The 100th anniversary of Russian chapel at Vršič Pass

Together with the President of Slovenia, Borut Pahor, Vladimir Putin took part in a memorial ceremony on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the construction at the pass Vršič Russian chapel in memory of the Russian soldiers who died in these places during the First World War.
In July 1915, near the town of Kranjska Gora was It organized a camp for Russian prisoners of war, whose hands built a road through the mountain pass Vršič. In March 1916 more than 300 people were killed by an avalanche. In memory of his comrades prisoners of war in 1916, built near their temporary barracks a small wooden chapel.

In total during the camp’s existence (in 1915-1917) of hard labor and starvation killed about 10 thousand people. In 1920 the remains were reburied near the chapel in a mass grave, on which in 1930 was set obelisk with the inscription “Synam Russia.”

During the memorial ceremony, Vladimir Putin and Borut Pahor, and the chairman of the Society of friendship “Russia – Slovenia” Sasha Ivan Gergin laid wreaths to the monument.

Today, Russian chapel has the status of cultural monuments protected by the state, the surrounding area transformed into a memorial park.The road leading from Kranjska Gora past the Russian chapel to the pass Vršič, Russian named road.

Source:President of Russia