Exhibition marks 70th anniversary of end of WWII |05 May 2015

The 70th anniversary of the end of the Second World War was marked yesterday with the opening of a photo exhibition under the theme ‘70th Anniversary since the end of the second World War’.

The exhibition has been organised by the Russian embassy in Seychelles and the Ministry of Tourism and Culture in collaboration with the Australian high commission.

It was opened at the National Library lobby yesterday by Tourism and Culture Minister Alain St Ange and the Russian Ambassador to Seychelles, Vladimir Belous.

Also present were Investment, Entrepreneurship Development and Business Innovation Minister Michael Benstrong, and Fisheries and Agriculture Minister Wallace Cosgrow, principal secretaries for culture and tourism Benjamine Rose and Anne Lafortune respectively, distinguished guests including Chief of Defence Forces, Brigadier Leopold Payet and war veterans.

Dedicated to those who came out victorious and those who lost their lives in the war, the exhibition, as described by Minister St Ange, reminds all of the tremendous sacrifices made by Seychellois veterans throughout the period of the war from September 1939 when Germany invaded Poland up to September 1945 when the war ended by the signing of the Surrender Act by Japan.

According to some historians, the Second World War formally ended on May 8, 1945 when the Allies accepted Germany’s surrender, about a week after Adolf Hitler had committed suicide. Even though the war was officially at an end in the Far East the war raged on, claiming more lives. Japan, did not surrender at the same time as Germany. It was able to hold out for another few months. Atomic bombs were dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki on August 6 and 9 respectively.

 After that the Imperial government sought the Emperor's personal authority to surrender which he granted. He made a personal radio address announcing the decision.

“This exhibition today allows us to have a glimpse of the experience of war. It helps us reflect on the troubles people had to go through to achieve peace. Many gave their lives to have freedom for the people,” said Minister St Ange in his opening speech.

He paid tribute to the Seychellois soldiers who were in their prime age when they left their country, leaving behind close and loved ones to risk their lives for the peace and unity of the world.

“For this we pay homage to those who passed away and say a sincere thank you to those who stand before us today. Your bravery will not be forgotten,” the minister added.

World War II was one of the deadliest wars in the world’s history with billions of people involved, from more than 60 countries. It resulted with an estimated 85 million fatalities. In Russia alone, more than 27 million Soviet people perished.

“This gives us an insight of the magnitude of the Second World War and we need to appreciate the historic significance of the ending of the war in 1945, which opened the way for the formation of new principles of international cooperation and dialogue for peace, respect and mutual understanding,” continued Minister St Ange.

As small as the country is, Mr St Ange said, Seychelles played a significance contribution in the Second World War.

“As a Seychellois today, I stand proud to salute and commend the 900 Seychellois patriots who participated in the war under the governance of the British government,” he said.

For Russian ambassador Belous, the exhibition is dedicated to those who took part in the terrible war which demonstrated the full power and inhumanity of war machines. He went through the history and happenings of the war, the machinery used, the human sufferings that occurred, atrocities and contributions – both good and bad – of countries that went to war.

He made special mention of the people of the United Soviet Socialist Republic (USSR) who paid a great price and the number of people who perished including Seychellois.

The Seychellois enrolled as soldiers in April and December 1941 took up posts in the battlefields of El Alamein, Tobruk, Libya and Tunisia where many helped build bridges, worked in airfields and in petrol and ammunition depots. More than 60 young Seychellois lost their lives during the war.

Locally, a defence force was established in 1940 and look-out posts were built on the east and south coast of Mahe. In 1942, one RAF station was put into place with the purpose of having four Catalina aircrafts to conduct submarine patrols air/sea search and rescue and convoy escorts.

Minister St Ange also announced that the department of culture and the government of Seychelles will save for posterity all that marks this era – the photo libraries, bunkers and ruins from the war and the slipway at the old port.