Rustam Minnikhanov and Ilsur Metshin take part at the opening of the Kazan – the City of Labor Valor monument

A commemorative stele with a height of 26 meters was installed at the Kazan-2 railway station.

Today, Kazan - the City of Labor Valor monument with a height of a 26-meter has opened at the Kazan–2 railway station. Veterans, managers and employees of 20 enterprises of labor valor, representatives of public patriotic associations and volunteers took part in the solemn ceremony. Rustam Minnikhanov, the Rais (Head) of Tatarstan, and Ilsur Metshin, the Mayor of the city, as well as Nikolay Ovsienko, the deputy chairman of the Russian Military Historical Society, addressed them with a welcoming speech.

Kazan – the City of Labor Valor monument is a stele with a height of 26 meters, which is comparable to an eight-story house, surrounded by two pylons 9 and 13 meters’ height. They reflect historical materials about the feat of home front workers during the Great Patriotic War from the funds of the Marjani Institute of History of the Academy of Sciences of Tatarstan, the Tatarstan State Archive, Kazan Federal University and the National Museum of the republic. The monument was designed by the sculptor Denis Stritovich.

“This is a landmark historical event for Tatarstan and the entire country, - said Rustam Minnikhanov. - By decree of the Russian President Vladimir Putin, 53 cities were awarded this high title. The project was implemented with the active participation of the Russian Military Historical Society.”

The Rais of Tatarstan reminded that during the Great Patriotic War the republic was an important rear center of the country. 226 enterprises were evacuated to the Volga region, and more than 70 were located here. Over 600 items of weapons, ammunition, and equipment were produced for the front. The aircraft produced were Pe-2, Pe-8 and U-2, aircraft engines, charges for artillery and small arms, devices for the army and fleet aviation, aviation film, and much more.

The title “Enterprises of Labor Valor” was established to perpetuate the labor feat of Tatarstan enterprises. “Currently, there are 20 such enterprises. Today, the opening ceremony of the monument is attended by employees of enterprises that are still performing the tasks of a special military operation with full responsibility and dedication. We will win,”- concluded the Rais of Tatarstan and thanked the veterans for their labor feat.

“The selfless labor of our people allowed us to launch production and start operation in the shortest possible time. From history lessons and rare newsreel shots, we all remember how then our residents, women, old men, children, replacing each other, stood behind the machines, never stopping their work with only one goal and one indestructible motto “Everything for the front! Everything to win!”, – Ilsur Metshin said.

He noted that these enterprises continue to function successfully for the benefit of the city, the republic and the entire country. “Awarding Kazan the honorary title of “City of Labor Valor” is a great honor for us but also a great responsibility. We are the heirs of the great Victory and heroism of our predecessors, we are simply obliged to preserve our heritage and keep it for future generations,”- the head of the city said.

On behalf of the Assistant to the President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Medinsky, Nikolay Ovsienko, Deputy Chairman of the Russian Military Historical Society, head of the City of Labor Valor project, congratulated the participants of the ceremony.

At the end of the ceremony, the participants laid flowers to the monument, and then Rustam Minnikhanov and Ilsur Metshin joined the Garden of Memory campaign. Twenty-five trees were planted – 15 mountain ash and 10 cherry trees in memory of those who died during the Great Patriotic War.