The Brest Fortress — Belarus
The 2010 Belarusian epic depicts the defence of Brest Fortress on 22 June 1941 — the garrison holding out for weeks against the German invasion, one of the war's first acts of mass Soviet heroism.
When Germany launched Operation Barbarossa on 22 June 1941, the Brest Fortress garrison of approximately 9,000 men was surrounded within hours. Despite having no supplies or communication, isolated groups held out for weeks — some continued fighting until late July. The fortress was designated a 'Hero-Fortress' by the Soviet Union in 1965 and remains one of Russia and Belarus's most visited WWII memorials.