The parade of war-historical festivals called "Karelian defensive lines" is over.

On the 7th of August, 2005 in the village of Pogrankondushi in Pitkäranta district much shooting and shell-burst were heard again. In this area the war-historical festival " Karelian defensive lines. Pogrankondushi" took place for the fourth time. It was dedicated to the 60th anniversary of the Great Victory.

The village of Pogrankondushi has a rich history. It wasn't named by chance. Its name means that the village had been of great strategic importance due to its location- from its elevated position it is possible to observe the vast shore area and a large part of the Ladoga Lake. During many centuries geopolitical interests of Russia, Sweden and Finland were concentrated on this very place and the frontier between these countries was moving too. Some objects of historical interest from different periods have been preserved in the village and its neighbourhood, especially large boundary rocks indicating the old frontier. You can also see some interesting objects of the military history, for example- defence structures made of concrete which were built in the end of the 1930s as part of the USSR defence system, the military cemetery where many Soviet soldiers perished in war actions during the Second World War are buried. The participants of the festival got together in this place to memorize all the soldiers fallen for their Motherland.

The festival started on the meadow near a fire-net. The battle took place in this place. There were about 1000 people who arrived there to see such an amazing show with pyrotechnical effects and a strong plot.

War actions, being held on this territory in 1941, were reconstructed in battle scenes by war-history amateurs from Petrozavodsk and St.Petersburg. On the whole there were about 80 people who took part in the show.

When the show was over, people could listen to the songs of the period of the Second World War sung by different choirs of Pitkäranta district.

The festival was organized by the local authorities of the town of Pitkäranta and Pitkäranta district, and the Republican Center for State Protection of Objects of Cultural Heritage.

The festival in the village of Pogrankondushi finished the parade of war-historical festivals dedicated to the 60th anniversary of the Great Victory.

Republican Center
for State Protection of Objects of Cultural Heritage