77 U S A ( To l l - f r e e ) 1-877-381-2914 E m a i l info@theculturalexperience.com 7 7 Cross Periods Schwartzenberg’s victory shored up Napoleon’s southern flank in August 1812. Switching to 1941, we trace the footsteps of the advancing German Army. In particular we examine the Gross Deutschland Division’s hard fought action to contain the southern end of the huge Minsk pocket at Stolovitchi. Thence to the cavalry skirmish of July 1812 at Mir and the superbly restored castle. Check-in to our Minsk hotel for two nights. Day 5 - Minsk City. Take a city tour of Minsk including Lee Harvey Oswald’s apartment building, the Island of Tears, the Monument to the Fallen Jews, the Great Patriotic War Museum and Victory Square. Some free time in and around Independence Avenue. Day 6 - Khatyn Memorial. To the controversial Khatyn Memorial, which now commemorates some 3 million Belarussians killed during the war and discuss the brutal operations conducted by the SS Dirlewanger brigade. En-route to Polotsk we explore a preserved bunker complex which held up the Germans for some time before they took that Crossing the Berezina Looking over the Berezina Operation Barbarossa city. At Polotsk, we discuss the two battlefields of 1812, visit the regional museum, the Red Bridge and the battle monument. Continue to Vitebsk, the Belarussian city of culture, for one night. Day 7 - Berezina River. A brief exploration of central Vitebsk before we drive south to examine the operations of the German Panzergruppe 3 as they continued their advance towards Smolensk in 1941. At Studianka, besides the banks of the Berezina River, we discuss Napoleon’s epic escape in 1812 over Baron Eble’s pontoon bridges, explore the northern banks that saw so much carnage and visit the dedicated museum in Borisov. Continue to Minsk and check-in to our hotel for the last night. Day 8 - Return. Drive to the airport via the Mound of Glory which commemorates the liberation of Minsk in 1944. Return flight to London.