On 4 April the Rais (Head) of Tatarstan Rustam Minnikhanov,  the Mayor of Kazan Ilsur Metshin, the Chairman of the Russian Military-Historical Society Nikolay Ovsiyenko, the Hero of Socialist Labour Nikolay Frolov and working teams of the city enterprises took part in the unveiling of the stele “Kazan –the Labour Valour City” near the North Railway Station in Kazan.

Speaking at the ceremony, Rustam Minnikhanov emphasized that this event was a landmark and historical for Tatarstan and the whole country.

“During the Great Patriotic War (WWII) Tatarstan was the most important rear center of the country. More than 70 out of 226 enterprises evacuated to the Volga region were accommodated in our republic, producing more than 600 releases of weapons and munitions, PE-2, PE-8a and U-2 planes, plane engines and shells, devices for the army, Navy and the Air force, aero/photo tapes and other products. Women, children and the elderly were working at the end of tether. The motto “Everything for the front! Everything for the victory” became the most important for the whole country,” he said and reminded that with the aim of immortalization the labour feat of Tatarstan enterprises the republic established the title of the “Labour Valor Enterprise”, which was awarded to 20 regional productions.

“Dear war veterans! I would like to express deep appreciation for your labour feats. We are proud of our history. I congratulate you with the Victory Day!” he concluded and handed in a certificate awarding the regional title of the “Labour Valor Enterprise” to Kukmor felt manufactory and the Chemical Plant after L. Karpov.

In his turn Ilsur Metshin said that the plants, evacuated to Kazan during WWII, are still working successfully for the good of the city, the republic and the country, expediently fulfilling modern tasks including the military ones.

In the end of the ceremony Rustam Minnikhanov and other guests laid flowers to the stele and planted some trees in a garden near the station.