing the river, his platoon received an order to engage the enemy.
“While the Americans were still moving, the Soviet troops had already defeated the Kwantung Army,” the veteran recalls.
ABOUT THE AWARDS AND COURAGE OF CHINESE SOLDIERS
The veteran does not consider himself a hero, but the orders and medals on his jacket speak of his exploits. The Order of the Patriotic War, 2nd degree, the medals “For Military Merit”, “For Victory over Germany”, “For Victory over Japan”… A. Pogosyan also received special gratitude from the Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the USSR I. V. Stalin for his military merits and excellent combat actions.
"This Kwantung Army, a million strong, was very well prepared. But our soldiers had a high spirit. They were eager to fight and did not look at anything!" says A. Pogosyan's second son Grach.
The veteran's family believes that all the soldiers performed a feat in those years. "Just imagine: so many millions of soldiers and officers of different nationalities! But they all loved their Fatherland. And their main feat was love for the Fatherland. And they were ready to give their own lives… That's why they won," Grach adds.
The veteran's son also notes the courage of the Chinese people and how they fought bravely against the Japanese occupiers. "My father told me how they fought so clearly and selflessly. That's why it all went so quickly, because two brotherly nations fought on both sides," Grach says.
A. Pogosyan was demobilized in 1947. He was predicted to have a great future, but he refused to study in Moscow and returned to his native village in Armenia. Later he graduated from the party school and worked as an instructor.
The warrior, to whom the people of China and the former USSR are grateful, today expresses gratitude himself. “Thank you for happiness, for those people who fought… Thank you for the people who fought against Germany and Japan,” says A. Pogosyan in a weak voice and conveys his best wishes to the Chinese people. “May there be no more war!” the veteran bids farewell.
ARMENIAN PEOPLE AGAINST JAPANESE MILITARISM
During the Second World War, the Armenian people fought heroically in the Soviet Red Army. More than 600 thousand Armenians took part in the battles, of whom about 200 thousand gave their lives. They made a huge contribution to the Victory over fascist Germany and militarist Japan. According to Armenian historical data, over 30 thousand Armenians fought in the ranks of the Transbaikal, 1st and 2nd Far Eastern Fronts and the Pacific Fleet during the military operation against Japan in 1945. Among them is a veteran of the Great Patriotic War, a participant in the Red Army operation to liberate Northeastern China, Mekhak Tigranovich Avetisyan.
IN SARUKHAN
103-year-old M. Avetisyan lives in the village of Sarukhan, 100 km from Yerevan. His large, bright house is full of guests today. Numerous relatives, friends, and a favorite student came to visit and hug the dear veteran.
His eyes are almost closed, but his heart remembers everything. After the victory over Germany in 1945, 23-year-old Senior Sergeant Mekhak was sent to the Far East, and from there to China, where he continued to serve until the end of the war with Japan. He was awarded the Order of the Red Star, the Order of the Patriotic War of the 2nd degree, the Order of the Red Banner of Labor, the medals "For Military Merit", "For Victory over Germany", "For Victory over Japan". The veteran himself modestly recalls only some of his exploits during the military campaign against the Japanese occupiers.
"In China, we were given the order to preserve the Chinese Eastern Railway for these 24 days. And we did it! The fascist militarists wanted to bomb it, but we defended it," recalls M. Avetisyan.
Upon returning home, the veteran worked as a principal at a local school and taught geography. An honored teacher of Armenia, he knows better than anyone what dozens of countries experienced during the war.
M. Avetisyan sends his best wishes on the occasion of the 80th anniversary of the Victory to all the people of China and the country's leadership. "China is a friendly country for all countries. What I have done is for the people of China, Armenia and the whole world," the veteran says and immediately adds: "Thank you, China! Thank you, Chinese! You are our comrades!" –0–
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